Is the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata a good car?

The 7.5/10 expert rating points to a car that is very much about driving enjoyment first. The standout strength is Performance at 10/10.

The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a rear-wheel-drive, two-seat convertible that stays focused on precise handling, cornering fun, and a driver-focused feel. It comes with a six-speed manual transmission standard, and Mazda offers both soft-top and hard-top body styles, which helps you choose between open-air simplicity and a more coupe-like setup.

The trade-offs are clear: the interior is cramped, cargo space is limited, and the technology can be hard to use. It also prioritizes fun over straight-line speed, so if you want a practical daily driver, this is not the right fit.

With 35.0% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have some room to shop selectively.

Is the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata reliable?

The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata is presented as a simple, back-to-basics sports car, and that simplicity is part of its appeal. Mazda gives you a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, a standard six-speed manual, and a straightforward chassis setup that keeps the car focused on driving rather than complexity.

The expert notes also point to a strong ownership value proposition: the Miata is more fuel-efficient than before, and Mazda backs it with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty plus a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and roadside assistance. That combination helps reduce some of the usual long-term worry for used buyers.

For used ownership, the main risk is less about mechanical drama and more about living with a small, highly specialized sports car over time.

What should I look for when buying a used 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.9% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report, verify the car’s condition carefully, and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection if you’re considering a higher-mileage example or a car with performance options. Pay close attention to wear on the interior, the top mechanism, and any signs that the car has been driven hard or modified.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Sport, Club, and Grand Touring trims are available with the soft top, while the RF hard top is limited to Club and Grand Touring. The base setup is the most stripped-down, with cloth seats and fewer comfort features than the Grand Touring.
• Powertrain: Every MX-5 Miata uses a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder with 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual is standard, and a six-speed automatic is available only on the Grand Touring trim.
• Safety package: Every trim gets lane-departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and cruise control. The Grand Touring adds automatic high beams and traffic sign recognition, while automatic-transmission top trims also get adaptive cruise control and a distance and speed alert.
• Infotainment: The cabin uses an 8.8-inch screen with rotary-dial control. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and they’re wireless on Club and Grand Touring trims.
• Fuel efficiency: The Miata is rated at 26 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. In testing, it returned 28 mpg.

Which 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata trim should I buy?

The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata is offered in 4 trim levels: Sport, Club, Grand Touring, and 35th Anniversary Edition.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The Sport keeps the formula simple, but you give up the richer cabin materials and extra convenience features found higher up the range.
• Sweet-spot trim: The Club is the best value if you want the most engaging setup without jumping to the priciest version, especially if you want the sportier hardware and available performance package.
• Premium/top trim: The Grand Touring is the best pick if you want the most comfort and tech, including the automatic transmission option and the added safety and convenience features.
• Off-road trim: Not applicable here.

The safety-package note is simple: every trim gets the core driver-assistance set, while the Grand Touring adds a few extra features and automatic-transmission top trims get even more.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata?

This is a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient.

• Deal availability: 35.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 377 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 93.9% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $32,683.15, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata safe?

Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has rated this generation of the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

It earns a 5/10 safety score from our experts.

Every trim gets lane-departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, and cruise control. The Grand Touring adds automatic high beams and traffic sign recognition, and top trims with the automatic transmission also get adaptive cruise control plus a distance and speed alert.

Because this is a back-to-basics sports car, you should expect a lighter safety feature set than you’d find in a mainstream commuter car.

Should I buy a 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2025 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2025 if:

• 35.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 93.9% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• It keeps the Miata formula focused on precise handling, a standard manual transmission, and a driver-first character.

Consider the 2024 if:

• It adds new steering, a reworked limited-slip rear differential, and updated infotainment.

The bottom line: If you want the current-year Miata with strong market availability and the classic lightweight-roadster formula, the 2025 is the straightforward pick. If you’re shopping mainly on features and want the prior year’s updates, the 2024 is worth a look, especially if you find a better price.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.