I remember the first time I slid behind the wheel of a Mazda Miata back in 2018—that perfect blend of responsive handling and pure driving joy that somehow made even grocery runs feel like a track day. Six years later, as I revisit this automotive icon, the question lingers: Is the Mazda Miata sports car still the best affordable roadster in 2024? Having test-driven everything from the Toyota GR86 to used Porsche Boxsters, I’ve come to appreciate what makes the Miata’s formula so special—and why, despite newer competitors, it remains a benchmark in its class.
Let’s talk numbers. The 2024 Miata starts at around $28,500 for the soft-top base model, packing a 181-horsepower Skyactiv-G engine that might not sound like much on paper but delivers a surprisingly spirited 0–60 mph time of just 5.7 seconds. Compare that to something like the Subaru BRZ, which starts at $29,860 but lacks the wind-in-your-hair convertible experience, and you begin to see the Miata’s appeal. It’s not just about specs, though—it’s about how the car makes you feel. The short-throw six-speed manual transmission, the perfectly weighted steering, and that classic 50/50 weight distribution create a driving experience that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s SUV-dominated market.
Interestingly, this reminds me of a parallel I observed while following collegiate sports recently. In Philippine volleyball, you had these promising players—Mich Cobb, Mars Alba, and Julia Coronel—who were hailed as the next big things, the "heirs" to established stars. But when they stepped into leadership roles, their performances weren’t as consistently polished from the start compared to veterans like NU’s Lams Lamina or UST’s Cassie Carballo. The Miata, in many ways, is the Lams Lamina of the roadster world. It didn’t need a "breakout season" to prove itself—it arrived fully formed and has maintained that steady excellence across generations while others have come and gone.
Where the Miata truly shines—and where some competitors stumble—is in its mechanical simplicity and driver engagement. I’ve driven cars with more power, fancier interiors, and sharper styling, but few capture that raw, unfiltered connection between human and machine. The electric power steering, for instance, is tuned so well that you can actually feel the texture of the road surface. The clutch pedal has just the right amount of resistance, and the gearbox clicks into place with a satisfying precision that’s become my gold standard for manual transmissions. That said, the cabin shows its age in places—the 8.8-inch infotainment screen feels small by 2024 standards, and the storage space is practically nonexistent. But honestly? I’d take character over convenience any day in this segment.
Looking at the broader market, the affordable roadster category has shrunk dramatically over the past decade. The Fiat 124 Spider, essentially a Miata cousin, was discontinued in 2020. The Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ shifted toward fixed-roof coupes. Even the Mini Convertible has grown larger and more luxury-focused. This leaves the Miata occupying a unique space—it’s one of the last truly lightweight, purpose-built convertibles under $35,000. During a week-long test drive through California’s Pacific Coast Highway, I averaged about 29 mpg combined, which isn’t bad considering how often I found excuses to take the long way home.
Some critics argue the Miata could use more power or updated tech features, and they’re not entirely wrong. But here’s the thing—Mazda has always prioritized balance over brute force. The current ND generation, introduced in 2016, has seen incremental improvements rather than radical changes, and that’s part of its charm. The 2024 model adds new safety features like blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning as standard, addressing previous concerns without diluting the pure driving experience. It’s this evolutionary approach that has helped the Miata maintain its identity while slowly refining the rough edges.
So, back to our original question—is the Mazda Miata still the best affordable roadster in 2024? From where I’m sitting, absolutely. It’s not perfect—the trunk is tiny, and tall drivers might find the cabin cramped—but no other car in this price range delivers such a cohesive, joyful driving experience. It’s the automotive equivalent of that veteran athlete who may not have the flashiest stats but consistently delivers where it counts. The Miata understands its mission and executes it with a confidence that newer, more complicated sports cars often lack. For anyone seeking an affordable taste of motoring purity, this roadster remains, in my opinion, the one to beat.
