The Mazda MX-5 Miata Lost Sight of Its Best Attribute
The Mazda MX-5 Miata stands alone in the North American market. Its closest competitors are bloated GT cars like the Ford Mustang, hard top-only sports cars like the Subaru BRZ, or pricey convertibles like the BMW Z4. However, the diminutive Mazda sports car seems to be losing sight of its best attribute: its wallet-friendly pricing.
The Mazda MX-5 Miata has increased in price every year for over a decade
Fortunately, the Mazda MX-5 Miata remains a comparably affordable fixture in the sports car market. Frankly, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another new convertible in the North American market at the Miata’s price point. However, the little roadster has been steadily, albeit slowly, rising in price year over year for over a decade.
| ND Miata model year (Sport trim) | Starting price |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $30,170 |
| 2023 | $29,215 |
| 2022 | $27,825 |
| 2021 | $27,525 |
| 2020 | $26,650 |
For 2024, the base Miata Sport boasts a starting price of $30,170. That means, before fees, the entry-level Miata is a $30,000+ sports car for the first time in over three decades.
Moreover, the gulf between the range-topping MX-5 Miatas grew even more year over year. For instance, the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring starts at around $35,470, the first of the model’s trims to eclipse the $35,000 mark. What’s more, it’s a $1,255 increase from the 2023 model year.
However, even with the price bump, the closest drop-top, two-door vehicle you’ll find to the MX-5 is the 2024 MINI Convertible, per TrueCar. Specifically, the retro convertible starts at $36,695. Better yet, with 181 horsepower on tap courtesy of a 2.0L inline-four, the Miata will outmuscle the base MINI Cooper Convertible.
Still, with the next-generation Miata on the way in the next few years, the price is likely to continue climbing. For now, however, the MX-5 remains the answer for the most affordable sun-soaked convertible available.
