Best premium four-seat convertible 2009 BMW 3 Series Convertible *Est. $44550
Best premium roadster 2009 Porsche Boxster *Est. $46600
Bargain four-seat convertible 2009 Mini Cooper convertible *Est. $23900
Best roadster value 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata *Est. $21750

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2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata

*Est. $21,750 to $29,290

Reviewed August 2009

Best roadster value

Fun to drive
Top-notch steering and handling
Low base price
Good fuel economy
Choice of easy soft top or power hardtop

Modest power
Noisy interior
Can be cramped if you're tall
Small trunk
No stability control on base models
Hasn't been crash tested
Some find the restyled front end too girly

Where to Buy

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Our Analysis

Experts can hardly believe a roadster this inexpensive can be this incredible to drive -- not to mention that it's reliable and easy on gas. Reviewers recommend the Mazda MX-5 Miata more than any other convertible.

"Anybody who isn't charmed by the Miata's deft handling, telepathic steering, comfortable seats, two-finger (or one-button) top, and snorty exhaust probably should be driving a used Taurus," says Car and Driver.

The MX-5 Miata's classic British roadster styling charms critics, although some say the '09's new smiley-face front looks girlish. One 6-foot-3-inch tester found his head poking out of the top of this tiny two-seater, but the drive was so fun he didn't care -- as long as the top was down. The MX-5 Miata's manually operated soft top "has to be the best ever designed," says Frank Williams at TheTruthAboutCars.com. "It goes down with a flick of the wrist and can be erected without leaving the driver's seat." Reviews like the optional power hardtop, too, although they say the cabin is still noisy.

Part of that noise is the appealing growl of the 2.0-liter, I-4 engine, which Edmunds.com calls "respectably quick." It's not the fastest car out there, but experts say the rear-wheel-drive MX-5 Miata handles like a pricey sports car. It "connects you to the road better than anything this side of a Lotus," Car and Driver says.

Reviews usually judge the MX-5 Miata against other two-seat convertibles in its price class -- a contest the Mazda easily wins. The Pontiac Solstice convertible (*Est. $24,275 to $29,485) and its twin, Saturn Sky (*Est. $27,595 to $33,680) offer sexier styling and more powerful engines, but critics say the Miata outclasses them in just about every other way. If you're interested in a distinctively styled small four-seater, experts say the Mini Cooper convertible (*Est. $23,900 to $34,300) delivers a spirited drive and great fuel economy, like the Mazda.

All 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miatas are powered by a 2.0-liter, I-4 engine that makes 167 horsepower with the manual transmission and 158 horsepower with the automatic. The entry-level MX-5 Miata SV (*Est. $21,750) comes only with a five-speed manual that delivers 24 mpg in combined driving (22 city and 28 mpg highway). It lacks air conditioning, but it includes most other common features such as power windows. The CD stereo adjusts automatically to top-up or -down conditions, and a retractable wind blocker comes standard. The SV is the only trim that doesn't offer the optional retractable hardtop.

The step-up MX-5 Miata Sport (*Est. $22,750 to $25,390) adds an optional six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters that delivers similar fuel economy (21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined). It includes air conditioning and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Opt for the automatic transmission, and you'll also get power locks, keyless entry, cruise control and a few more features.

The MX-5 Miata Touring (*Est. $25,090 to $27,890) makes all of these features standard and offers a six-speed manual transmission as well as the automatic (both get the same fuel economy). The MX-5 Miata Grand Touring (*Est. $26,350 to $29,290) adds more upscale options like Bluetooth, satellite radio and xenon headlights. It's also the only trim that offers optional stability and traction control.

The 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata had not been crash tested when we checked for this report. It does enjoy good reliability scores, however, and it comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Testers at Edmunds.com, TheTruthAboutCars.com and Car and Driver do the best job describing what it's like to drive the Mazda MX-5 Miata. ConsumerReports.org, Cars.com and ConsumerGuide.com also test the MX-5 Miata and rate it against rival cars, but these reviews don't contain very lengthy descriptions. Kelley Blue Book's reviews are shorter, but editors do test the cars, and they also predict their resale value. We found fuel-economy estimates for the MX-5 Miata at FuelEconomy.gov and reliability ratings at J.D. Power and Associates.

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Our Sources

1. Edmunds.com

In a well-rounded review, Edmunds editors praise the MX-5's low base price and economical operating costs, comparing it to the more powerful and "sexier" Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. Still, the MX-5 is deemed the "superior" car.

Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review, Editors of Edmunds.com

2. TheTruthAboutCars.com

This tall reviewer can only get comfortable in the diminutive Mazda MX-5 Miata when the top is down, but that's OK with him. He says the soft top is easy to use, the engine sounds great and it's a blast to drive. Only the cutesy redesigned front end puts him off.

Review: Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring, Frank Williams, March 23, 2009

3. Car and Driver Details/Subscribe

The 2009 best-car list at Car and Driver once again includes the Mazda MX-5 Miata, described as "the sweetheart of sports cars." The article gives only a short description, but it links to more in-depth tests.

Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata -- 10Best Cars, Tony Swan, Jan. 2009

4. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Editors of ConsumerReports.org test the Mazda MX-5 Miata and rank it against other convertibles in its class. Unlike some other reviews, ConsumerReports.org digs beyond the MX-5 Miata's performance to judge practical matters like reliability.

Review: Mazda MX-5 Miata, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

5. Cars.com

Five Cars.com staffers test three affordable convertibles head-to-head. Two of the reviewers prefer the fun Mazda MX-5 Miata, while two find the 2010 Ford Mustang convertible more comfortable. One tester favors the Volkswagen New Beetle convertible, but others say its poor rear visibility is a deal-breaker.

Review: Affordable Convertibles Put to the Test, Stephen Markley, July 8, 2009

6. ConsumerGuide.com

ConsumerGuide.com rates the Mazda MX-5 Miata on a numeric scale that earns it a Best Buy rating. Editors especially praise the car's fuel economy, easy-to-use controls and value. Lows include cargo space, passenger room and noise.

Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata: Road Test, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com

7. Kelley Blue Book

Editors here name the Mazda MX-5 Miata to their 2009 Recommended Shopping List. They like the car's enthusiastic performance, fuel economy and choice of easy soft top or retractable hardtop, but they note it can get crowded if you're tall.

Review: 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata Review, Editors of Kelley Blue Book

8. Environmental Protection Agency

This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chart compares fuel-economy estimates for most 2009 two-seaters, including both the manual- and automatic-transmission versions of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The EPA posts fuel-economy estimates for most cars on this website.

Review: 2009 Two Seaters, Editors of the Environmental Protection Agency

9. J.D. Power and Associates

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the most dependable compact sporty car, according to owner surveys by J.D. Power and Associates. Owners who bought their Miatas in 2006 were surveyed for the 2009 rankings.

Review: 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study -- Compact Sporty Car, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates