The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata keeps the formula that made it the best-selling two-seat roadster in history: a 181-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, rear-wheel drive, a curb weight under 2,520 lb, and a six-speed manual as standard. Prices start at $29,530. Here is what the engine delivers, what the recent update changed, and which version to pick.
Engine specs
| Spec | 2025 MX-5 Miata |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G inline-4, naturally aspirated |
| Output | 181 hp / 151 lb-ft |
| Redline | 7,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic optional on Grand Touring |
| Drivetrain | rear-wheel drive |
| Curb weight | 2,366–2,515 lb |
| Fuel economy | up to 29 mpg combined (manual), 30 mpg (automatic) |
The numbers look modest next to turbocharged hot hatches, and that is the point. The 2.0-liter engine has no turbo, so throttle response is immediate and power builds all the way to a 7,500-rpm redline. With about 13 lb per horsepower, the Miata is quick enough to be entertaining at legal speeds rather than only on a track. Mazda recommends premium fuel for the 181-hp rating but allows regular with a small power loss; our octane guide explains that trade-off.
What changed with the ND3 update
The 2024 model year brought the most significant update of this generation, and the 2025 car carries all of it:
Asymmetric limited-slip differential. Manual Club and Grand Touring cars get a new differential that locks more firmly on deceleration and less on acceleration. Mazda’s aim is a more stable car when turning in on the brakes and less understeer on the way out of a corner.
DSC-Track mode. A new stability-control setting on the same trims allows more slip on a track without switching the system fully off.
New steering and tech. All versions get a lower-friction steering rack with retuned assist, an 8.8-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay, and radar cruise control.
Trims and pricing
| Version | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Sport (manual) | $29,530 |
| Club (manual) | $33,030 |
| Grand Touring (manual / automatic) | $34,830 / $35,750 |
| 35th Anniversary Edition (manual) | $36,250 |
| RF (Club or Grand Touring) | $38,535–$42,285 |
The 35th Anniversary Edition is based on the Grand Touring, painted Artisan Red Metallic, manual-only, and limited to 350 cars in the US. The RF uses a power-retractable hard roof that leaves the rear buttresses in place, so it is quieter with the roof up and more coupe-like in profile.
Which Miata to buy
The Club manual is the enthusiast’s pick: it has the new differential and DSC-Track mode, plus Bilstein dampers, for a few thousand dollars over the Sport. The Sport is the purest and lightest entry point. The Grand Touring suits buyers who want more comfort features, and the RF suits drivers who keep the car year-round in a noisy or cold climate. The manual remains the version to choose if you can; our look at whether a manual still makes sense covers why cars like this keep it alive. For keeping any rear-drive sports car sharp, a correct alignment matters as much as tires — see camber, caster, and toe explained.
Specifications and pricing per Mazda’s 2025 US lineup as reported by CarsDirect and CarBuzz; ND3 changes per Motor1 and The Drive, September 2026. Photos: Dinkun Chen and Alexander-93 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
