The Mazda Miata is an affordable and fun sports car beloved by enthusiasts from all walks of life. Although compact, there is enough room for most everyday things, from a gym bag and light luggage to a modest load of groceries. Standard safety features for the 2026 model include front and side airbags, side-impact door beams, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning.
Despite its well-deserved pedigree, the Mazda Miata is not alone; it faces the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Hyundai Elantra N, and even the third-generation Toyota MR2. The Subaru WRX and BRZ are also stiff competition.
The 2026 WRX saw its starting MSRP drop by upwards of $3,755, while the BRZ was one of the most popular Subaru cars on display at the 2026 Detroit Auto Show. Although not often considered a direct competitor, the 2026 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback has a starting price under $33,000.
However, the Miata’s starting MSRP and average annual repair cost is lower than all of them. While cost is always a consideration, even for the most affordable vehicles, people ultimately keep coming back to the Miata because they believe it’s a blast to own and drive.
Make & Model
Average Annual Repair Cost (Repair Pal)
2026 Starting MSRP
Hyundai Elantra
$452
$35,100
Subaru BRZ
$672
$35,860
Subaru WRX
$682
$32,495
Ford Mustang
$709
$32,640
VW Golf GTI
$791
$34,590
Mazda Miata
$429
$30,430
Trim levels and powertrain
Three great options
For 2026, Mazda is looking to capitalize on that once again, offering the Miata in three trim levels—Sport, Club, and Grand Touring—with the Retractable Fastback (RF) configuration available on the Club and Grand Touring.
Mazda’s evergreen Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder resides under the hood of every 2026 Miata. The small but potent engine, with its incredible 7,500-rpm redline, creates 181 horsepower (7,000 rpm) and 151 lb-ft. of torque (4,000 rpm). Sport and Club feature a six-speed manual transmission exclusively, while the Grand Touring is available with either the manual or a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.
Base Trim Engine
SKYACTIV-G 2L ICE
Base Trim Transmission
SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual
Base Trim Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Manual vs. Automatic
Good arguments for both
Miata purists will maintain that the six-speed manual is the only way to capture the true essence or “soul” of the car. With its zero to 60 mph time in the high five-second range on average, the Miata isn’t fast per ser but it’s fast enough. Enthusiasts will often say the six-speed manual, combined with the Miata’s exceptional weight balance (near 50/50), makes it feel quicker than it actually is.
Although an argument can be made for the manual transmission’s higher resale value, the automatic is better for daily commutes that see heavy traffic. Longtime owners also believe Mazda’s newer six-speed automatic is a step above the “slushboxes” of previous years. Fuel economy is negligible between the automatic and the manual, with the automatic holding only a single MPG advantage on the highway.
2026 Mazda Miata EPA-estimated fuel economy
Transmission
City
Hwy
Combined
6-Speed M/T
26
34
29
Automatic
26
35
29
Brembo BBS Recaro package
Popular option returns for 2026
Credit: Mazda
The 2026 Miata Club soft top can be optioned with the Brembo BBS Recaro package, which includes a host of cool upgrades. As the name suggests, the package includes Brembo front brakes with red front and rear calipers, gunmetal 17-inch BBS forged wheels, and heated Recaro seats. Other add-ons include an exterior aerodynamics kit and black Alcantara interior trim with gray contrast stitching.
Going with the package adds about $5,000 to the Club soft top’s MSRP (it’s standard for the Club RF). Even without the package, the Club soft top is still a mighty Miata. Standard features include owner favorites such as the sport-tuned Bilstein dampers, front shock tower brace, and limited-slip differential.
The Miata Club has a Bose nine-speaker system, which includes a subwoofer and headrest speakers for the driver and passenger seats. It’s an outstanding feature that adds to the enjoyment of those top-down, open-air drives on a summer night. Every Miata Club is standard with heated cloth seats and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
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The luxury Miata
Still affordable
The Grand Touring is the more luxurious MX-5 Miata, featuring heated leather seats, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, and navigation. The Grand Touring and Club also look different: the Club has a gloss-black style, while the Grand Touring features machine-finished wheels and body-color trim.
Grand Touring models are available as either a soft top or an RF, and you can choose between a six-speed manual or an automatic. Manual versions get the same performance parts as the Club, including the Bilstein dampers, a front shock tower brace, and a limited-slip differential. Adaptive cruise control is optional on Grand Touring automatics.
Sport model starts under $31,000
Entry-level Miata offers plenty of standard features
The Club and Grand Touring are both appealing, especially the Club with the Brembo BBS Recaro package, but the 2026 Miata Sport with a manual is a great choice too.
It’s not available as an RF or with an automatic, but the manual Sport starts under $31,000 in its soft top configuration. You still get plenty of standard features, like an 8.8-inch infotainment display, two USB-C ports, removable cup holders, a lockable storage console, climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel that tilts and telescopes.
Sport models have black 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, dual-tip exhaust, LED headlights, and black exterior mirrors. You can also add an appearance package with a black front air dam, rear bumper skirt, and rear lip spoiler.
2026 Mazda Miata starting MSRP
Model
Soft Top
RF
Sport MT
$30,430
N/A
Club MT
$33,930
$41,900
Grand Touring MT
$35,730
$38,450
Grand Touring AT
$36,650
$39,420
Unbeatable value
The Mazda MX-5 Miata has been popular with fans since its debut in 1989. In 2026, it keeps that tradition going, especially with options like the Brembo BBS Recaro package for the Club. With a good starting price, a reputation for fun, and strong reliability, the Miata remains one of the best sports cars you can buy.
