A new car purchase is never a decision to be taken lightly, and with the average new car price in 2025 exceeding $50,000 for the first time ever, finding a bargain may feel almost impossible. But new research from Hagerty indicates that the Mazda MX-5 Miata is an incredibly high-value purchase because, adjusted for inflation, it’s cheaper in 2025 than it ever has been. Working off data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the report says that a current-generation ND Miata has been cheaper than ever in its history since 2022. That’s truly amazing given the amount of technology that has found its way into the sports car since its introduction in 1989.
Breaking Down the Data That Shows the Miata is Cheaper
Hagerty’s research reveals that a 1990 Miata (NA generation) carried a base MSRP of $13,800 when it was launched in 1989 and eventually had an asking price of $19,125 by 1997. Adjusted for inflation to 2025, both it and its NB successor peaked at over $39,000, while last year’s ND Miata, which was initially launched with a $25,735 MSRP, was priced at a little more than $30,000. Look at the Mazda USA website today, and the Miata starts at $29,830, or almost $10,000 less than the first two generations. For the record, the NB Miata’s highest starting price reached $22,098, while the third-generation NC started at $20,435 and peaked at $25,595. The latter’s adjusted-for-inflation peak MSRP was calculated at between $32,000 and $36,000, depending on model year.
Related: A Decade Of Driving Joy: How Mazda Perfected The ND Miata
What Makes the ND MX-5 Miata So Compelling
Like its predecessors, the current Mazda MX-5 Miata is powered by a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. The latest Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter 16-valve mill under the hood develops a peppy 181 horsepower at 7,000 rpm – considerably more than the early NA Miata’s 1.6-liter mill, which made 115 hp, or later variants, which had a 1.8-liter making 128 hp. And while the first-gen MX-5 weighed around 2,200 lbs, the current fourth-gen variant can weigh roughly 20 lbs less, depending on year and spec. What’s more, you can get access to things like cupholders, electric windows, an infotainment system you can connect your phone to, and safety equipment like blind-spot monitoring. And while a 1990 Miata delivers an EPA estimate of between 25-30 mpg, a 2025 model has a rating of 26/34 city/highway (and even 1 mpg more on the highway if you choose an automatic). Is there any other car in the world that is as compelling? We’re not sure, and the fact that it’s a rear-wheel-drive sports car is just a bonus. It’s just a pity owners don’t drive them very often.
Rocketeer
