Mazda MX-5 Miata
A light two-seat roadster made simple, open-air sports-car fun reliable and attainable for a new generation.
1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata in Classic Red, Front Left, 05-29-2022 · Elise240SX · CC BY-SA 4.0
More than a set of wheels.
Mazda revealed the MX-5 Miata at the Chicago Auto Show on February 9, 1989 and launched it in the United States that May as a 1990 model. Its low weight, rear drive and simple one-hand folding roof revived interest in small roadsters. This U.S. 116 hp Miata is separate from Joyride’s existing 1989 Japanese-market Eunos Roadster profile and from later 1.8-litre NA cars.
Look a little closer.
The original soft top was designed to be folded or raised from the driver’s seat with one hand.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Lightness was part of the specification
Mazda’s U.S. history gives a curb weight of 2,116 lb. Aluminum and high-strength steel helped reduce mass, so useful performance did not require a huge engine.
Source: Mazda Motorsports · 25 years of MX-5 ↗Same family, different market identity
Japan’s 1989 Eunos Roadster and the 1990 U.S. Mazda MX-5 Miata share the NA generation, but their names, launch timing and market specifications differ. Joyride keeps them as separate reviewed variants.
Source: Mazda · MX-5 history ↗Where these facts come from
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.