Why the Mazda Miata is Still Zipping Along After 35 Years

More than any other car over the past three and a half decades, the Mazda Miata is most associated with fun. The latest iteration maintains that tradition, making it the perfect roadster to pilot along twisty country roads in the sun.

Fierce but fun: the 2025 Mazda Miata RF.

The latest model I tested a few weeks was the rear-wheel drive 2025 MX-5 Miata RF. It starts at a little over $37,000 and still stands as a bargain in the sports car category. It is also nimble, fast, and a pleasure to drive, not least of which is due to a responsive 6-speed manual stick shift. Around the challenging mountain roads of Vermont, the Miata turned switchbacks and reverse camber curves into silky smooth, rolling exuberance.

True, the cabin so tight, there's no glove compartment on the passenger's side, and the retractable hard top (the RF stands for retractable fastback) eats up some of the rear trunk space—although I was able to get a full 70-liter backpack in it, no problem. Still, the Miata is a tight fit for some drivers. I was comfy at 6 feet, but anyone taller might feel claustrophobic, even with the roof down.

The Mazda Miata's quick retractable roof.

But the bottom line is: Nothing is more fun to drive than the Miata, which is why it has been so adored by so many for more than 3 decades. I look forward to testing it again when it hits 40.