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Mazda Miata Generations: NA, NB, NC and ND, With Prices

By Michael, Hypercars co-founderPublished

The short answer

There are four Miata generations: the NA (1990-1997), NB (1999-2005), NC (2006-2015) and the current ND. In our sales data an NA typically sells for $11K, an NB $11K, an NC $15K and an ND $26K.

The four Miata generations

Swipe across to compare every option →

QuestionUS model yearsWhat defines it
NA1990-1997The original, introduced as a 1990 model at the Chicago Auto Show
NB1999-2005The first redesign, nine years after the original
NC2006-2015A 2.0-liter engine, and the first Power Retractable Hard Top from the 2007 model year
ND2016-presentThe fourth generation, on sale in the US from June 2016

US model years.

Your realistic choices

  • MX-5 Miata (NA, 1990-1997)$8.1k–$15k typical, 290 sold, 12-mo +6.8%$11k
  • MX-5 Miata (NB, 1999-2005)$8k–$14k typical, 209 sold, 12-mo +9.0%$11k
  • MX-5 Miata (NC, 2006-2015)$11k–$19k typical, 167 sold, 12-mo -1.6%$15k
  • MX-5 Miata (ND, 2016 on)$21k–$29k typical, 158 sold, 12-mo +5.0%$26k

What separates a good one from a costly one

Prices and recent sales come from our completed-sale data.

NA MX-5 Miata

MX-5 Miata (NA, 1990-1997)

Built
1990-1997
Median sale
$11k
Typical
$8.1k–$15k
Sales
290

What moves the price

  • Lower-mileage examples sell for about 45% more than higher-mileage ones of the same year.
  • A manual sells for about 15% more than an automatic of the same year.

Known issues and what they cost

IssueTypical cost
The short-nose crank on 1990 and early-1991 1.6 engines can fail after a badly done timing belt jobCan mean a new crankshaft
Clogged drains rust the floors and the rockers ahead of the rear wheelsBody and floor repair
Recall: a misconnected front brake line on 1991 cars with ABSFree at a dealer; confirm it was done

Walk away if

  • A 1990 or early-1991 car with crank-pulley wobble and no record of the timing belt job.
  • Bubbling paint or rot at the rear rocker ends.
  • A torn top letting water in.

Recent sales

NB MX-5 Miata

MX-5 Miata (NB, 1999-2005)

Built
1999-2005
Median sale
$11k
Typical
$8k–$14k
Sales
209

What moves the price

  • Lower-mileage examples sell for about 45% more than higher-mileage ones of the same year.
  • A manual sells for about 30% more than an automatic of the same year.

Known issues and what they cost

IssueTypical cost
Clogged top and rear-fender drains rust the rocker panels just ahead of the rear wheelsCheck the drains are clear, and check the rockers with a magnet for filler
The front frame rails rust just forward of the suspension armsCan be repaired, but Hagerty calls it pretty pricey
The factory radiator's plastic end tanks discolor and then crack, and last roughly a decadeReplace the radiator once the tanks turn brown or green, before they crack
The timing belt is due every 80,000 miles or about five yearsAsk for records; replace the water pump at the same time
Many cars have cheap no-name coilover kits, fitted when they were $2,000 carsInspect the suspension; known-brand modifications are not a reason to pass
Recalls: an injector harness that can short and stall the engine, and a fuel filler valve that can spit fuel back (both 1999), and fog light sockets that can drop into the bumper (2001-2003)Free at a dealer; confirm each was done

Walk away if

  • Soft or bubbling rockers ahead of the rear wheels, or rust in the front frame rails.
  • Filler in the rockers or a color change hiding crash damage.
  • No record of the timing belt and water pump in the last 80,000 miles or five years.

Recent sales

NC MX-5 Miata

MX-5 Miata (NC, 2006-2015)

Built
2006-2015
Median sale
$15k
Typical
$11k–$19k
Sales
167

What moves the price

  • Lower-mileage examples sell for about 35% more than higher-mileage ones of the same year.
  • A manual sells for about 15% more than an automatic of the same year.

Known issues and what they cost

IssueTypical cost
The plastic coolant expansion tank is pressurized and cracks with age, losing pressure and overheating the engineCheck the tank and thermostat are newer and in good condition; aluminum replacements exist
Clogged roof drains let water into the cabinClear the drains and check the carpets show no moisture
On Power Retractable Hard Top cars (2007 on), the roof mechanism must work properlyCycle the roof and check it moves smoothly; Mazda rates a full cycle at about 12 seconds
2006-2008 engines lack the forged crankshaft and rods added for 2009, which Hagerty points buyers planning forced induction towardCheck the model year on any turbocharged or supercharged car
Recall: the horn bolt on early 2006 cars can fail when the driver airbag deploys in extreme cold, so dealers replace the airbag moduleFree at a dealer; confirm it was done

Walk away if

  • Damp carpets or water in the footwells.
  • A hardtop that stalls or does not cycle smoothly.
  • Signs of overheating, which a cracked expansion tank can cause.

Recent sales

ND MX-5 Miata

MX-5 Miata (ND, 2016 on)

Built
2016 on
Median sale
$26k
Typical
$21k–$29k
Sales
158
New from
$30k
2026 Sport, before destination

Reliability record

  • J.D. Power's most dependable compact sporty car for the 2017 model year
  • Mazda's highest-scoring model in Consumer Reports' 2020 reliability survey

What moves the price

  • The 2019-on 181 hp cars sell for about 45% more than the 2016-2018 cars.
  • Lower-mileage examples sell for about 20% more than higher-mileage ones of the same year.
  • A manual sells for about the same as an automatic of the same year.

Known issues and what they cost

IssueTypical cost
On soft-top cars, clogged drains behind the seats soak the carpets and can rust the floorClear the drains; check the carpets are dry
Recalls: airbag software (2016-2023), and automatic gearbox programming that can cause a sudden downshift and hard deceleration (2016-2019)Free at a dealer; confirm each was done

Walk away if

  • A car with the airbag software recall still open.
  • Damp carpets or rust under them.

Recent sales

Make a better purchase

Before you buy

  1. On an NA or NB, clear the top and rear-fender drains and check the rockers ahead of the rear wheels with a magnet: blocked drains rust them.

  2. On an NA or NB, ask for timing belt and water pump records: the belt is due every 80,000 miles or about five years.

  3. On an NB, look at the radiator's plastic end tanks, and replace the radiator once they turn brown or green, before they crack.

  4. On an NC, check the plastic coolant expansion tank: it cracks with age, loses pressure and can overheat the engine.

  5. On a Power Retractable Hard Top NC, cycle the roof and check it moves smoothly all the way.

Get notified about new Mazda MX-5 (NA) listings

Seen across 11 sites in the last 30 days.

The full price ladder

Median completed auction price and the middle 50% of sales. Ranges share one scale; a wider bar means a wider spread of sale prices.

Swipe across for sale counts, trends and mileage →

The full price ladder: sold prices, sale counts and observed price changes
Model / versionMedian PriceMiddle 50%Sales12-mo TrendAvg Mileage
NA MX-5 Miata$10,838$8,100 – $14,500290+6.8%74,421
NB MX-5 Miata$10,850$7,950 – $13,800209+9.0%65,483
NB Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata$14,940$11,800 – $17,17845+5.3%59,181
NC MX-5 Miata$15,000$11,150 – $18,625167-1.6%47,070
ND MX-5 Miata$26,000$20,888 – $29,225158+5.0%21,565

Questions, answered.

How many Miata generations are there?
Four: the NA (1990-1997 model years), the NB (1999-2005), the NC (2006-2015) and the current ND (2016 on).
Which Miata generation is the cheapest?
The NA and NB sell for about the same: an NA typically sells for $11K and an NB $11K in our data. An NC sells for $15K.
How much is an ND Miata?
A used ND typically sells for $26K in our data, with the middle half of sales between $21K and $29K. New for 2026, a Miata Sport starts at $30,430 before destination.
Which Miata generation is best to buy?
For the lowest price, an NA or NB, at $11K and $11K in our data; for a 2.0-liter with chain-driven cams and an optional power hardtop, an NC at $15K; for the newest car, an ND at $26K.

Methodology

Based on 869 completed North American auction sales from the last 2 years on the online auctions and auction houses we track, priced in US or Canadian dollars. Sales in other currencies are left out, since their prices carry other taxes and duties, and so are fixed-price listings, which record an asking price. Canadian prices are converted to USD. Each price is the median sale, the way our valuations work, and typical ranges show the middle half of sales (25th–75th percentile). The sample is refreshed regularly. A change in the cars sold can change the median without any individual car gaining or losing value.

Read our full methodology.

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