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Automotive News May 4, 2026

Which Mazda MX-5 engine is best?

Which Mazda MX-5 engine is best?

Is the Mazda MX-5 worth buying?

Mazda MX-5. For the past three decades, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has been the automotive world's favorite roadster. While Mazda hasn't updated the car's drivetrain or suspension for over a decade, it did add a few new features that have greatly improved its comfort, safety, and usability. For those reasons, and perhaps due to the sheer number of fun driving experiences you can find in one, the car hasn't found enough buyers to make its production viable. The good news is, if you want one, there are still many parts available and a very few cars are left on the market today. Here's why you might want to consider grabbing one of these tiny classics.

What's the cost of ownership? Owning a new MX-5 is relatively inexpensive, though it will likely cost more than your next car. As for the engine, one of the rarest is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 122 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque. It's a turbocharged engine with some serious power. You can expect an engine that will require premium fuel and a transmission that can either be manual or automatic. Other options, including the sound system, get pricey as well.

What do I need to drive it? The most obvious answer to the question of what does my next car need to cost, is the list of must-haves.

What are the common faults on a Mazda MX-5?

We've put together this guide to the most common problems with Mazda's little roadster.

With its high standards for safety and the fun factor, Mazda is a favourite brand of car enthusiasts. And we don't just mean car enthusiasts but many motoring journalists, including our own Editor, Ian Callum. Mazda has produced a good range of roadsters over the years, from the iconic MX-5 to the more modern 2JZ.

The 2JZ has been a great success, but has left some old models in its wake. In fact, the original 2JZ engine is still powering a few cars around the world. The last model built on the original platform, the 2001-2006 Mazda6, was one of the best-loved passenger cars ever made.

The latest Mazda6 is the spiritual successor to the original but is even better. It has loads of high-tech features like a heads-up display, and it feels like a genuinely modern car. The previous version was called the KODO, which stands for 'the future is ours', but Mazda now calls the car 6.

Mazda has long been a popular car brand among those who like the sporty feel of a tiny car, but who don't want to spend a fortune on their vehicle. For this reason, Mazda's cars can seem expensive to buy, though with a 20,000 price tag, it's relatively affordable compared to other manufacturers.

The 2JZ is a great engine and the MX-5 is a great little car. You can't beat the combination of value and enjoyment. What could better?

Read on to see the most common faults on a Mazda MX-5. A common fault is the transmission sticking. Most of the time, a stuck gearbox means you'll need to visit a garage or hire a specialist. Some causes are mechanical, such as a broken or clogged filter.

However, for others, it is an issue that can be solved by a quick service or DIY. In these cases, the simplest thing to do is to clean the transmission oil. The easiest way to do this is to get the engine cold and turn it over for a few minutes before pouring in some oil.

Can you get a Mazda MX-5 in automatic?

mazda mx 5 automatic for sale autotrader Can you get a Mazda MX-5 in automatic?

Yes you can, it's been done. It took a lot of work and a lot of money but I was finally able to buy a Mazda MX-5.

A friend of mine was having a birthday party and his wife decided she would rather go to the party than spend time with him so he asked me to go pick her up. We both had the day off from work and the kids were at school so we had a little time to drive around town and look at the cars. I told him if I didn't find a nice car to take to the party we would have to get out our big, yellow pickup truck. He was a little miffed but I found what he was looking for in a place called Zimmy's.

It was my first visit to Zimmy's so I was a little nervous. He seemed friendly and when he saw that I was a collector he went out of his way to help me. We ended up talking for about 3 hours and I bought a used 1992 Mazda MX-5 and a 1986 Mazda RX-7.

When I got home I asked my wife what she thought of my new car. She just rolled her eyes and said you know you got me a RX-7, don't bother me with anything else. So I got some spare time on my hands and I did the same thing at my house. I ended up buying a 1976 Mazda RX-7. She also rolled her eyes and said you got me a RX-7.

If you buy cars for us then we will just roll our eyes. They are very picky.

My problem is there are just not as many used cars in my area as I would like. I know it takes time and effort to buy a car so why not get one online? If you are going to buy a used car online, why would you purchase one from someone like Zimmy's instead of just buying it at a dealership? Zimmy's was just one of many dealerships that sell cars on their website. There were over 50 of them listed for me.

Why not buy a car from a dealer instead of buying it from someone like Zimmy's? That is what I have tried to do.

Which Mazda MX-5 engine is best?

If there was ever a time for a new generation of MX-5 enthusiasts to take over the reins and push the car forward, it's now. There are no longer any two engines in existence in the MX-5 that are more than just like-for-like powerplants of the same basic design. What used to be a you choose affair is now simply a choice of engine that offers a similar level of performance to what you were choosing before.

For those looking to start making their own decisions right away, and those looking to upgrade their existing car, we have come up with our own list of options available. In this buyer's guide we go through all the different parts to consider in terms of fuel economy, reliability, cost and, most importantly, performance. The end result being that we give each engine an overall score as well as each individual score out of 10 points for five criteria. Let's start with the most obvious criteria which powerplant gives you the best performance? We break that down into three main categories outright acceleration, mid-range acceleration and mid-range top-end torque. For each category we take some quick questions to answer, from what engine's acceleration does the car feel best suited to your driving style to what's better in the showroom?

The list isn't exhaustive we have included only the most common choices available. However, with many manufacturers having two or more engines and not all of them performing exactly the same way, if that changes then we'll add that to the list in due course.

So, without further ado, here's the best MX-5 engine options on the market. Mazda 3.0-litre Ride & handling 9/10. Acceleration 8/10. Reliability 8/10. Value 8/10. Top spec 1 of 18. The 3.0-litre is one of the most popular choices for driving enjoyment. In today's generation of turbocharged powerplants, Mazda is arguably the only manufacturer on the market to keep power with a turbocharger. Not only does the engine work with some of the most advanced sensors and software within the industry, but it also works well with one of the most simple powertrains.


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WMCW Admin

Reporting on news on topics such as used car industry prices, automobile recalls, site news and updates, opinion pieces about the used car market, and other appropriate automotive information.


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