Ah, the Mazda MX-5 Miata. Everyone’s favorite pint-sized roadster. It’s cheap, spunky, and made for those warm summer afternoons when there’s not a cloud in the sky. Buy the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and you’ll be soaking up those rays in style. But as undeniably cool as this convertible may be, you may be wondering – how many miles can a Mazda MX-5 Miata actually last? It turns out, that answer might surprise you.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata is an undeniably popular car

There’s no denying that the Miata is a popular car. It boasts a storied history and, for more than 30 years, has been the go-to pick for convertible shoppers on a budget. It comes powered by a 181-hp engine and, according to Car and Driver, can move from zero to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds. All in all, Car and Driver says, “This is a fun car, plain and simple.”

But that fun to drive nature isn’t the only thing contributing to the Miata’s popularity. Forbes reports that its low price tag is another selling point among car shoppers. Opt for a new model, and you can expect to spend about $26,830. Upgrade to the Grand Touring, and you’ll be spending $31,770. For a sports car, that’s really not that bad.

But is the Miata reliable?

As it turns out, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is pretty reliable too. According to Consumer Reports, this year’s model earned a perfect reliability rating. But such a high score shouldn’t be all that surprising. Consumer Reports has actually given the Mazda MX-5 Miata a five out of five reliability verdict nearly every year that it’s rated it. The only model to earn less than a perfect score was the 2010 Miata, which earned a four out of five reliability rating.

How many miles can a Mazda MX-5 Miata actually last?

But how many miles can you really expect a Mazda MX-5 Miata to last? As cool, reliable, and affordable as it may be, if it can’t actually go the distance, then who cares? Fortunately, according to this study from iSee Cars, you can count on the Miata to be well-prepared for the road ahead.

Because according to iSee Cars, which analyzed more than 15.8 million cars sold in 2019 to find out which models have the highest percentage of cars that reached 200,000 miles, the Miata can last for a very long time. In fact, according to iSee Cars, 2.1% of Mazda MX-5 Miata models sold in 2019 made it to 200,000-miles. 

Does this pint-sized roadster deserve a spot in your driveway?

Now, the Miata is affordable. It’s also reliable. And, according to iSee Car’s data, the Miata has the potential to last for at least 200,000-miles. Those are all very good selling points. But does that mean you should buy a Miata? Maybe. A test drive certainly couldn’t hurt.