2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata buyer's guide, pricing, and specs

After more than 35 years and four generations, the Mazda MX-5 Miata lives on. The ND, as it’s internally known, has been in production since 2015 and is currently offered in three trims: Sport, Club, and Grand Touring.

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The Sport's lowest trim starts at $28,985. The Club, the more track-oriented model, has an MSRP of $32,485. At the top of the ladder is the more luxurious Grand Touring, which has a fitting price tag of $34,285.

Each is designed to excel in a specific area and has its own features and equipment. We'll break down the differences between the three to help you choose the one that best suits you.

The MX-5 Miata’s engine may be a four-cylinder, but it’s peppy

Under the hood, all three of the Miata’s trims use the same SKYACTIV-G33 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder engine, putting out 181 hp. Backing that engine is either a SKYACTIV 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed sport automatic transmission for the Grand Touring. For better traction, that 6-speed manual can be paired with an asymmetric, torque-sensing limited-slip differential on all but the Sport trim. The Sport also gets regular Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), while the Club and Grand Touring come with DSC Track as standard, hinting towards their more racey pedigrees.

Sport-tuned suspension gives the Miata a leg up in handling

Underneath, the front suspension setup varies based on the specific model's intended use. The Sport features a standard 4-wheel independent suspension with a double wishbone, aluminum control arms, and monotube dampers.

The Miata Club and Grand Touring models upgrade the suspension with sport-tuned Bilstein dampers, but this enhancement is only available on models equipped with a manual transmission.

The Club trim adds a special Brembo/BBS Recaro Package

But wait, there’s more! The Club is the only Miata with an optional equipment package. For $4500, you can spec your little Japanese roadster with the Brembo/BBS Recaro Package, adding in Brembo front brakes with Red calipers, Mazda rear brakes with Red calipers, BBS forged 17" alloys finished in Dark Gunmetal, heated RECARO sport seats and an aero kit comprised of side sill extensions and a rear bumper skirt.

Grand Touring features advanced lighting and exterior upgrades

Exterior equipment is where the differences shine. The Sport lacks the LED daytime running lights of the other two, so it opts for regular lights. The Grand Touring takes the lighting game to the next level with auto on/off headlights, an adaptive front-lighting system to not blind oncoming drivers, and automatic high beams.

The Grand Touring also has rain-sensing variable-intermittent windshield wipers, body-colored heated power mirrors, and an auto-dimming driver's side mirror. The other two only get regular wipers and regular black mirrors.

The Miata Club trim gets aerodynamic upgrades as standard

On the accessory side, the Club gets a lip spoiler and front air dam to help with those track sessions. The Sport and Grand Touring can add an appearance package for $1560, including the Club’s standard aero accessories and those added in the Brembo/BBS Recaro Package. The lip spoiler can be added on its own for $360.

A small detail, but the Club and Grand Touring are equipped with a “shark fin” antenna on the trunk in addition to the standard mast antenna.

Trim levels differ by wheel size and finish too

The more inexpensive the trim, the smaller the wheels, which is how the rule usually goes, and the Miata is no exception. That leaves the Sport with 16” alloys with a Metallic black finish, while the Club and Grand Touring get them in 17”. The only difference between the upper two is that the Grand Touring’s wheels get a machine gun finish.

Mazda brings diverse color options with exclusive shades for Club and Grand Touring trims

The current generation Miata is available in a multitude of colors that thankfully extend beyond shades of gray and black. The roster includes Soul Red Crystal Metallic, Machine Gray Metallic, Jet Black Mica (standard on all three trims), Deep Crystal Blue Mica, Snowflake White Pearl Mica, and Aero Gray.

The Club and Grand Touring both have their exclusive colors. The Club offers Deep Crystal Blue Mica at no extra cost, while the Grand Touring offers Machine Gray Metallic for an additional $595. The Sport is more limited, offering only Jet Black Mica and Soul Red Crystal Metallic as options.

The interiors vary in convenience and luxury based on their specific uses

The interior convenience features are the same as those of the Sport and the Club. The Grand Touring adds automatic climate control in place of the regular AC, Mazda Radar Cruise Control on models with the automatic transmission, and a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink. It's real revolutionary stuff.

The interior finishes are another easy way to tell the triplets apart. The Sport gets regular cloth seats with a black seat back bar and upper door trims. The Club adds suede inserts to the seats, makes them heated, and swaps the black seat back bar trim for a black piano one. The upper door trim is also paint-matched.

The Grand Touring takes the Club’s heated seats and wraps them in full leather. It keeps the trims the same but adds black doorsill trim plates with stainless steel inserts. Not into black leather? An extra $300 turns it into tan nappa leather. It’s not much, but it definitely gives it a bit of an upper-class feel. The leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob, and parking brake handle are thankfully standard across all three.

Mazda also offers a few interior aesthetic packages, such as the Interior Package, Interior Lighting Package, and Weather Package, that can be added to a trim’s standard equipment.

Club and Grand Touring trims offer Bose audio, while Grand Touring includes navigation

If you’re an audiophile, you’ll want to opt for the Club or the Grand Touring and their Bose 9-speaker audio system with a subwoofer and headrest speakers instead of the Sport’s 6-speaker system. Those two also come with SiriusXM, but only the Grand Touring gets Mazda’s navigation system.

Final thoughts

Overall, the Mazda MX-5 Miata offers a little bit for everyone. Are you looking for a no-frills little sports car to toss around corners? Buy yourself a Sport. Want a more track-tuned Miata with upgraded suspension and optional aero equipment? The Club is for you. Want a cushier, fancier Miata that can still handle curvy roads? Mazda will gladly sell you a Grand Touring.

I would have honestly expected the Club to have fewer amenities, given that it’s supposed to be the track-oriented model. When I think Club, I think of the Porsche Clubsport, which is as close to a barebones race car for the road as you can get. The Miata Club even has the same curb weight as the other two trims, although the added aerodynamics should give it a slight advantage.

In the end, though, we’re more than glad that Mazda continues to offer a lightweight roadster for the masses. With a market oversaturated by massive SUVs and trucks, cars like the MX-5 Miata, Toyota GR86, and others like it are a welcome breath of fresh air. Long live the small car!

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