How the Mazda MX-5 (Miata) continues to win the hearts of enthusiasts

The current generation Mazda MX-5, more popularly known as the ‘Miata,’ or even as the ‘Roadster’ in the brand’s home market of Japan, is by no means a new car. Nicknamed the ND, it has been around for more than a decade now, first entering production in March 2015.

It has a strong following, including here in the Philippines which is its largest market outside of Japan. Our Associate Editor Sam Surla (who I nicknamed as Boy Mazda because of his deep affection towards the brand) has also always been raving about the two-door roadster ever since we first met back in 2021. Three years later, I finally got my chance.

It’s November 16, 2024, and Mazda Philippines is holding that year’s edition of the Mazda Fan Festa PH, which included opportunities for us motoring journalists some time on the track. Here, I was lucky enough to be given the chance to drive an MX-5 RF 30th Anniversary Edition around the Clark International Speedway.

Fast forward to February 2025, I finally got my chance for a few days with the MX-5, this time on the Club Edition. Months later in October 2025, we flew to Japan to attend the Japan Mobility Show 2025. I, along with some industry colleagues who were also invited, stayed behind for a few more days once the events were over. We planned a quick day road trip to the iconic Hakone Turnpike. My choice of car rental? A Mazda Roadster.

Finally, on the day after Christmas 2025, I received a message from Mazda Philippines’ PR team informing me that they had an MX-5 tester available for my use. This was also equipped with parts from AutoExe, a tuning brand that focuses on Mazdas. 

In that span of a little more than a year, all these drives with one of Mazda’s most iconic nameplates—on the race track, in another country, and living with it for a few days, helps me understand why it has such a strong following.

Let’s get the powertrain out of the way first.

Three out of the four MX-5s I’ve driven are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine (PE-VPS) that makes 184 horsepower and 205Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the one I drove in Japan had a smaller 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (P5-VPS) that isn’t available on the local market. This one makes 131 horsepower and 150Nm. 

The first two of these vehicles (30th AE and Club Edition) had six-speed automatic transmissions, and the other two had six-speed manuals, sending all power to the rear wheels. Both powertrains are also naturally-aspirated with no forms of forced-induction such as turbochargers.

These numbers are also by no means amazing by today’s standards, but do remember that these weigh at just a hair over 1,000kg, with the Japanese convertible being the lightest at just 1,010kg, and the local RF being the heaviest at 1,133kg. This means a higher power-to-weight ratio and yes, quicker performance.

And that I immediately felt as I exited the pitlane of the Clark International Speedway, entering into the last few hundred meters of its main straight. Mazda quotes a 0-100kph acceleration time of 7.9 seconds on the RF with an automatic transmission. 

Yes, it’s not the quickest, but that’s because this car is all about handling. Ringing the engine up to its 7,000RPM redline will make you smile like a kid playing with its new toy, but pushing it around the corners will turn that grin ear-to-ear.

Despite the unit still not featuring Kinematic Posture Control (KPC), which is supposed to make the vehicle more stable when taking corners, it’s still extremely planted on tight corners even when taken at speed. This adds a lot of confidence, working very well in tandem with how the electric power-assisted steering’s tuning is designed to provide as much feedback as it can, letting you know that you are indeed going where you’re pointing the wheels.

Months pass and we finally get the chance to take the MX-5 out for a few days, this time in the real world. The Club Edition features forged 17-inch BBS wheels and Bilstein sports dampers, along with Recaro sport seats. This is also now equipped with the aforementioned KPC.

And just like on the track, driving this on actual roads, albeit with the limitations of road rules, still remained a treat to enjoy. The automatic transmission is designed to mimic the way the manual shifts, especially noticeable when driving in manual mode. And the same goes, it’s not fast, but pushing it will keep your mood up.

One thing I did notice was how well supportive the Recaro sport seats were. This seemed like something unusual, and not everyone will agree with me, but that I felt even more when we flew to Japan later in the year.

Of course, the MX-5 (or Roadster) that we rented from Omoshiro Rent-A-Car was bone stock. Costing us JPY 16,370 (~Php 6,200), it was a great opportunity to compare the larger engine from our market, with the smaller one we don’t get.

And to keep this concise, it felt a bit more balanced and confident as the 2.0-liter version we have is a little more front heavy. The smaller displacement engine works well with the manual which is, of course, the way to go, considering you had to rev it up high almost all the time. Despite that, it was easy to manage even in the heavy Tokyo long weekend traffic conditions (which taught us to plan better next time). It did have a bit of difficulty keeping up with the rest of our convoy which was made up of higher powered sports cars and sedans, but in no way did I find myself wanting more.

And finally, not long after, we had our third local opportunity with the MX-5, this time with an AutoExe-equipped unit. AutoExe is a Tokyo-based company that specializes in Mazda tuning parts, say something like Mugen is to Honda, somewhere in that league.

This MX-5 AutoExe is equipped with a Tower Brace Set and Member Brace Set which are designed to make the vehicle more rigid, therefore improving handling. Meanwhile, an AutoExe M/T shift knob and Carbon Key Cover add a dose of sportiness to what’s already a very sporty vehicle.

While the tito in me did not push this around as much as I did in previous drives as I just wanted to appreciate life with such a car, you can still definitely feel the difference, especially with how even more agile the car has become. 

And manually rowing through the gears, in a local setting this time, just made it even more attractive to me, especially feeling that satisfying substantial click in the gear shifter whenever you change gears.

It’s a raw feeling car that keeps you connected. Man and machine, or as Mazda says, horse and rider, that’s what makes this two-door roadster extremely attractive.

Equally as attractive as the way the Miata drives is its looks. It’s small—measuring at just 3,915mm long and 1,735mm wide. It also wears an undeniably cute aesthetic with a smiley face-like front grille and slim headlights which look like eyes.

The color choices too. The MX-5 RF 30th Anniversary Edition was painted in an exclusive and very vibrant Racing Orange paint job, while the Club Edition was painted in Mazda’s signature Soul Red Crystal. On the other hand, our Japan rental was finished in Platinum Quartz Metallic, and the AutoExe-fitted unit was in Deep Crystal Blue, a personal favorite.

Downsides? Well, its small dimensions equate to less usable space. For instance, the trunk can only carry so much with just 130L of space. Thankfully, it’ll be more than enough for quick weekend getaways and trips around the city. You won’t be finding a glove compartment here, and storage cubbies are tiny.

The roadster’s size is also perfect for people of my size. At five feet and seven inches of height, it’s just right. From finding the proper driving position to having enough room to move around, not an issue at all for me. It’ll be a different story though once you have someone taller inside.

Cupholders? They’re removable and transferable giving a little bit more practicality depending on how much room your passenger needs. At least they can fit bigger water bottles with no issue.

But these are all parts of its charm, and that it definitely has loads of. Four times, all happy. The Mazda MX-5 has definitely been successful in putting a huge smile on my face, the same big smile it has on its front fascia.

It doesn’t have the tech that new cars, especially those oriented towards performance driving, have. And that’s the whole point of this car. It’s raw, it gives you the true feeling of what it’s like and how fun it really is to drive a proper car. 

As a German brand would say, this is sheer driving pleasure. It may not be for everyone, but everyone I know who has driven one, and everyone I know who currently owns one, all share the same love for what is the most real car we can get in our market today. 

And as I write this, a very good friend of ours, who accompanied us on a couple of these Miata experiences, is now waiting for his brand-new Mazda MX-5 M/T to be built to his specifications from the Mazda factory in Hiroshima, Japan. It captured his heart from a single drive in Japan, simply because it made a connection.

Mazda MX-5 (ND) | Key Information

Engine	2.0-liter Inline 4-Cylinder Skyactiv-G (PE-VPS) (Philippines), or 1.5-liter Inline 4-Cylinder Skyactiv-G (P5-VPS) (Japan)
Output	184 horsepower, 205Nm (2.0) 131 horsepower, 150Nm (1.5)
Transmission	6-speed manual or automatic transmission
Drivetrain	RWD
Seating Capacity	2 (including driver)
Price	Starts at Php 2,300,000 (as of January 2026)
Pros	Extremely fun and easy to drive, Strong and active owners community, Relatively affordable
Cons	Very small

_{Photos by Julian Panlilio and Sam Surla}