What's New?
2006 marks the debut of the all-new, third-generation MX-5 Miata. Mazda's two-seat roadster now boasts better accommodations for tall drivers, a stiffer body structure, as well as a new and larger engine, yet weight is up only 27 lbs. compared to the previous version. The Miata will be sold in five versions: new entry-level Club Spec, Base, Touring, Sport, and the top-of-the-line Grand Touring.

Overview
The Mazda Miata started the retro-roadster revolution when it first appeared in 1989. Modeled after two-seat drop-tops like the MG Midget and Lotus Elan, the Miata had all the charm of these little British sports cars with one major difference: it was reliable. In the following years, nearly every major automaker brought a new roadster to market, but the Miata stuck to the same basic formula. Its charm is in its simplicity.

The latest iteration of the Miata bears a great deal of resemblance to the original: two seats, an inline four-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive, and a soft top that can be opened with a flick of the wrist. The most noticeable difference is the shape; instead of the "Coke-bottle" proportions of the first two generations, the new Miata is widest at the passenger compartment. Though slightly larger than the previous version, weight is up only 27 lbs. This is important as light weight is key to the Miata driving experience. Leg room is up slightly, the seats now offer an additional two inches of fore-and-aft travel, and a new tilt steering column adds 1.3 inches of vertical movement. The body structure is stiffer, and the steering system and four-wheel-independent suspension are tuned for the sharp response and feedback for which the Miata is known.

At 2.0 liters, the new engine is the largest of any Miata to date, and its 170-hp output is just 8 hp shy of the turbocharged MX-5 version offered by MAZDASPEED, Mazda’s tuning division, in 2004. The standard transmission is a 5-speed manual; options include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic, the latter replacing the 4-speed automatic in last year's Miata.

J.D. Power and Associates Research
What do owners think about the quality of Mazda MX-5 Miata as it comes off the assembly line?
MX-5 Miata ranks highest in initial quality in the compact sporty car segment in the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Initial Quality Study.^SM MX-5 Miata performs well in the seats, HVAC, and audio/entertainment/navigation system categories. MX-5 Miata performs better than segment average in the engine/transmission, seats, exterior, the driving experience, and features/controls/displays categories.

The Competition
The MX-5 Miata competes in the Compact Sporty segment, where buyers seek thrills in a wide variety of packages, from two-seat roadsters like the Miata to all-wheel-drive, rally-inspired sedans like the Subaru Impreza WRX/STi and Mitsubishi Lancer.

According to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM the Scion tC was the sales leader in this segment for calendar year 2005 with 74,415 sales, followed by the Subaru Impreza (33,637 units in 2005), and Mitsubishi Lancer (27,849). Mazda introduced the new MX-5 Miata mid-year and sold 4,241 (2005 models) and 5,361 of the new 2006 version. Other competitors in this segment include the Hyundai Tiburon, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn SKY, Subaru Outback Sport, and Volkswagen EOS and GTI.