It looks like car prices keep rising, but one iconic roadster quietly became more affordable than ever when adjusted for inflation
We all know that car prices rarely trend downward, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata has certainly followed the familiar upward curve. Back in 1989, when it made its debut as a 1990 model year, the Miata launched with a price tag of $13,800. Today, getting behind the wheel of a new one will cost you at least $29,830.
But dig a little deeper, and the numbers tell a different story. A recent report shows that when adjusted for inflation, the cost of owning a Miata has actually decreased over time.
Read: Over 9,500 People Wanted This Special Miata, 9,300 Missed Out
A closer look at historical pricing reveals that during the NA generation’s U.S. run from 1989 to 1997, the Miata’s cost gradually crept up from $13,800 to $19,125.
The second-generation NB arrived in 1998 and carried the car into the early 2000s, eventually reaching $22,098 before passing the baton to the NC. The NC launched with a base price of $20,435 and ended its production years later at $25,595.
Similarly, the current fourth-generation ND started at $25,735 back in 2015 and prices have increased since then. However, when Hagerty adjusted the base price to account for inflation, it found that Miata prices have fluctuated very differently.
The True Cost
Adjusted for inflation, the NA and NB generations top out at more than $39,000 in today’s dollars. The NC, by comparison, falls into a slightly more modest range, somewhere between $32,000 and $36,000 depending on the model year and inflation rate.
The current ND generation is noticeably more affordable. In fact, since 2022, it has been cheaper than any Miata that came before it, at least in real terms. That’s a surprising turn, especially given how many enthusiasts consider the current ND to be the best Miata yet.
To get a clearer picture beyond Hagerty’s figures, we compiled our own list of original MSRPs and ran them through the official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator.
Using the introductory price from each generation’s actual debut production year (not the model year), we adjusted everything to November 2025 dollars. The resulting table offers a more direct comparison of how the base model’s real-world cost has changed over time.
What’s Next for the MX-5?
Mazda is working on a new generation of the Miata, reportedly set to arrive in 2027. While official details are still sparse, early reports suggest it will feature the company’s 2.5-liter SkyActiv Z engine, likely putting out just over 200 horsepower.
Also: Everything We Know About The Next Generation MX-5 NE
More interesting, though, is Mazda’s reported weight target. According to the company, engineers are aiming to keep the next-gen car under 2,205 pounds (1,000 kg), which would make it even lighter than the current ND. Whether they can hit that number, and do so without pushing the price higher, remains to be seen
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Brad Anderson’s lifelong affair and fascination with cars started young. Before even graduating high school,… Read full bio

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