How The 2025 Mazda Miata Could Reshape The Budget Sports Car Market

Since its introduction in 1989 at the Chicago Auto Show, the Mazda MX-5 Miata has stood as the benchmark for sporty handling in the two-seat sports car segment due to its quality, lightweight construction, near 50:50 weight balance, precise steering response, and high levels of grip.

Equally impressive is the fact that the first-gen Mazda 1990 Miata, upon its release, made clear its intentions right off the bat by taking driving fun to a new level with its predictability and playfulness – qualities that have since come to define the Miata car.

Mazda did not stop there, however. The Miata was also very reasonably priced (it had an original price of $14,000), thus making available an affordable sports car offering reasonable performance, a richly involving driving experience, and an undeniable cool factor. This not only gave the general population the chance to own a modern sports car, but it also rekindled interest in small, lightweight cars, which had become a dying breed since the late ‘70s. The MX-5 Miata would go on to become the best-selling two-seat sports car in history, influencing modern budget sports car design along the way.

But times are changing, and the Mazda Miata desperately needs a new generation, considering the fourth-gen Miata has been in production since 2015 and is starting to get stale. Driven by competition and consumer appetite for something fresh, Mazda will introduce a new version of the Miata in 2025, with the upcoming model billed to bring a new design from the ground up. That most likely means new Miata trims, engine, interior features, improved suspension, and more. We also expect the forthcoming Miata car to stick as closely to its winning formula as possible in order to avoid the shrinking of its influence as one of the cheapest sports cars in the world today. With that being said, here’s everything we know about the future 2025 Mazda Miata, with trim levels, price, specs, and how it could reshape the budget sports car market.

Will There Be A New Mazda MX-5 Miata?

Yes, there is a new Mazda MX-5 Miata on the way for the 2025 model year. The future sports car will likely be inspired by Mazda’s Vision Study concept, which was previewed on the brand’s official Japanese YouTube channel. That model features bulging fenders, a distinctive face defined by slim headlights and an unmistakable grille, round taillights split into halves, butterfly doors, and a wraparound windshield. While we do not expect the next Miata car to come with butterfly doors, the remaining features might well make it to the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata. At the same time, we also wouldn’t be surprised to see the iconic pop-up headlights in the first-gen Mazda 1990 Miata make a comeback here.

RELATED: Mazda MX-5 Miata: Past, Present, And Future

Miata Trims: What Trim Levels Will The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata Come In?

In its current form, the Mazda MX-5 Miata typically comes in three trims: Sport, Club, and Grand Touring. We expect the new Miata to either stick to the current Mazda trim levels naming scheme for a more consistent naming structure, or transition to new Miata trims for a fresh identity.

Where Will The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata Be Built?

We expect Mazda to build the 2025 Miata car at its Hiroshima facility in Japan, where it produces the current Miata models. The Japanese automaker also made the short-lived Mazda MX-30 EV at the same location.

RELATED: 10 Changes We Expect From The Upcoming 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata

2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata Price: How Much Will The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata Cost?

With the production of the 2025 MX-5 Miata still far away, Mazda has not released the pricing information for the future sports car. However, considering the Miata’s popularity and long-standing reputation are due in part to its affordability and value, we expect the automaker to keep price increases minimal. So we anticipate that the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata price will start around the $30,000 mark, which should keep it in line with current Miata models, which begin at $28,050 (MSRP).

2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Pricing

2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata Performance: What Powertrain Will The Upcoming Miata Car Have?

Official 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata powertrain information has yet to be released. However, Mazda plans to include some form of electrification in the upcoming Miata car in order to ensure full compliance with the new Euro 7 emissions standards, which would likely imply a hybrid powertrain in the fifth-gen roadster.

While it remains to be seen exactly what gas-powered engine will come underhood the forthcoming Miata car, we expect it to bring performance improvements over the current model, which makes 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque courtesy of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata Performance Specs

RELATED: 10 Best Mazda MX-5 Miata Models You Need To Consider

What Could A New Mazda MX-5 Miata Mean For The Budget Sports Car Market?

With the next MX-5 Miata, we expect Mazda to develop a spectacular and well-engineered car that is affordable for individual consumers and thereby encourage competition and innovation in the budget sports car segment as rivals strive to improve the overall quality and features of their vehicles in order to keep up with the new Miata car. In the coming years, we can expect the future trends to resemble what we have witnessed recently, where manufacturers such as Subaru (with the BRZ), Toyota (GR86), and Scion (FR-S) made significant advancements to compete with the MX-5 Miata.

For consumers, this means more choices, lower car prices, and better quality sports cars with cutting-edge drivetrains, performance features, and styling attributes that help deliver fun-to-drive manners and responsive handling.