Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today

Mazda's MX-5 is iconic, but the first generation of the car is perhaps the one we should all consider buying

The Mazda MX-5 is easily one of the premier sports cars in the world. The little Japanese roadster has been with us for quite a few decades now, and is still going strong thanks to Mazda’s continuing desire to evolve the car, and keep on making something great. The fact we might get an electric version one day should mean the MX-5 stays with us for generations to come, perhaps for the rest of time. It is an all-time great car.

The thing is though, as it has evolved, the MX-5 has become bigger, a bit more bloated, and not quite as unique as it once was. There is nothing wrong with that per se, It's how most cars have evolved over time. But there are many out there who, should they ever buy an MX-5, would prefer to have the original MX-5, perhaps the holy grail of the Mazda sports car. The first generations of the MX-5 are some of the most distinctive sports cars in the world, and easily some of the best looking. If you ever have a chance to own one, you should do so in a heartbeat.

Mazda unveiled the first generation of the MX-5 at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989, although initially in Japan it was sold as the Eunos Roadster. Post-war British sports cars such as the Triumph Spitfire had inspired the design, lending a sleek and elegant shape to the little roadster. Its small size certainly surprised people a bit, and its all-steel construction with lightweight aluminum-hood meant it was one of the lightest sports cars of the day. It was under the hood though where the MX-5 really did shine.

The first generation of the MX-5 did of course come with a manual transmission, and a 1.6-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine that gave the little sports car 115 hp. Electronic fuel injection was also a feature, and the transmission within the car was a five-speed. The NA car also featured pop-up headlights, a feature that wouldn’t last too long in the lifespan of the car thanks to changing regulations across the world. It was the driving experience though that really allowed the Mazda to shine though, as those behind the wheel realized that the MX-5 was a truly special car.

RELATED: What To Look For When Buying A Used 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata

For starters, the styling of the original MX-5 is reason alone to buy the car. The MX-5 now is bigger than it ever was and has more angles and bulges, but the original MX-5 has a simple and clean design that still endears to this day. Its recognizable anywhere, and still looks quite modern in many ways. But the driving experience really sells the car. The MX-5 NA has an incredibly responsive throttle, allowing for the deftest touch to get the power out of the car. Then we come on to the transmission within the car.

The gear lever itself is quite stubby, but it allows for a sharp and quick throw into each gear. The gearbox itself is a phenomenal piece of engineering, almost on a par of that in the Honda S2000. The engine itself is one of the smoothest you can find in any sports car, and it's quite throaty given it is only a 1.6-liter powerplant. But it shows you don’t need a seven liter V10 or V12 to produce the best soundtrack. The double wishbone suspension, independent we might add, allows the MX-5 to flex its muscles on tight and twisty roads.

Part of the reason as to why the MX-5 is so good is that Mazda kept the weight down for this first generation. A 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel drive also helps, but had Mazda added a bigger and more powerful engine, the weight would have gone up. We all know that more weight equals more cumbersome handling, and that is not what this car is all about. Mazda reinvented the lightweight sports car, which is in part why the MX-5 is still made, sold, and still so successful.

RELATED: 10 Things To Know Before Buying The 2023 Mazda CX-5

We can’t deny just how good the MX-5 is. Even if you aren’t a fan of the car, and that’s perfectly okay, you have to acknowledge just what a fine job Mazda has done with the car, to make it so good after so many generations. But it all stems right back to that first generation NA MX-5, the original and maybe even the best MX-5 to ever grace the roads. Mazda wouldn’t have known back then what they were about to create. What they did create though was one of the greatest automobiles that the world has ever seen.

Sources: Mazda, Classic Cars For Sale, Classics World

Covering anything from JDM cars to classic jets. Contributed to HotCars since the Autumn of 2018. Writes features, news and list articles.