Vehicle Overview

Ever since Mazda introduced the Miata as an early 1990 model, it's officially been known as the MX-5 Miata. Anyone who has known the model, however, has known it as the Miata. Mazda discarded the Miata designation upon the model's 2006 redesign. Officially, the two-seater is dubbed MX-5, but if you refer to it that way, expect a blank stare.

Changes for 2008 include the car's first-ever driver's seat height adjustment, a standard tire pressure monitoring system and, in the Touring and Grand Touring trim levels, a six-CD changer.

Now in its second year, the optional power-retractable hardtop gives the car greater four-season appeal, though it wouldn't be our first choice for winter driving (or even our 100th). A manual vinyl top is standard, and a cloth soft-top comes in the higher trim levels. The retractable hardtop takes up no trunk space.

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    Liftgate
    WARNING. Never allow a person to ride in the luggage compartment: Allowing a person to ride in the luggage compartment is dangerous. The person in the luggage compartment could be seriously inj ...

    Styling
    By modern standards, the Miata is a small car, measuring just 13 feet from end to end and standing just 49 inches tall. Its low-slung, athletic shape is appealing, and its proportions are just rig ...

    Advanced Key Suspend Function
    If one advanced key is left in the vehicle and a second advanced key is used to lock it, the functions of the advanced key left in the vehicle is temporarily suspended to prevent theft of the vehi ...