MX-5 Miata 2021

Just had my 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata valued after three years — depreciation far lower than I budgeted. Trouble-free ownership. A genuinely smart long-term buy.

Fourteen months, more time at the dealer than my driveway. Turbo failed at 8,000 miles, infotainment blank at 11,000 miles, persistent vibration they cannot locate. First and last experience with this brand.

Nervous buying without testing more alternatives but after 18 months: not a single unplanned shop visit. Safety features have intervened twice on the motorway. Comfortable on long journeys, easy to park. Everything you want.

Excited at purchase, reality more subdued. Positives: generous space, good fuel economy. Negatives: touchscreen freezes, rear wiper smears, lane-keeping too aggressive. Not bad but needs polish.

Spent more than budget allowed but the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata justified every dollar. Cruising at highway speeds is serene, seats are supportive over distance, tech is useful rather than gimmicky. Running costs lower than expected.

Factory fit-and-finish issues: door seal whistles at speed, dashboard rattle took three dealer visits to fix, paint imperfection on boot lid. Disappointing for this price. Car should have been right first time.

At this price point the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata is difficult to beat on pure value. Generous standard equipment, solid reliability record, and depreciation that won't sting too badly.

Solid car that does its job without exciting me. Ride comfortable, easy to drive, safety features work well. Interior materials feel a step below the price point, engine noisy when pushed. Reliable but not class-leading.

45,000 miles, zero mechanical issues. Tyres wearing evenly, everything works as day one. Resale value holding up brilliantly. The definition of a reliable long-term proposition.

40 miles each way. The 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata makes the commute genuinely enjoyable. Seats stay comfortable, adaptive cruise works brilliantly, fuel costs reasonable. After 25,000 miles nothing has gone wrong.