25 years of the Mazda MX-5 Miata through the Consumer Reports lens

From an unlikely start, the nimble Mazda MX-5 Miata became the standard-bearer for the automaker's performance philosophy, and now it stands poised to further its legend, with an all-new model coming for 2017.

The original zoom-zoom roadster provided the American car market with a type of sports car that had all but vanished from dealers by the late 1980s, and it has gone on to define the modern roadster archetype. As Mazda recently previewed the next-generation Miata, we thought the time was right to look back at this engaging, influential car through the years.

How it all began

Incredibly, the Miata was conceived with help from an auto journalist. In 1976, Mazda asked Bob Hall from Motor Trend what car they should build. And what started as friendly discussion turned into a career move, as Hall joined Mazda in 1981 to develop the car that would become the Miata. In February of 1989, the first-generation (codenamed NA) Miata debuted at the Chicago Auto Show.

Our road test of the Miata ran April 1990, in which we declared, "The Roadster Returns." At the time, Consumer Reports seldom tested convertibles or even two-seaters, but the MX-5 Miata could not be ignored. The Japanese roadster was unlike anything else at the time, and it carried with it the spirit of British roadsters such as the Austin-Healy Sprite and Triumph TR3.

Check out the latest road tests and Ratings of the 2014 Mazda Miata.

We praised the easy-to-use manual convertible top, yet derided the MX-5 for ride, noise quality, and minimal trunk space. But the original Miata earned "Excellent" scores for acceleration, transmission feel, routine handling, emergency handling, and braking—the facets that best define a sports car. It also scored well in less-glamorous testing fields such as heating and air conditioning, displays, and bumpers.

No sophomore slump

The Miata would grace the magazine pages again in October of 1997, in our cars preview issue, and it was road-tested for the 1998 edition of our annual autos issue. At the time, we commended the second-generation (NB) Miata for the move from flip-up headlights to fixed assemblies (with the anticipation that it may improve reliability) and for making a glass rear window standard equipment.

We wouldn't have to wait long to give that Miata a real shakedown. It was featured in our August 1998 magazine as part of a sports car shootout that included the BMW Z3, Chevrolet Corvette, and first-generation Porsche Boxster. "Measured by fun factor alone," we said of the Mazda in our road test, "the Miata is the equal of any car in this group, at a fraction of the price." Adding, "It's the easiest and least intimidating to drive."

That Miata drew criticism for its tight cockpit (charitably described as "intimate") and the complicated operation of the manual top. Regardless, the plucky second-edition Miata eared a "Recommended" rating from us, as we called it "An honest car that's fun to drive."

Bigger and faster for Act III

The third-generation (NC) Miata arrived in 2005 as a 2006 model-year vehicle. The design of the new Miata was closer to that of the original, but it was larger, and featured a more powerful engine. We were instantly impressed with how far the Miata had come. Ride quality had improved, the interior grew, and the manual top had become a breeze to operate.

Though the trunk was still rated as "Worse" (as it has been in every generation), the 0-60 mph time had improved greatly. While the NA ran a 10 second 0-60 mph time and the NB did it in 9 seconds, the third-gen Miata sprinted to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds. Most important, the ride and handling were dialed in to the point where we called the Miata "an extension of the driver."

Through three generations, that connection of driver and machine has defined the Miata. While developing the Miata, Mazda stuck to a credo: Jinba ittai. Loosely translated, it means "rider, horse, as one body." Our staff at the track is looking forward to see whether that extension of the driver is still at the heart of the next Mazda MX-5 Miata.

—George Kennedy