10 Reasons the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata is the AutoWeb Buyer’s Choice Best Convertible

Ten reasons why the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a winner? Heck, we could give you about a hundred. We've loved the Miata since it was first introduced some 25 years ago, and we're huge fans of this latest iteration — which represents the most radical change to this roadster since its introduction.

Staying true to its original flavor while keeping up with the times, the 2017 MX-5 won the AutoWeb Buyer's Choice Best Convertible of the Year award. Grab your shades, slap on some suntan lotion, and let's drop the top and motor!

There are some who might say that any convertible is a great convertible, and the truth is, we'd have a hard time arguing with them. But the fact is that not all convertibles are created equal. Some have tops that are easy to use; others are a real pain the neck — and those are often the ones you see driving top-up on a sunny day. The MX-5 Miata's convertible function is about as easy as it gets — all the more remarkable because it's operated manually. Flip open the latch and give the top a healthy shove upwards, and that's it — gravity does the rest, and the Miata is open to the sun. Closing it is just as easy; just reach over your shoulder and pull. You don't need to be very tall or have loads of upper-arm strength to make it work, and that's why you see so many Miatas with the top down.

Prefer to avoid too much manual labor? No problem. Mazda also offers the MX-5 RF, which has a retractable power-operated metal roof.

Back in the 1950s, a swarm of two-seat British roadsters invaded the U.S. They started a sports-car revolution by making American drivers realize that there was more to motoring than chrome, fins, and pillow-soft suspensions.

The MX-5 Miata reminds us why roadsters are such great cars. Small and light, they are inherently great handlers, but this Mazda seems to transcend the roadster norm. Driving it feels as if your brain is hard-wired to the car. You think about what you want, and the car just seems to do it. Mazda talks about creating a “one-ness” between driver and car, and the MX-5 Miata makes that happen.

Pricing for the 2017 Miata starts below $25,000 — and if you’ve ever shopped for a convertible, you know that’s a great deal. The basic Miata Sport comes nicely equipped, with air conditioning and power accessories. The Club model, which is aimed towards enthusiasts with several performance-oriented suspension and steering upgrades, lists for just under $29k.

If you’re not constrained by a tight budget, the leather-trimmed Grand Touring model starts around $30,000. That’s much less than even the base prices of many luxury-branded convertibles.

One of the problems with owning a sports car is that they can be expensive to own. Not the Miata — it has an EPA combined rating of 29 mpg with either its manual or automatic transmission.

Mazda also has a good reputation for well-built cars, and many classic Miatas are still running around with six figures on the odometer. If you’re looking for a long-term relationship with your convertible, the MX-5 Miata should reward you with reasonable maintenance bills and minimal repair costs.

One of the goals of the latest Miata was to change the car’s look and feel. The interior of today's MX-5 is a thing of beauty, with high-quality materials and easy-to-use controls. The seats are designed to hold you in place while cornering, and the control layout offers minimal distractions while driving quickly.

Although, for tall people, an extended “test sit” at the dealership is needed, and trunk space is a bit small,  the good news is that the lowering the roof doesn't affect your trunk space. Even with these limitations, more convertible shoppers want price quotes on the MX-5 Miata than any other convertible. 

When the Miata was introduced, it was in some ways a copy of legendary British roadsters — but that was 25 years ago, and now the Miata itself is the legend for a new generation of car enthusiasts.

Mazda celebrated the Miata’s status by re-imagining the car for 2016. The latest iteration is a clean break from recent tradition. That’s a good thing, because this new one is better looking and more driver-focused than the Miata has been in many, many years. We think the current Miata is destined to become a classic, just as the original model is considered a classic now.

Mazda has offered a power-retractable hardtop version of the Miata for years. The key advantage to a folding metal roof is that the car is as quiet and weathertight as a steel-roof coupe when the lid is closed. But this year's MX-5 Miata RF is more than simply functional. Designer Jaques Flynn fitted the car with a flying-buttress roof that makes it look like a real sports coupe when the roof is on — giving it a close resemblance to classics like the Ferrari 275 GTB. It's so beautiful that you'll almost hate to put the roof down!

When the RF's top is lowered, the rear window stays in place, giving you all the open-air feeling of a regular convertible with a bit less wind buffeting. The Mazda MX-5 RF is a brilliantly engineered car that is as beautiful as it is practical.

If you’re an aspiring racer, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is a great way to get involved in autocrossing, a type of timed racing that takes place on small, tight courses. Autocross events are usually held in parking lots rather than full-size race tracks, making them relatively affordable to organize. And the course layouts emphasize agility over raw speed, which keeps the risk low and the fun factor high.

With its small size, quick responses and rear-wheel drive handling bias, the Miata is a natural-born autocross champ, and it provides a great way to learn about performance driving in the best way possible: doing it in a safe and enjoyable environment.

When the Mazda MX-5 Miata was introduced way back in 1989, it was designed to be a recreation of the classic British roadsters of the 1950s — but without their rampant electrical and mechanical problems. It delivered what it promised, and buyers bought them like mad.

Today, reliable roadsters are easier to find, but Mazda’s commitment to quality is still an important issue for buyers. The MX-5 has an excellent track record; many Miatas are owned by enthusiastic drivers, and are ridden hard as a result — and yet they continued to offer reliable service.

Top-down motoring is one of life’s finest felicities, and we firmly believe that everyone should own a convertible at least once in their life. And if you’re going to do it — and if you can live with a two-seat car — the 2017 MX-5 Miata is a great way to go.

It’s not a mere convertible; it’s a sporty roadster. So not only do car buyers enjoy the sun on their face and the wind in their hair, but they also enjoy the road as it unwinds beneath them. No surprise, then, that more convertible shoppers pick the Mazda Miata MX-5.