MAZDA MX-5 / Miata 2005-2008 Photos, engines & full specs

The Mazda MX5/Miata continued its successful road all over the world with the introduction of its third generation in 2005.

When the Japanese car-maker designed the MX5, it took the British roadster as an example, but it made it better. The secret behind the MX5 success was the reliability, which was not common among some British roadsters. On top of that, it was fuel-efficient. It was a fun, daily-driver vehicle.

While the first two generations looked like they didn't know their place on the market, the third generation came with a firm foot and very sure that it knew where it belongs: everywhere. Maybe it was not the most successful design for the MX5. The headlights were not swept on the sides, and the grille looked too small in the front apron. The molds on the wheel-arches made the car look wider and more muscular. The designers claimed that it wanted to give the vehicle a Sumo-fighter look, even though it was a light car.

The interior was fit for two passengers and offered enough legroom and headroom. The car-maker listened to its customers who complained about headroom on the NB (second generation) MX5/Miata, so it made the car large enough to fit taller drivers. The NB was available as a convertible with a manual canvas top or an electrical retractable hard-top.

The platform was a mix of different vehicles from the Mazda range. The front suspension was carried over from the RX8. A limited-slip differential was available depending on the engine and region. Depending on the market, the MX5 was fitted with a 5- or 6-speed manual. A six-speed automatic was available.