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What If... Mazda Turned the MX-5 Miata Into a Sporty Electric Crossover?

Relax, this is one of those things that will never happen, literally. Ok, more like probably. Oh man, who are we kidding, “they” used the Mustang name for a crossover, so I guess nothing’s off the table anymore in terms of carmakers chasing profits. And this is how you go through multiple emotions in a single paragraph.
Mazda MX-5 SUV rendering 7 photos
Photo: Joao Kleber Amaral for autoevolution
Mazda MX-5 SUV renderingMazda MX-5 SUV renderingMazda MX-5 SUV renderingMazda MX-5 SUV renderingMazda MX-5 SUV renderingMazda MX-5 SUV rendering
I don’t want to see a crossover version of the Mazda MX-5 Miata any more than you do, but for the sake of argument, as well as plausibility, here we are talking about it, and showing it to you. But let’s start off by looking at what makes the MX-5 special and why it’s perfect just as it is.

Originally marketed as the Mazda Roadster, back in the late 80s, the MX-5 has long been considered to be a spiritual successor to Italian and British sports cars from the 1950s and 60s. The fact that the first-generation model looked a little like the Lotus Elan was no coincidence.

Fast forward a few decades and the MX-5 established itself as the best-selling two-seater sports car in the world. Let that sink in for a second. This is one of the most iconic nameplates in the entire automotive sector and you’ll rarely find anybody willing to say anything bad about it. Personally, I hope the MX-5 will still be going strong many decades from now too – of course, it will be fully electric at some point.

Another interesting nugget regarding this car is how it managed to register its name in the Guinness Book of World Records not just once, but twice. First for selling just over 530,000 units in just ten years, and then when it reached 800,000 units, back in 2007.

Mazda MX\-5 SUV rendering
Photo: Joao Kleber Amaral for autoevolution
This type of sustained greatness requires a very solid recipe and not much has changed since its inception all those years ago. The MX-5 was and still is small, nimble, lightweight and incredibly fun to drive.

You also won’t find many alternatives in the MX-5's price range. The Honda S2000 has been its closest rival throughout the years, but cars like the BMW Z4 or the Audi TT are considerably more expensive. Then there’s the Fiat 124 Spider to consider, but that’s basically a rebadged MX-5 so it gets no points for originality.

Now, if you fancy yourself a buyer, know that you can land a 2022 MX-5 Miata in your garage for just $27,650, or $35,350 if you go for the hardtop RF variant. Still, the entry-level roadster should suffice for lots of people, with its LED headlights and taillights, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Smart City Brake Support and so on.

As for performance, it’s all down to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder unit with its 181 hp and 151 lb-ft (205 Nm) of torque. It will get you from zero to 60 mph (97 kph) in 6.5 seconds, which is more than acceptable at that price point.

Mazda MX\-5 SUV rendering
Photo: Joao Kleber Amaral for autoevolution
Anyway, it’s time to talk about our exclusive rendering of the Mazda MX-5 SUV, as part of our “What If...” series. It looks alright, doesn’t it? Perhaps a little bit too dull, but it’s not offensive or anything – like some other cars nowadays.

If by some miracle Mazda would ever build something like this while also using the MX-5 name, it would make zero sense for it to have an internal combustion engine. In fact, Ford have pretty much established the blueprint for how to invent new battery electric SUVs with the Mustang Mach-E, which is both eco-friendly and fun to drive (not to mention quick).

Then again, I don’t know many compact crossover buyers who crave sports car-like handling and maneuverability from their reasonably-sized people haulers. So, hypothetically, aside from having a zero-emissions drivetrain, the car you see rendered here probably wouldn’t even stand out all that much in the real world.
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About the author: Sergiu Tudose
Sergiu Tudose profile photo

Sergiu got to experience both American and European car "scenes" at an early age (his father drove a Ford Fiesta XR2 supermini in the 80s). After spending over 15 years at local and international auto publications, he's starting to appreciate comfort behind the wheel more than raw power and acceleration.
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