September 3, 2024 at 4:40 AM Updated: Mazda MX-5 Miata Generation 2016-2024 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata The fourth-generation Miata brings a delightful combination of precise steering, sublime back-road handling, impressive reliability, and admirable fuel economy that makes this small sports car uniquely rewarding. Commemorating the roadster’s 30th anniversary, it became even more desirable for 2019 with a significant performance boost, as the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was thoroughly updated, increasing output from 155 to 181 horsepower. The manual cloth top is a cinch to raise and lower from within the cabin; a retractable hardtop, known as the RF, is also available. For 2020 the sport suspension was fitted to the Grand Touring with a manual transmission, and Android Auto/Apple Carplay became available. Older models could be retrofitted for Apple CarPlay by a Mazda dealer. Any year among this generation is desirable, but those later years with the power increase are the ones to covet. What It Takes for a Used Car to Be CR Recommended To earn our recommendation, used cars must have performed well in CR’s road tests when they were new, have consistently above-average reliability for multiple years, according to our surveys of CR members, and have standard electronic stability control (ESC) for the model year. (ESC became standard on all cars starting with the 2012 model year, but many models had it even earlier.) Road Tests Every car we purchase new is put through a comprehensive program that includes tests for acceleration, braking, emergency handling, and fuel economy. We also evaluate usability, fit and finish, noise, ride, and safety systems. For electric vehicles, we consider factors such as charging speed and range. This exhaustive program informs our used-car recommendations and results in a vast archive of comprehensive road tests for car shoppers. Reliability Comprehensive reliability ratings based on member surveys reveal how well a car holds up and specifically where problems may arise. Recommended used cars have above-average reliability compared with other cars of the same model year. The Used Car Top Picks have proven to have multiple years of strong reliability scores.