Miata and Mustang Are Among the Last Affordable Convertibles

The Mazda MX-5 Miata and Ford Mustang represent the end of a very fun automotive era. If you’re looking for a classic front-engined, rear-wheel-drive open-roof sports car in America that won’t destroy your bank account, here are your only choices.

Frankly, this realization kind of crept up on us. The Camaro is dead, and there’s no sign of a Nissan Z convertible in the works. The Corvette has long moved past its “under $60,000” starting price, and even then, it’s not exactly an affordable option. Unless Subaru and Toyota decided to whack the roof from the BRZ and GR86, motoring enthusiasts are left with very few reasonable options.

That is, at least when it comes to sports cars. You could nab an entry-level Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler with a soft top at a reasonable price. But those off-roaders don’t evoke the sports car spirit, for obvious reasons. There’s also the Mini Cooper, which slips below the Mustang as the cheapest four-seat convertible in America, with a starting price of $34,945. Minis have long been terrifically fun to drive, but they align more with the hot-hatch segment than sports cars. And the Mini is front-wheel drive.

So that brings us back to Miata and Mustang, two unlikely partners in an SUV-dominated world. We never thought we’d be cross-shopping these cars, but if your desires are open sky and rear-wheel drive for under $50,000, this is all you get. Here’s how they stack up.

There are some wildly different numbers there, but that reflects the different nature of these vehicles. The Mustang obviously is the larger of the two, and by a rather significant margin when you compare them side-by-side. It’s taller, longer, wider, and frankly, far better suited for sports car tomfoolery if you regularly have a passenger. Technically, the Mustang is a four-seater, but the back isn’t exactly a friendly place for adult-sized people. Think of it more as extra space for some quick-access bags or carrying kids to the beach in style. Provided the beach is just a few miles away.

Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

The size makes Mustang a comfortable, fun grand tourer. The trunk is large enough for a week’s worth of luggage for two, never mind what you stuff in the back seat. And the 315-hp turbo-four is rich with torque, enough to pull nicely when the road opens up. You can nab 60 mph from a standstill in a little over 5 seconds, which isn’t exactly slow. And the EcoStang doesn’t handle bad, either.

The Miata, however, handles like a boss. With a curb weight under 2,500 pounds and a near 50/50 weight distribution, it very much carries on like a true sports car. The 181-hp engine feels stronger than it actually is, and the car’s handling limits are largely beyond anything you’ll reach on the street. It’s certainly the elemental choice of this pair, serving up all kinds of analog fun versus the Mustang’s digital experience. That includes the six-speed manual transmission—something you can’t get in an EcoBoost Mustang.

Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1

The Miata is also surprisingly good for road trips, albeit for just the driver. The ride isn’t as harsh as you’d expect, and the seating position is comfortable for long distances. Storage space in the trunk is very sparse though, with room for just a single bag. A weekend trip for two would require very light packing.

As for which is better, that’s not really the right question here. Mustang stretches the definition of a sports car in the classic sense, but it does deliver a sporty open-air experience with a front-engine/rear-drive layout. It’s easily the better touring vehicle, whereas the Miata is focused on fun, with manual controls and heavenly handling.

Should neither of these cars be to your liking, you’ll need at least $55,000 to explore other options. That’s the starting price for a new BMW Z4 Roadster. And things only get more expensive from there. Still, at least there’s some measure of choice on the lower end of the price spectrum. Tariffs might take a toll on the Miata’s affordability index, but both cars should stick around for the foreseeable future.

Fun convertibles—affordable or otherwise—are an endangered species. Enjoy them while they last.