Selling more than a million units of a single nameplate is an achievement. When the car in question is a compact, 2-seater roadster, that feat is even more impressive. Mazda got the recipe right when they relaunched the roadster movement in 1989 with the first Mazda MX-5. Since then there have been four generations, each one improving on the last in some way, shape or form.
Related: The Mazda MX-5 – Everything you need to know.
While some will appreciate the simple nature of the first generation, there's no denying that the third and fourth generations are considerably easier to live with, especially if you intend on using the car on a daily basis.
| Model | Years | Noteworthy features |
| Mazda MX-5 NA | 1989 - 1998 | Pop-up headlights. 1.6 or 1.8-litre |
| Mazda MX-5 NB | 2001 - 2005 | 1.8-litre. Airconditioning |
| Mazda MX-5 NC | 2006 - 2015 | 2.0-litre. Soft top or folding hardtop |
| Mazda MX-5 ND | 2016 - 2017 | 2.0-litre. Soft top |
| Mazda MX-5 ND RF | 2017 - present | 2.0-litre. Folding hardtop. Auto only. |
One can still get the Mazda MX-5 RF with its retractable folding roof (RF) new off the showroom floor but the roadster model has been discontinued locally. Check these links below to find one of the models you're looking for, at the price you can afford.
1. Mazda MX-5 NA - 1989 - 1998
The first Mazda MX-5 is much loved by their owners and clicking on the link above may not always yield results. Keep checking back to see what's on offer, or even better, set an alert and we'll let you know when one pops up for sale.
2. Mazda MX-5 NB - 2001 - 2005
Act fast! Prices for the NB generation Mazda MX-5 are starting to climb. This search may also not result in many results so set an alert and never miss out again!
3. Mazda MX-5 NC - 2006 - 2015
Forget what the internet says about the NC generation being "a boat", the NC is still an engaging car to drive and the 2.0-litre engine is amongst the most powerful fitted to the MX-5.
4. Mazda MX-5 ND - 2016 - 2017
This link will only show manual gearbox roadsters with the soft top. You won't find too many here either as the model was only on sale for two years.
5. Mazda MX-5 ND RF - 2017 - Present
Here you will find all the RF models with their retractable fastback roofs. Note, the RF was only sold in automatic trim.
