Automobiles Of The Years: A Look Back At Our Prior Winners

1990: Mazda MX-5 Miata


“The MX-5 is a wonderfully nimble device that doesn’t rattle your teeth with stiff springing or suffer the massive tire roar and bump-thump of mighty treads to go around corners with the appropriate, ah, élan. It is so light and so graced with helpful suspension attitudes, that it flicks into bends in instant response to the wheel. If ever the virtues of low mass and its intelligent distribution need reviewing, the Miata willingly demonstrates them. Compared with contemporary supercars, the Miata’s limber agility is a pleasant contrast.

“All the same, the Miata is not pure frivolity; it’s a seriously considered entity. In many ways, the Miata has an exclusive, personal feel, something like the private indulgence of a Porsche 911. For $15,530, it’s a sweet reward.”
-Barry Winfield