Return To (Small) Form: 2016 Mazda MX-5 Vs 1989 MX-5

Feb. 01, 2015 10:01 AM ET by Jay Traugott Comparison / 78 Comments

Bigger isn't always better...or is it?

Next time you see one in person, take a look at the original Mazda MX-5 Miata. You'll immediately notice just how small it is inside and out. Large people, both vertically and horizontally, need not apply; they won't fit inside. But the subsequent two MX-5 generations grew slightly, though still not big enough for those aforementioned individuals to fit. And yet Mazda engineers and enthusiasts alike felt the second and third-gen models were too big. That has all been fixed now with the new fourth-gen MX-5.

Set to arrive later this year in showrooms, this new MX-5 is a return to form, both in dimensions and weight. For example, the '89 MX-5 weighed just over 2,000 pounds and had a total of 115 hp and 100 lb-ft of torque. The 2016 MX-5 weighs about 2,200 pounds and will produce roughly 155 hp and 148 lb-ft. Place the original and all-new models next to one another and you'll be looking at very similarly sized cars. So the question is whether, in specs and appearance alone, does the new Mazda MX-5 fully embody the spirit of the original? We've put together a photo gallery to help you decide (if you haven't already).

Return To (Small) Form: 2016 Mazda MX-5 Vs 1989 MX-5

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Gallery

Return To (Small) Form: 2016 Mazda MX-5 Vs 1989 MX-5

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Gallery

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