2005 Mazdaspeed Miata: A Mostly Forgotten Model With A Factory Turbocharged Engine

To this day, the Mazda MX-5 Miata wears the crown as the best-selling convertible sports car, with more than one million units sold since its inception. Spanning four generations, the Miata always followed the same tried and tested formula: A rear-wheel-drive sports car with a manual transmission and a rev-happy naturally aspirated engine.

Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with this formula, proving once again, if it ain’t broke, why bother fixing it? However, everyone wants to let their hair down and go wild every now and then – even Mazda and their Miata. In 2004, the Japanese carmaker unveiled a rule-shattering Miata called the Mazdaspeed MX-5, based on the NB Miata. The Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata ditched the naturally aspirated four-banger in favor of turbocharged bliss.

What’s The Mazdaspeed MX-5, Then?

Mazdaspeed MX-5 rear. — Image Credit: Bring a Trailer.

I still remember the first time I heard about the Mazdaspeed Miata. It’s like our prayers were answered. Finally, a more powerful Miata! Miatas have always been praised for their nimble handling and fun-to-drive demeanor, but lacked horsepower compared to other sports cars in the class. Then again, they never needed much power, considering they weigh as much as a damp cloth.

Nonetheless, in the early 2000s, Mazda decided enough was enough, and they had to bump up the NB Miata’s power figure. Instead of putting in a larger engine at the cost of extra weight, an IHI ball-bearing turbocharger was added to its 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, boosting power from 142 hp to 178 hp. Torque also increased from 125 lb-ft to 166 lb-ft.

With the changes the Mazdaspeed MX-5 brought to the NB’s engine, other areas were also modified. Unfortunately, the engine’s redline dropped from 7,000 rpm to 6,500 rpm, but the turbo Miata reached its redline quicker. 0 to 60 mph took 6.7 seconds – 1.4 seconds quicker than the normally aspirated NB.

Mazdaspeed MX-5 engine. — Image Credit: Bring a Trailer.

Compared to modern-day sports cars, 6.7 seconds sounds sluggish, but it was enough to keep up with other, much more powerful sports cars at the time. It also benefitted from a stiffer suspension setup with Bilstein shocks and a limited-slip differential. Its exterior also differed ever so slightly from the base model NB, with bigger wheels, a body kit, and a subtle ducktail to tell you it means business.

Unfortunately, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata never got the love it deserved. With fewer than 6,000 examples sold internationally, the Miata with a snail under its hood is surprisingly rare. For reference, that’s about three times as rare as a Ferrari 458 Italia. Then again, other factors were at play as to why the Mazdaspeed Miata got overlooked.

What Does It Cost, And Is It Worth It?

In the early 2000s, quite a handful of groundbreaking Japanese sports cars emerged and stole its spotlight. The Nissan 350Z, Subaru WRX STi, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and, of course, the Honda S2000 were the talk of the town. Truth be told, the turbocharged Mazdaspeed MX-5 didn’t quite meet expectations. Many, including myself, were expecting it to break the 200 hp mark and to bump heads with the other mighty Japanese sports cars, but it failed to live up to the hype.

Over the past 5 years or so, gearheads have a newfound appreciation for 2000s cars that were once overlooked. Think of the BMW E60 M5, the Porsche 986 Boxster and Cayenne, and VW Phaeton. All of these cars aged like fine wine and have become quite sought-after since 2020.

Mazdaspeed MX-5 interior. — Image Credit: Bring a Trailer.

When new, a Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata carried a starting MSRP of $25,780 – that was only about $1,000 more than the top-spec naturally aspirated Mazda Miata LS at the time. While base model NBs sell for just a few grand, the Mazdaspeed model held its value, selling on average for nearly $16,000 nowadays.

While some may argue that paying $16,000 for a Miata that’s two decades old is as good as flushing your money down the toilet, I’d argue that you’re paying pennies on the dime for a future classic in the making.

Despite the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata’s shortcomings, it remains the only factory-turbocharged Miata ever made, and it’s one of the most unique Japanese sports cars ever made. Who knows, maybe we’ll see another turbocharged Miata in the future, but at the moment, the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata remains a rare gem hidden in plain sight.