BROWSE LOW COST MAZDA ROADSTER MODELS
The Mazda Roadster (aka Mazda MX-5 Miata) as the model name “Roadster” implies is a two-seat iconic lightweight convertible sports car that is manufactured by Mazda. The Mazda Roadster features a front-engine rear-wheel-drive layout.
First Generation
The first generation Mazda Roadster (code name NA) is a car that was unveiled in 1989 by Mazda. It was a simple roadster that took its inspiration from the British and Italian Roasters of the sixties and seventies but built with Japanese reliability. It was built to be reliable, simple, and durable with sporty looks.
Exterior
On the outside, at the front, the Roadster has a grille that is attached to the lower side of the bumper. The Roadster has a smiling face look on the front and at the top on the left and right side of the bonnet, it features the pop-up headlights.
Interior
The Roadster has room for two passengers, with the soft top up closed, headroom is so limited. The driving position has a low seating position and driving is possible with legs almost fully stretched which won many driver’s hearts. The dashboard has a fuel gauge, coolant temperature gauge, speedometer, and tachometer. The center console came with a radio cassette player installed, also visible are the air-conditioning control knobs and vents.
The Roadster came with a standard inline 4-cylinder 1.6-liter engine that produced 85 kW (116 hp) at 6500 rpm, and a top speed of 195 km/h (121 mph). In 1994 Mazda equipped the Roadster with a standard inline 4-cylinder 1.8-liter engine which produced 96 kW (131 hp) at 6500 rpm, and a top speed of 196 km/h (122 mph). These engines were mated to the only 5-speed manual transmission available then.
The Roadster achieved an acceleration of 0-100 kph (0-62mph) in 8.8 s.
1994 Mazda Roadster 1.8 Special Package
Second Generation
The second generation (code name NB) was introduced in 1997 at the Tokyo Motor Show as a 1998 model. On this release, the pop-up headlights have been removed, as Mazda had to adhere to the new pedestrian safety regulations and hence replaced them with fixed units. This NB model has the same wheelbase as the NA model, but it is slightly wider (bulkier), but lighter, thanks to the removal of the pop-up headlights that saved 5.6kg, and a new roof that is 1.3kg lighter than the previous one, despite having a rear glass screen.
Mazda has improved the handling and stability of the Roadster by adding anti-roll bars on the fully independent suspension used on the NA, and the brakes are better with ABS as an option.
This model was equipped with the same 1.6-liter or 1.8-liter engine as the previous model with a slight improvement in power. On the transmission part, Mazda introduced a 6-speed manual transmission as an additional option to the 5-speed manual and automatic transmission.
2001 Mazda Roadster 1.6 YS Limited
Third Generation
The third generation Roadster (code name NC) was released in 2006. The interior of this model release is similar to that of the previous NB, but apart from the turning-lights and side panels, the other components are different.
This model has a longer wheelbase and is much wider compared to the previous one. It comes with the option of either the common Soft-top roof or the new Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) that encompasses a 12 seconds folding mechanism that does not interfere with trunk space.
On this model, Mazda dropped the 1.6-liter engine and maintained the 1.8-liter that produces 93 kW (125 hp) at 6500 rpm and has a top speed of 196 km/h (122 mph) which was joined with a new 2.0-liter that produces 118 kW (160 hp) at 6700 rpm and has a top speed of 209 km/h (130 mph).
The acceleration from 0 to 100 kph (0 – 62 mph) of these two engines is 9.4 s and 7.9 s consecutively. With minor tweaks in the 2009 model, the Roadster achieved 0 – 100 kph (0 – 62 mph) in 6.9 s.
The engines were attached to a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed manual/automatic transmission.
The suspension system was changed from the four-wheel double-wishbone configuration to a front wishbone and rear multi-link configuration. For improved car handling, traction control and stability control were added.
2007 Mazda Roadster 2.0 RSRHT
Fourth Generation
The fourth generation of the Mazda Roadster (code name ND) was released in 2014 as a 2015 model. Mazda responded by producing a very light car that surpasses all previous models in drivability and performance. This model won the World Car Design of the Year and World Car of the Year in 2016 – a feat that has never been achieved before by any car.
The ND came with a standard 1.5-liter engine that produces 98 kW (131 hp) at 6000 rpm and a 2.0-liter engine that produces 116 kW (155 hp) at 6000 rpm. These engines were attached to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.
Like the previous Roadsters, the ND interior is kept simple, well-constructed, and uncluttered. The controls are easy to find and straight forward to use.
As standard, this Roadster comes with a manually operated fabric roof that is easy to operate whereby closing and opening only takes seconds.
In 2017, Mazda introduced the Retractable Fastback (RF) Roadster. The RF Roadster is made of a rigid roof and a buttress at the back. The overhead top roof panel opens and closes by folding back and forth while the buttress remains intact.
015 Mazda Roadster 1.5 s Leather Package
2017 Mazda Roadster 2.0VS
ALL MAZDA ROADSTER SALE
I am a Telecom & ICT specialist with a career spanning over 15 years in the demanding Tanzanian telecom industry.
I am also an avid DIYer with a good knack for everything technical and a wealth of vocational skills, with automotive being the top, and here I am writing about cars.
In 2017 a guy created a WhatsApp group called MyCar for the sole purpose of members helping each other with all matters regarding cars. I joined this group in 2018, and with my enormous wealth of knowledge regarding cars, and my readiness to share the knowledge with others, I became a top contributor, and that didn’t go unnoticed, as one member thought I was a potential writer and had contacts with Be Forward Japan who were looking for writers then. Fast forward to January 2020, I began writing for the Be Forward blog with 2024 being my fourth year.
As far as I can remember, I love cars, and growing up in the farming and tourist city of Arusha Tanzania in the ’80s and ’90s, I ended up being drawn to the Ranger Rover Classic for leisure and Land Cruiser 70 pickup as a workhorse. These were tough cars then, cars that could take you anywhere any time no matter the weather.
