Miata generations styling ranked

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
09/15/2016 at 23:30 • Filed to: None

The Miata! There are four* of them! Here’s how I think they look, best to worst:

*facelifts not shown

1. NC pre-facelift

The NC pre-facelift is the best homage to the original while also looking like a fairly up-to-date modern sports car. The coke-bottle styling of the NB is dialed back more in line with the bar-of-soap of the NA, and since the car now rides on its own chassis the overall dimensions look modern but undeniably classic.

2. NA

The original. Pop up headlights! Derpy smile! I think the daisy wheels are getting dated in a poor way, but the car itself has a vintage shape to it, though it is definitely an old-looking car by this point.

3. NB facelift

I still think it looks kind of like a viper. The facelift adds better wheel selection and a ‘sharper’ bumper, with a couple of creases by the headlights, foglights, and a slightly more upturned smile with a flat top. The soap bar gives way to an elegant coke bottle that destroys any “vintage” look of the car in favor of a very feminine curvaceous body.

4. NB pre-facelift

Same as above, but with less creases and lamer wheels

5. NC facelift

Same as the NC but with the tame grin replaced with a ridiculous manic smile. Ugh.

6. ND

Far too ‘bro’ for my tastes with the ludicrously angry eyes and EVEN MOAR MANIC SMILE. The part that bothers me the most is that rear quarter panel. Why is it sloped so much? It looks like the severely-rolled fenders on a stanced Civic!

DISCUSSION (49)

Probenja > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/15/2016 at 23:38

I agree with your list and I would add the Fiata in #3.

Kinja'd!!!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/15/2016 at 23:39

I want to combine bits of the ND Miata and the 124 Spyder to make the perfect ND.

I love the tail lights of the 124. Hate the ND. Love the brown interior of the 124 too. But I want the BBS and Brembos from the ND. And I prefer the ND front.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/15/2016 at 23:39

I would say.

1 NB face lift. Most “mature” Miata ever made.

2 NA simplicity speaks for it's self.

3 ND

4 NB pre face lift

5-6 NC, based more on the size, and proportions of the car more than anything.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/15/2016 at 23:40

I just realized that the ND Is missing the half oval bulge on the hood.

Axial > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/15/2016 at 23:41

1. None of the above.

Kinja'd!!!

2. NA

3. NC

4. NB

5. ND

Nick Has an Exocet > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/15/2016 at 23:47

I just have no love at all for the NB. They all look like a cat-shaped melted bar of soap to me.

Axial > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
09/15/2016 at 23:52

Is there something different between the Brembos on the ND and the Brembos you can option for the 124?

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Axial
09/15/2016 at 23:58

This works for me. It’s even built on a Mazda assembly line, so that’s gotta count right?

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Axial
09/16/2016 at 00:00

Don’t believe so. I just can’t get Brembos on the Lusso trim which I need to get the brown leather interior.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 00:01

The NB is my least favorite styled Miata, but that’s only because I like the others so much.

for Michigan > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 00:05

ND or NB2

NB1

NC1

NC2

124

ND and NB are well-sculpted sports cars with great proportions. I really can’t choose a favorite between ND and NB2.

NA is beautiful in it’s simplicity.

NC is the rotting, bloated corpse of NA.

124 just looks silly. Like PT Cruiser or T-bird retro-silly.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 00:16

I like the first and last, the two middle ones do nothing for me.

Tristan > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 00:24

This list is 100% spot on. I don’t understand why the NC gets so much hate... the pre facelift version is a damn fine looking automobile. Also, I don’t understand why everyone fawns over the ND’s styling. I feel the styling is the weakest point of the car.

Nauraushaun > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 00:27

I like the ND. I think it looks taught and aggressive enough, but you do still see ladies driving them. It also matches the sportier nature of the car, being lighter than almost any other generation.

But I do wonder how it will stand the test of time.

shop-teacher > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 00:34

I think the ND looks best. Unfortunately I can’t even get my legs under the steering wheel, so I’ll never get to drive one.

Michael_N > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 00:36

Great list! And very thorough. Personally I think the NA has aged really well, it's soft edges (to me) have stopped it aging nearly as much as any other car from its era.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 01:42

1. NA

2. NC

3. NB

4. Pontiac Aztek

99. ND

Textured Soy Protein > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 02:00

10th Anniversary Edition > *.Miata

Kinja'd!!!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 02:44

I don’t find any particular generation of the MX-5 outright “ugly.” Each has its own unique style and I’m glad that Mazda has always come up with an original flavour for its most famous car, never borrowing too obviously from anybody else.

My personal favourite, if I had to choose, would be the NC. Being a relatively tall person, I like the car to look a little more substantial, and while I appreciate the originality of the ND I think it looks a little too aggressive for what it really is. I’d prefer a 124 Spider over an ND.

TheHondaBro > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 03:06

The ND looks horrid. The more I see on the road, the more squidgy and blubbery they look.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 04:25

NA and ND joint first, NC, NC facelift, all NBs right at the bottom.

Do not like how they look for some reason.

duurtlang > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 04:48

I’ll take the 124 with the Mazda engine, plus an NA. You can keep the rest.

RT > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 06:27

As far as styling goes, I think I would say from favourite to least favourite…

NA, NB facelift, NC pre-facelift, ND, NC facelift, NB pre-facelift.

I agree with you though, it never occurred to me how much the facelift fixed the NB until now.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > RT
09/16/2016 at 07:43

I luve my NB facelift

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > duurtlang
09/16/2016 at 07:43

The 124 is easily the best looking. It’s retro roadster done so right it’s unbelievable. It is to Roadsters as the Dodge Challenger was to “retro muscle cars”.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
09/16/2016 at 07:44

Neither did I ‘till I got one, honestly, but even then I liked it better than the stupid smile on the NC facelift. Still hate the ND tho. Gimme dat glorious 124

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > TheHondaBro
09/16/2016 at 07:45

It looks too asian. The point of the Miata is it’s a British-style small roadster with Japanese reliability.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
09/16/2016 at 07:46

The NC facelift grin and foglight area just kills it for me. The ND looks too asian for a car traditionally styled to be British-style small roadster with Japanese reliability. The NA looks like it could be an old Triumph. The NB looks like a mini-Jag or something. The NC looks like an S2K and the ND is a disaster.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Textured Soy Protein
09/16/2016 at 07:47

Eh. Not the facelift. My 2002 Special Edition has the same bodykit but it’s facelifted. Didn’t come in that gorgeous blue, though. That’s a damn nice color.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
09/16/2016 at 07:47

savage

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Nauraushaun
09/16/2016 at 07:51

It’s too modern-Asian-aggressive. The NA and NB look styled after British roadsters with the perk of Japanese reliability. The NC looks like a mini-S2000 and the ND looks like a straight-up tuner. The Fiat 124 Miatas better than a Miata because not only is it a fantastic interpretation of the old 124 design, it also looks like modern British roadsters.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Tristan
09/16/2016 at 07:51

It needs to look more British.

Kinja'd!!!

Oh wait someone already did that.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > for Michigan
09/16/2016 at 07:54

Kinja'd!!!

Looks like a mini-Jag. Sort of like how the NA looks like a mini-*britishroadster* and the NB looks like a mini-XK.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/16/2016 at 07:54

0/10 worst design.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Probenja
09/16/2016 at 07:55

I would add it in #1

for Michigan > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 08:10

124 looks as much like F-Type as Mustang looks like Accord Coupe.

NA looks like a big Lotus Elan (seriously, it’s huge and heavy compared to the original) and NB looks like a 90s Japanese interpretation of AC Ace (a.k.a. Shelby Cobra 289).

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 08:56

1. ND. Striking, and just plain good-looking in person.

2. NA. Soft, inviting, happy. The way a Miata should be.

3. NC facelift. Happy!

4. NB facelift. I also agree on the Viper assessment, plus I love the Mazdaspeed.

5. Pre-Facelift NB. A little dough-eyed, but very Miata nonetheless.

6. Pre-Facelift NC. I always felt it looked a little fat.

7. 124 Spider. Somehow manages to look more cross-eyed than a Morgan Aero 8.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 10:01

Wow I could never imagine the NC being on the top of a list comparing Miatas! I think it looks like a monster truck compared to all other Miatas, including the ND. The NCs are like the problem child, ugly duckling of the family. Not that they are bad cars, but hot damn are they ugly. I have seen some VERY nice looking modded NCs though but I assume you are only talking OEM comparisons.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Textured Soy Protein
09/16/2016 at 10:07

Yeah but it doesnt have that VVT to make the VTEC bros jelly. Like the paint color, but NB2>>>>NB1 any day. It sucks when I see a video comparison of all generation Miatas and they pick an NB1 instead of a mazdaspeed NB2 to really show off the NB generation.

Textured Soy Protein > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
09/16/2016 at 11:00

NB2 = better headlights & cup holders, but heavier and uglier bumper

NB1 10AE has the 6-speed and is lighter. And It’s obviously the best because that’s my old car in the picture.

Sam > Tristan
09/16/2016 at 11:09

To me, the NC always looked like a bar of soap with a windshield and those silly wheel bulges. They weren’t bad cars, just a little too porky. They kinda strayed from the whole “lightweight roadster - not a lot of power - good handling” of the past by trying to give it more power and, as a result, increased the weight.

Tristan > Sam
09/16/2016 at 13:23

They did make it a bit bigger and heavier, yes, which resulted in a bit of a departure from the original design ethos. But, that little bit of extra pork, power, nvh reduction and comfort makes it waaaaaay better at everything else. I loved my NA until I spent a couple of days driving an NC. And I don’t even like new(ish) cars!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Textured Soy Protein
09/16/2016 at 13:53

Oh don’t get me wrong, I love all Miatas (unless its an NC, then I just sort of like it). And that particular Miata you have pictured is definitely the best NB1 I have seen. Looks are subjective though so I tend to not delve into that much. I just like the engine setup better in the NB2s. It is quite similar though so its probably a moot point. Either way, NB Miatas in general are my absolute favorite, hence why I bought one lol.

RT > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
09/16/2016 at 14:00

Forgot about the 124 as well, that car is up with the best Miatas as far as styling goes.

Kinja'd!!!