Vehicle History Report
Get a CARFAX Vehicle History... the first step to protecting yourself from costly hidden problems.
- • New Cars
2004 Mazda Miata Full Review
Date Published: 7/31/08
Also in the 2004 Mazda Miata Review:
2004 Mazda Miata Review
Midyear arrival of a high-performance turbocharged model highlights 2004 news for Mazda's 2-seat sports car. Miata's lineup starts with the base and upscale LS, both with a 142-hp 4 cyl teamed with standard 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed automatic. A 6-speed manual is optional on LS. Both have 16-inch wheels and a manual-folding soft top with heated glass rear window. ABS is optional on LS, unavailable on base. Optional on both are a removable hardtop and appearance packages with rear mud guards and unique lower-body sills.
Added in spring 2004 was the MazdaSpeed Miata, with a 178-hp turbocharged engine, 6-speed manual transmission, sport suspension, and 17-inch wheels.
Added in spring 2004 was the MazdaSpeed Miata, with a 178-hp turbocharged engine, 6-speed manual transmission, sport suspension, and 17-inch wheels.
News
After 15 years with the same underlying design, Miata gets a total makeover for 2006 on a modified version of Mazda's RX-8 sports-car platform. Mazda officials say the recent Ibuki concept is a "50 percent" preview of the new production model, though lines will be "more flowing." Look for slight gains in length and width on a wheelbase stretched some 2.6 inches to 91.7. That should mean more cockpit space, plus room for the big accessory wheels and tires the youth market craves. Despite its new relationship to the rotary-powered RX-8, Miata will stick with conventional 4-cyl engines. The U.S. version should use an updated version of the current twincam 1.8 or the similar 2.0-liter from the new Mazda 3 subcompact. Look for a manual cloth roof to continue for the sake of tradition and a lower list price. A 200-hp turbo version is rumored for the Japan market and is said to a strong U.S. prospect as the next MazdaSpeed Miata.
2004 Mazda Miata Road Test
| Pros | Cons |
| Steering/handling | Cargo room |
| Fuel economy | Noise |
| Instruments/controls | Entry/exit |
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration
No opportunity to test the turbocharged MazdaSpeed version. On others, liberal use of throttle and manual gear shift brings out Miata's fun nature. Little difference in performance between 5- and 6-speed manuals at about 7.8 sec 0-60 mph in our tests. Automatic-transmission versions aren't nearly as responsive.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 6 | 5 | 6 | 6.1 |
No opportunity to test the turbocharged MazdaSpeed version. On others, liberal use of throttle and manual gear shift brings out Miata's fun nature. Little difference in performance between 5- and 6-speed manuals at about 7.8 sec 0-60 mph in our tests. Automatic-transmission versions aren't nearly as responsive.
Fuel Economy
Extended-use 6-speed LS averaged 25.9 mpg over its 13,115-mi. test. Mazda recommends premium-grade fuel for all Miatas.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 5.6 |
Extended-use 6-speed LS averaged 25.9 mpg over its 13,115-mi. test. Mazda recommends premium-grade fuel for all Miatas.
Ride Quality
Base suspension is firm but not unduly stiff for a sports car. Sport suspension optional on base and LS can jar on sharp bumps, so try before you buy. Expected cowl and windshield-frame scuttle over rippled pavement.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3.6 |
Base suspension is firm but not unduly stiff for a sports car. Sport suspension optional on base and LS can jar on sharp bumps, so try before you buy. Expected cowl and windshield-frame scuttle over rippled pavement.
Steering/Handling/Braking
Razor sharp with little body lean even in fast cornering. Smooth, swift stops with ABS. Standard sport-oriented tires are poor in snow; we put four Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice winter tires on a previous extended-use Miata, and they performed admirably.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Razor sharp with little body lean even in fast cornering. Smooth, swift stops with ABS. Standard sport-oriented tires are poor in snow; we put four Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice winter tires on a previous extended-use Miata, and they performed admirably.
Quietness
Road, wind, and engine noise are all prominent, though normal conversation is possible at 50 mph with top down.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 3.1 |
Road, wind, and engine noise are all prominent, though normal conversation is possible at 50 mph with top down.
Controls
Handy and sporty, though using the console cupholders makes working manual shifter awkward. Interior materials are solid and sporty.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 6.1 |
Handy and sporty, though using the console cupholders makes working manual shifter awkward. Interior materials are solid and sporty.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)
Toyota MR2's wider cockpit feels slightly more spacious, but Miata has enough room and comfort for two adults, though 6-footers have no excess leg or head space. Top-up blind spots hinder lane changes. Entry/exit is typical small-sports-car bending and twisting.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.9 |
Toyota MR2's wider cockpit feels slightly more spacious, but Miata has enough room and comfort for two adults, though 6-footers have no excess leg or head space. Top-up blind spots hinder lane changes. Entry/exit is typical small-sports-car bending and twisting.
Room/Comfort (rear)
(No rear seating.)
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 |
(No rear seating.)
Cargo Room
Pack light for a long weekend, though small trunk holds more than you might suspect, and is certainly more accessible than MR2's tiny behind-the-seats bin.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2.8 |
Pack light for a long weekend, though small trunk holds more than you might suspect, and is certainly more accessible than MR2's tiny behind-the-seats bin.
Value within Class
Miata defends front-engine sports-car tradition, while the MR2 touts midengine technology. Both are terrific fun, with Miata offering a measure of usable cargo room and, in base form at least, better value in the sports-car tier below the more-expensive, more-powerful entries from the likes of Nissan, Honda, BMW, and Mazda with its own RX-8.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 10 | 9 | 9 | 6.2 |
Miata defends front-engine sports-car tradition, while the MR2 touts midengine technology. Both are terrific fun, with Miata offering a measure of usable cargo room and, in base form at least, better value in the sports-car tier below the more-expensive, more-powerful entries from the likes of Nissan, Honda, BMW, and Mazda with its own RX-8.
Total Score
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | LS, 6-sp man. | Class Average |
| 50 | 48 | 49 | 47.6 |
Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars
| Low Score | 35 | |
| Average Score | 47 | |
| High Score | 59 |
2004 Mazda Miata Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 05/14/2004
| Trim Name | Retail Price | Dealer Invoice | Destination Charge |
|
|
|||
| Base 2-door convertible | $21,868 | $20,181 | $520 |
|
|
|||
| LS 2-door convertible | $24,673 | $22,765 | $520 |
|
|
|||
| MazdaSpeed 2-door convertible | $25,500 | $23,528 | $520 |
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's
manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker.
Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are
what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options.
The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price
and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently
throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's
window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national
manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings
may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
Base
Powertrain
1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission.
Safety
Dual front airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, power steering, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cloth upholstery, bucket seats, center console, cupholders, power mirrors, power windows, AM/FM/CD player, power antenna, digital clock, tachometer, intermittent wipers, rear defogger, remote fuel-door and decklid releases, visor mirrors, floormats.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Theft-deterrent system, windblock panel, fog lights, 205/45WR16 tires, alloy wheels.
LS adds to Base:
Powertrain
Limited-slip differential.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Cruise control, leather upholstery, power door locks, remote keyless entry, Bose sound system.
MazdaSpeed adds to LS:
Powertrain
1.8-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual transmission.
Safety
Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Bose AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Deletes: leather upholstery.
Rear spoiler, sport suspension, 205/40WR17 tires.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages |
Retail Price |
Invoice Price |
|
Convenience Pkg.
|
||
|
Base
|
$895
|
$752
|
|
Cruise control, power door locks, remote keyless entry, upgraded sound system. NA w/Suspension Pkg.
|
||
|
Azure Blue Pkg.
|
||
|
Base
|
$750
|
$652
|
|
Convenience Pkg. plus blue upholstery. NA w/detachable hardtop.
|
||
|
Azure Blue Leather Pkg.
|
||
|
Base
|
$1,650
|
$1,434
|
|
Azure Blue Pkg. plus leather upholstery. NA w/detachable hardtop.
|
||
|
Suspension Pkg.
|
||
|
Base
|
$800
|
$672
|
|
LS
|
$395
|
$332
|
|
Sport suspension w/Bilstein shock absorbers, limited-slip differential (Base). LS requires 6-speed manual transmission. NA w/automatic transmission, detachable hardtop. NA Base w/Convenience Package.
|
||
|
2AP Appearance Pkg.
|
||
|
Base, LS
|
$450
|
$360
|
|
Small side sills, small rear mud guards.
|
||
|
1AP Appearance Pkg.
|
||
|
Base, LS
|
$800
|
$644
|
|
Front air dam, large side sills, small rear mud guards.
|
||
|
Grand Touring Pkg.
|
||
|
MazdaSpeed
|
$700
|
$601
|
|
Leather upholstery, black convertible top.
|
||
|
|
||
Powertrain |
||
|
6-speed manual transmission
|
||
|
LS
|
$650
|
$565
|
|
4-speed automatic transmission
|
||
|
Base, LS
|
$800
|
$695
|
|
LS requires antilock brakes. LS deletes limited-slip differential.
|
||
|
|
||
Safety |
||
|
Antilock brakes
|
||
|
LS
|
$550
|
$468
|
|
|
||
Comfort and Convenience Features |
||
|
AM/FM/cassette/CD player
|
||
|
Base, LS
|
$200
|
$160
|
|
In-dash 6-disc CD changer
|
||
|
Base, LS
|
$500
|
$400
|
|
Automatic day/night rearview mirror
|
||
|
Base, LS, MazdaSpeed
|
$230
|
$185
|
|
Includes compass.
|
||
|
Power steering delete
|
||
|
Base
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
NA w/any option.
|
||
|
Cargo net
|
||
|
Base, LS, MazdaSpeed
|
$20
|
$16
|
|
|
||
Appearance and Miscellaneous |
||
|
Theft-deterrent system w/alarm
|
||
|
Base, LS, MazdaSpeed
|
$220
|
$176
|
|
Base requires Convenience Pkg.
|
||
|
Detachable hardtop
|
||
|
Base, LS
|
$1,500
|
$1,215
|
|
Mud guards
|
||
|
Base, LS
|
$125
|
$100
|
|
Headlight and taillight bezels
|
||
|
Base, LS, MazdaSpeed
|
$190
|
$160
|
|
Chrome fuel door
|
||
|
Base, LS, MazdaSpeed
|
$100
|
$80
|
|
Door edge guards
|
||
|
Base, LS, MazdaSpeed
|
$45
|
$36
|
|
Rear spoiler
|
||
|
Base, LS
|
$295
|
$236
|
|
|
||
2004 Mazda Miata Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | Mazda Miata 2-door convertible |
| Wheelbase, in. | 89.2 |
| Overall Length, in. | 155.7 |
| Overall Width, in. | 66.0 |
| Overall Height, in. | 48.4 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 2387 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 5.1 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 12.7 |
| Seating Capacity | 2 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 37.1 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.8 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | -- |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | -- |
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
| dohc I4 | Turbocharged dohc I4 | |
| Size, liters/cu. in. | 1.8 /112 | 1.8 /112 |
| Horsepower @ rpm. | 142 @ 7000 | 178 @ 6000 |
| Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. | 125 @ 5500 | 166 @ 4500 |
| Availability | Standard | Standard |
|
EPA City / highway mpg
|
||
| 5-speed manual | 23/28 | --/-- |
| 6-speed manual | 23/28 | 20/26 |
| 4-speed automatic | 22/28 | --/-- |
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft;
dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders;
V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions
per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--"
= measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
 Antilock Brakes Traction Control Antiskid System |
Front Side Airbags Curtain Side Airbags Rear Side Airbags |
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | Mazda Miata 2-door convertible |
| Front Impact, Driver | 4 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 5 |
| Rollover Resistance | 5 |
| Side Impact, Driver | 3 |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's
worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to
rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury:
5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact
crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%;
1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover
when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%;
2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
| Class | Years/Miles | Comments |
| Powertrain | None/-- | -- |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 4/50,000 | -- |
| Corrosion | 5/unlimited | -- |
| Free roadside assistance | 4/50,000 | -- |
| Free scheduled maintenance | None/-- | -- |
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive.
There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two
other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for
2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any
on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts
and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in:
Japan
Drivewheels:
rear-wheel drive
Also in the 2004 Mazda Miata Review:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Car Buying Resources
Vehicle History Report
Sell Your Car
Powered by:
-
MAKE -
CATEGORY
Acura
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Buick
Cadillac
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Dodge
Ferrari
Ford
GMC
Honda
Hummer
Hyundai
Infiniti
Isuzu
Jaguar
Jeep
Kia
Lamborghini
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lotus
Maserati
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz
Mercury
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Pontiac
Porsche
Rolls-Royce
Roush
Saab
Saturn
Scion
Smart
Subaru
Suzuki
Toyota
Volkswagen
Volvo
Subcompact Car
Compact Car
Midsize Car
Large Car
Premium Midsize Car
Premium Large Car
Sporty/performance Car
Premium Sporty/performance Car
Minivan
Full-size Van
Compact Sport-utility Vehicle
Midsize Sport-utility Vehicle
Large Sport-utility Vehicle
Compact Pickup Truck
Premium Midsize Sport-utility Vehicle
Premium Compact Sport-utility Vehicle
Large Pickup Truck
Premium Compact Car
Premium Large Sport-utility Vehicle
Exotic Car
