The 2008 MX-5 Miata, popularly known as the Miata, is a two-door, two-passenger convertible sports car. It is sleek, capable and well-engineered. Since its debut nearly twenty years ago, the Miata has won the admiration of driving enthusiasts thanks to its drive ability and record for reliability. The power-retractable hardtop (PRHT) was added to this popular lineup last year. For 2008, the Mazda MX-5 Miata sees only minor feature changes, a new Special Edition trim level, and a five-horsepower drop for the Miata fitted with an automatic transmission.

All trims of the 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata have a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 166 horsepower (158 with the automatic transmission) and 140 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission drives the rear wheels on SV and Sport trims, while the Touring and Grand Touring have a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic with paddle shifters is optional on all but the SV and the Sport PRHT. The fuel economy ranges from 20-22 mpg in the city to 27-28 mpg on the highway, depending on the transmission.

The 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata comes in four trims: SV, Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. The lightly equipped SV (available in soft-top form only) comes with a black vinyl convertible top, 16-inch alloy wheels, a CD player, driver seat height adjuster, and power windows and mirrors. The Sport trim has air conditioning and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Touring gets 17-inch alloy wheels, a strut tower brace, cruise control, keyless entry, six-speaker audio (versus four) with a CD changer and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. The Grand Touring trim has a cloth convertible top (in black or parchment), leather-upholstered and heated seats, seven-speaker Bose audio system, and silver interior accents. The PRHTs come in the top three trims and are similar in equipment except for power-retracting steel top, which replaces the soft top. The options are grouped in numerous packages.

The safety equipment standard across the line comprises dual, two-stage frontal air bags; seat-mounted, side air bags; and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution.