I’ll admit it; I’m a sucker for Miatas. The little Japanese roadster introduced by Mazda in 1989 was a smash hit when it was released, and more than thirty years later it still reigns supreme in the affordable sports car market, providing thrills rivaling the likes of sports cars double its price and smashing autocross tournaments across the world. 

There have been four generations of Miatas in that time, starting with the bubbly little NA with its pop-up headlights, then the NB, the NA’s beefy upgrade. After the NB came to the NC, with a little more of a grand touring focus, and finally the ND, the current generation, lauded for being a “return” to the Miata’s roots. For there to be a return, however, must mean that somewhere along the way, the Miata lost its edge, and for many, you only have to turn to the NC for an answer. 

When it debuted in 2005, the NC Miata got a lot of flak for its weight; at 2,450 pounds, or over 2,500 with the optional hardtop, the NC quickly became the butt of a lot of jokes amongst Miata enthusiasts. NC drivers were quickly named as “captains” of their boats, and the NC itself became known as the ugly duckling of the family. 

And that’s a right shame because the NC Miata is great. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it’s the best option for someone in the market for a Miata. Here’s my case: 

I used to own an NA Miata. Without a doubt, I would take another one over any other Miata in a heartbeat. Nothing I’ve driven comes close to the sheer raw feeling that my little NA used to elicit from my seventeen-year-old self as I flew down back roads after high school. But my NA had no air conditioning, no power steering, no amenities whatsoever. I would arrive place a sweaty mess in that car and still be beaming just because I had driven to that place in my little NA. 

When I drove the NB, I thought it was fine. It didn’t strike me quite the same as the NA did despite how similar the two cars are underneath, but something about the clutch and steering feel just didn’t hit the mark for me. I can’t say the looks blew me away either. 

I drove the ND next, and before I got behind the wheel, I expected it to blow me away. Every auto journalism outlet praised the ND for its amazing handling and usefulness as a daily driver, being the first Miata with a proper infotainment screen and a little more room than the NA and NB while retaining the same size as the NA. It didn’t blow me away, though. The ND’s electronically assisted power steering made the driving experience feel empty, and the added modern amenities made the Miata feel more cramped and crowded than it should be. 

The NC Miata was the final Miata of the family I experienced. Given that the ND was heralded as the Miata’s comeback, I thought the NC would be absolutely terrible in comparison. But it wasn’t. The NC’s hydraulic steering system was much heavier than the ND’s, and while the ND might have been lighter and better in the corners, the NC just felt… right. 

The interior was nice, too, hitting the sweet spot between too stripped out and small and too cramped and modern. It had great A/C, more than enough power, and by Glob, I’d say with a set of wheels and the right suspension, it would be gorgeous. 

Basically, this is a long way of saying that the NC Miata is best because of this: it feels great. The NB and the ND didn’t fill me with the joy that my old NA did. 

But the NC made me feel seventeen again.