The Mazda MX-5 Miata is single-handedly ensuring classic roadsters remain a part of our automotive culture right now. Rivals have come and gone, to say nothing of the original MG and Lotus roadsters that Mazda originally imitated. But for better and worse, the Miata has evolved a bit to suit modern tastes and trends, which means it has become less cutesy-looking and a lot less colorful.
It wasn’t always that way, formerly offering colors that would look good on the British sports cars it sought to emulate. There are few shades better than green to really capture that classic styling flair of a classic roadster.
A Classic Color For An Upstart Roadster
1991 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special EditionMazda
The first-generation Mazda MX-5 Miata, known internally as the NA, launched for the 1990 model year with just four colors: Classic Red, Crystal White, Mariner Blue, and Silverstone. But in 1991, the automaker gave it even more retro flair with the simply named “Special Edition.” British Racing Green showed up on the exterior, with a non-metallic single-stage paint that directly recalled the MGBs and Elans that came before the pint-sized Mazda.
The Miata SE also got tan leather and a tan roof – another homage to classic British sports cars – and the interior received a Nardi wood shift knob and handbrake lever. These days, a good-condition example of the BRG 1991 Miata commands a decent premium over the more common foursome of colors.
An M Edition Worthy Of Envy
1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata M Edition NA Marina Green MicaBring a Trailer
The Miata NA spawned a handful of single-year-only special colors and styling packages. The M Edition trim changed its styling each year starting in 1994, and for 1997, the stylish package adopted Marina Green Mica paintwork. The mica paint featured gold and silver-toned flecks of ceramic powder in the base coat, which gave Marina Green a very warm, lustrous look when the sun caught it just right.
The rest of the M Edition was classic roadster fare, featuring a similar tan interior as its 1991 SE ancestor. The 1997 Miata M Edition also got a set of 15-inch aluminum wheels with a chrome finish, the largest rollers ever offered on the NA from the factory.
Bringing Color To The People
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata NB Emerald MicaBring a Trailer
Mazda took a little time off from Miata production, sunsetting the NA in 1997 before introducing the second-generation (NB) version for the 1999 model year. Upon its debut, the second-generation MX-5 offered Emerald Green Mica as an option. Slightly bluer in tone than Marina Green Mica, Emerald still has some color flop in it to give it a little more definition in bright light. Better yet, it was a series-produced color option, meaning anyone could get their NB Miata in a color that would make a Jaguar or Bentley owner proud.
A Retro Special To Celebrate
2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition NB British Racing GreenMazda
Mazda revived its classic British Racing Green option from a decade earlier on the 2001 MX-5 Miata Special Edition. Unlike the original 1991 SE, which had a single-stage paint job for an almost enamel-baked appearance, the 2001 Miata had a clear coat, giving it more luster. Still, the solid paint had no metal flake to speak of, which gave it the vintage flair Mazda was going for.
As with its forebear, the 2001 SE featured a tan roof and interior, with a Nardi-branded, wood-rimmed steering wheel adding flavor to the cabin. The 2001 model also coincided with a slight facelift for the MX-5 Miata, bringing a slightly more powerful engine and a more aggressive front grille to tone down some of the cuteness.
The Happy Car With A Rare Color
2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata NC Nordic GreenMazda
Mazda offered more variety of green on the third-generation (NC) MX-5 than any other variant. The 2006 NC Miata debuted with a carryover color from the 2005 Miata called Nordic Green Mica. Also shared with the RX-8 flagship sports coupe, Nordic Green has become very hard to find these days, and it was discontinued from the lineup for the 2007 model year.
The blue-green shade is inspired by the water and vegetation that surrounds the fjords and wilderness of Scandinavia, as evidenced by its name. Its silvery flake gives it a little more definition in the sunlight, reflecting the tastes of the time. The NC Miata only offered four solid, non-mica/metallic colors during its time on the market.
Updating A Classic (Very Carefully)
2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata NC Highland GreenMazda
For 2007, Mazda replaced Nordic Green with another metallic. Although some may be tempted to liken it to British Racing Green (traditionally a solid color), the automaker was very careful to avoid that comparison with its new Highland Green Mica. The warm-toned tint definitely catches the sunlight better than British Racing Green, and like Nordic, it was offered on every trim of the 2007 and 2008 Miata.
The Sport and Touring trims paired it with black cloth, while the Grand Touring got classic tan leather. Unfortunately, when the NC Miata saw its first facelift for the 2009 model year, Highland Green didn’t make a return.
Going Radioactive For Europe
2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata NC Spirited GreenMazda
In 2011, Mazda introduced the Germany-only MX-5 Karai special edition, as well as the MX-5 Sport Black for the UK market and the MX-5 Black Tuned in Japan. All were visually identical (and unmistakable) thanks to their coat of Spirited Green paint – in Japan and the UK, white and red were also available – contrasted against black mirror caps, wheels, and retractable hardtop.
If the color looks familiar, that’s because the overseas MX-5 borrowed it from the Mazda2, which was sold in the US starting in 2011. Spirited Green is a rarity even in its native markets, with 165 built for Germany. In the UK, the Sport Black edition was limited to 500 vehicles, but most of those were either red or white. And in Japan, the green-colored Black Tuned was even rarer.
Base Trim Engine
2.0-liter I4
Base Trim Transmission
6-Speed Manual
Base Trim Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
181 HP @7000 RPM
Base Trim Torque
151 lb.-ft. @ 4000 RPM
Infotainment & Features
6 /10
A Long Hiatus Finally Ends
The fourth-generation (ND) Miata debuted in 2016 with a sharper face and more chiseled contours that did away with the bubbly grin of the NC. Although your author prefers happy cars to angry ones, there’s no denying that the ND is otherwise a return to form for the MX-5 family. Weighing in at around 2,400 pounds, the ND quite a bit lighter than its predecessor, and the lack of mass makes it brilliant fun to drive on a winding road with the fabric top or retractable targa panel stowed.
Still, Mazda is committing a serious crime against its MX-5 heritage by offering it in a wide variety of boring grayscale colors, with the only ray of hope coming from the automaker’s excellent Soul Red Crystal paint. After a 16-year hiatus from the color family, things get slightly more diverse for 2027 when Zinc Green Metallic makes its debut on the roadster. Although not nearly as exciting as British Racing Green or Nordic Green Mica, the slate-and-limestone color will still give the 2027 MX-5 Miata lineup a little extra chromatic diversity. Fingers crossed more is on the way.
Which Green Is Your Favorite?
Mazda MX-5 Miata In Zinc Green MetallicMazda
The MX-5 Miata is generally known for its fun-to-drive personality and approachable character, traits it backs up with a variety of interesting color options. Your author once owned a beloved 2009 MX-5 in Stormy Blue Mica with the tan leather interior (pictured above). When (not if) I return to the Miata fold, I think I’ll try to find one in green instead. My favorite is almost certainly Marina Green Mica from the 1997 MX-5 M Edition because of the gilded tone of the paint when it’s sitting in the sun, but really, it’s impossible to go wrong with any of the colors on this list. Sound off below – which one would you take home?
Source: Mazda, Bring A Trailer
