I Drove the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata, Here Is How It Compares to the Honda S2000
My love affair with the Honda S2000 came when I rented one from Turo for two days back in 2016. My mission was to see if I could live with it on a daily basis, and it turned out that I could at the time, so I bought one. I drove my beloved Laguna Blue S2000 daily for two years straight in the sunshine, rain, and windiness that the Bay Area, Calif., had to offer. It was fun, impractical, and mildly uncomfortable, but I still loved it. I sold that car a year ago, and I don't miss squeezing in and out of it, but I do miss its driving spirit.
2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata —
Source: Mazda
But now, as I slink behind the wheel of the Mazda Miata press car that I have for a week, my memory is flooded with visions of that old S2000. Of course, I still favor the Honda over the Mazda, but the Miata is a stark reminder of what pure driving enjoyment a roadster can bring to your daily life. But a convertible top, a lightweight chassis, and responsive steering aren't the only comparisons to draw between the two cars. Here is how the Mazda Miata stacks up against the Honda S2000, in case you're looking for summer fun in a roadster.
The Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata Are Similar But Different
If you're shopping between these two convertible cars, you likely already know the specs for each one. If not, the 2025 Mazda Miata is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 181 horsepower, weighs just over 2,300 pounds, and comes with a manual soft top roof or a retractable hardtop. It also features a range of modern amenities, including heated seats, premium sound, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. Those are features that the Honda S2000 does not have.
2006 Honda S2000 —
Source: Honda
The Honda S2000, on the other hand, uses its naturally aspirated, high-revving engine as its soundtrack. Under its hood is a 2.0-liter (2.2 in the later years) engine that produces 237 horsepower at a staggering 7,800 rpm. The earlier versions (2000-2003) had a 9,000-rpm redline, which made the car feel like a sport bike on four wheels. Even better, the S2000's six-speed manual transmission was shifted by the best-feeling shifter on the market. I challenge anyone who says the Miata's stick feels better. It doesn't. Aside from that, the S2000 tipped the scales at around 2,800 pounds and was significantly faster than the Miata. It also had a powered soft top with the option for an OEM removable hardtop.
That said, it's clear that these two cars have a good amount of similarities, despite their differences in weight and power. Both vehicles are rear-wheel drive and have similarly sized cabins and trunk spaces (around four cubic feet), so they should feel the same when daily driving, right? Not really.
Daily Driving Each Car Feels Different
When it comes to daily commuting, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is the better car. No, it's not any easier to get in and out of, unless the top is down, but it does have a more pliable suspension, and that modern tech really comes in handy. Sure, any S2000 enthusiast (including myself) will tell you that the sound of the glorious VTEC engine is the only sound you need to smile from ear to ear every time you get behind the wheel. But now, after daily driving the car for a couple of years, I can say that driving without music while sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic is no fun. My car did have a radio, but it paled in comparison to the infotainment system in the Miata.
Additionally, the Miata's heated seats, headrest speakers, and safety systems make the car more enjoyable to live with as well. It also gets better gas mileage. During my week with the Miata, I averaged nearly 30 mpg, with a mix of city and highway driving, along with the occasional throttle romp. In my S2000, I was lucky ever to see an average of 23 mpg. Yes, it's that bad.
2006 Honda S2000.
Sitting inside each car is a different experience. The S2000 features a cockpit-like interior, where all the HVAC and radio controls are positioned to face the driver. There's also a radio that can be hidden, as well as a cupholder cover. The sport leather buckets are also supportive but not soft. The Miata's interior is a little more cramped but also more accommodating. The vehicle features a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satellite radio, a Bose sound system, and wireless smartphone connectivity, all of which are easily accessible for both the driver and passenger.
Maintenance is also a little easier with the Miata because Mazda still makes the car, so finding replacement parts doesn't require deep Internet searches. Parts for the Honda S2000 are being slowly discontinued, so future maintenance and repairs could be challenging. If you're shopping between these two cars, that could be something to consider.
2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata —
Source: Mazda
Final Thoughts
Although my Honda S2000 is long gone, I will never forget the way it made me feel every time I drove. Its suspension was stiffer than the Miata's, but its engine had far more power, and the exhaust note sounded so much better. I drove down that canyon road many times and was never disappointed as I hit every gear change and rung the engine up to its redline. In that case, which one would I pick? The S2000, of course, but the Miata is not without its merits.
After spending time in the Miata, I can say that it's the better daily commuter of the two. If Honda hadn't discontinued the S2000 in 2009, it probably would have had many of the same accoutrements as today's Miata, but alas, it's gone. So, if you're looking for a fun roadster to flog on a canyon road and keep it for a long time, the Miata is a good choice. But if you don't care for all the fancy features and livability, the Honda S2000 is the way to go.
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