Known as the Eunos Roadster (Japan) and Miata (North America), the Mazda MX-5 is a two-seater roadster that was first introduced to the market at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989. Lightweight and modern but with minimal mechanical complexities, the MX-5 took inspiration from Italian and British roadsters from the 1960s like the MG MGB, Triumph Spitfire, Fiat 124 Sport Spider, Lotus Elan, and the Alfa Romeo Spider.

The second generation of MX-5 models was revealed in 1998 and current ones in production have been around since 2005. The MX-5 continues to hold the record for being the best-selling two-seater convertible in history, with more than 900,000 units built and sold all over the world as of February 2011. The third generation models are marketed to use just the MX-5 name though many enthusiasts in North America still like to use Miata to refer to them. To address this, the MX-5 is sold as the MX-5 Miata in the US.

In designing the Mazda MX-5, the company adhered to the idea of Jinba ittai, that the rider and the horse be as one body. This phrase led to the development of core design requirements for the first-generation MX-5s, including creating a car that would be as light and compact as possible while addressing global requirements for safety.