Mazda MX-5 Miata ND

Lore & Background

Among the broader Forza community, the Miata ND carries a cultural weight that few other D-class cars match. It is the default choice for players who want to *feel* the road rather than just cross a finish line, and it anchors countless 'best of class' discussions, modding threads, and casual weekend drives in the open worlds of the Horizon series.

In Their Own Story

The rain had just stopped over the Australian outback, and the asphalt still glistened under a bruised purple sky. You dropped the Miata into third, felt the rear tires bite the wet tarmac, and threaded the needle through a hairpin that would have swallowed a heavier car whole. The steering wheel pulled your hands with it, the skyactiv engine sang a thin, eager note, and for three seconds the whole world was just you, the road, and the smell of hot rubber. You lifted, let it drift a degree wide, and grinned. That was the whole point.

Reader's Guide

Full model: 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata (ND). Class: D (Forza Horizon series). Stock snapshot: roughly 129–181 hp depending on the 2.0 or 2.5 Skyactiv-G variant, a curb weight in the low 2,300-lb range, and a handling rating that sits at the very top of the D class—essentially the most agile car in its bracket out of the showroom.

Tuning levers: In the Forza tuning menu you can swap the intake, exhaust, and add a supercharger or turbo to push power well beyond stock. Suspension geometry, damper stiffness, and anti-roll bars let you dial in turn-in and oversteer. Transmission upgrades (gearing, clutch) tighten throttle response. Tire compounds and weight-reduction parts (carbon-fiber panels, lighter battery) shave precious kilograms. The trade-off is real: stacking power adders adds weight and can make the car feel less nimble, while aggressive weight reduction can make the chassis feel nervous on rough surfaces. Finding the balance—enough power to keep pace, enough lightness to keep the fun—is the whole game.

Build philosophy: Keep it light, keep it honest, and let the steering wheel tell you when you're going the right way.

Did You Know?

• The ND-generation MX-5 is the only car in the Forza Horizon D class that consistently tops community 'most fun to drive' polls across multiple titles.
• Mazda's Skyactiv-G naming reflects a focus on thermal efficiency and lightweight design, a philosophy that the Forza handling model mirrors through the car's responsive, low-inertia feel.
• In Forza Horizon 3 the Miata ND is available early in the game, making it one of the first D-class cars a new player can purchase and tune.
• The car's two-seat, open-top layout means there is no rear bench to hide excess weight behind—every kilogram of tuning upgrade is felt directly in the handling model.