Mazda Miata Outsells Porsche Boxster By 3 to 1 - Here's How the New 2017 Model Caused That

The Mazda MX-5 Miata saw a 46% increase in sales this past February. Mazda's Miata sales of 1,108 units in February were a huge leap in an odd month. One other interesting metric to consider is that the Miata outsold the Porsche Boxster/Cayman line's sales of just 326 units by more than three to one. In February the Miata outsold all of Porsche's car models sales combined.

Porsche wasn't the Miata's only competitor that Mazda outsold handily in February. The Fiat 124 Spider, which Mazda manufactures in its Hiroshima plant alongside the Miata, only sold 302 units in February. For the full year, Fiat has only sold about 500 in the U.S. market. Mazda may be determining the sales mix with its production scheduling, or the Miata's sales may be dictated by the marketplace. We assume it is a bit of both.

It may seem counter-intuitive for convertible sales to jump in the dead of winter, but Mazda had two unusual things happening in its production of the Miata that likely had a positive effect on sales. First, the Miata RF arrived, boosting sales of the line somewhat. Second, the 2016 Miata is on its way out and the new 2017 model-year Miata is on its way in. Dealers likely were motivated to move the existing inventory of 2016 they held to make room for the new model year.

Shoppers looking for a deal on a new Miata may want to call around and see if any 2016s are still left.