The Mazda Miata is one of the most popular tuner cars—ever! Known for its versatility, this sporty roadster is an amazing, reliable, daily driver… but also one you can take to the track and give it a beating. Miatas are an excellent platform for beginners to get started on. And as one of the best-selling sports cars in the world, this tuner legend has gotten enormous aftermarket support. Whether you’re looking at track days or drift events, a daily driver or a canyon carver, we’ve got the ultimate list of coilovers to help you decide.
Best “cheap” (affordable) coilovers for your Miata
If it’s your first time upgrading your coilovers, don’t worry, there are plenty of good aftermarket sets that won’t leave you bankrupt. We’re also talking “cheap” as in price. We do not recommend cheap quality coilovers, at all. Here are your best affordable options.
Tein Street Basis Z Suspension Kit
- Fits: NA (1990 – 1998), NB (1990 – 2005)
- Construction Type: Twin Tube. Means they’re engineered to xyzzzzzz
- Damping adjustment: 16 Levels
- Pick up your set from Vivid Racing or at Amazon
Tein knows their stuff. They’re legit one of the best-known suspension companies in Japan, so rest assured that
you’ll get great quality. My brother ran a set of Tein SS’s on his S2000 for quite some time: sturdy build, easy adjustability, firm and planted ride. The Flex Z’s affordable price tag makes it an excellent option for those who are just starting to get into their upgrades.
KW V1 Miata Coilovers
- Fits: NA (1990 – 1998)
- Construction Type: Twin Tube. Means they’re engineered to xyzzzzzz
- Damping adjustment: none!
- Vivid Racing
The lack of damping adjustability and being an entry-level offering from KW, these coilovers can improve your Miata’s handling and comfort, best suited for day-to-day driving. The KW V1s are also well made and built to last with their stainless steel construction so that you won’t have any rust issues.
Megan Racing EZII Street Series Miata Coilovers
- Fits: NA (1990 – 1998), NB (1990 – 2005)
- Construction Type: Monotube
- Damping adjustment: 15 Levels of Damping Adjustment
- Link: https://shop.redline360.com/products/megan-racing-ez-ii-coilovers-miata-na-nb-90-05-mr-cdk-m
- mx590-ezii
- The Megan Racing EZII Coilovers are a great option to improve your car’s aesthetic. They don’t perform on the track as well as the other options on this list, but they are a great value option if you want to adjust your Miata’s ride height and daily driving.
Best Miata Coilovers for Street Use
If you are looking for coilovers that can help you achieve a great driving experience on the street and are capable of performing well on the track. Here are some of our recommended coilovers best suited for street use that you can also use on the track.
BC Racing BR Series Coilovers
- Available Compatibility Options: NA, NB, NC, ND
- Construction Type: Monotube
- Damping adjustment: 30 Levels of Damping Adjustment
The BC Racing BR Series Coilovers offer features that can be seen on high-end coilovers for just a fraction of the price. It offers 30 levels of damping adjustment, which includes rebound and compression. With its high adjustability feature, you can set it up any way you want, making it a very capable and versatile coilover for your vehicle. The BR Series of Coilovers from BC Racing gives you access to outstanding performance on the street and the track, as these coilovers can handle the abuse they will get when used on the trail.
A’PEXi N1 ExV Coilovers
- Fits: NA (1990 – 1998), NB (1990 – 2005)
- Construction Type: Monotube
- Damping adjustment: 32 Levels of Damping Adjustment
- Link:
- https://www.enjukuracing.com/products/apexi-n1-type-exv-damper-miata-90-05fr-8k-rr-6k.html?
- afmc=4on
If you’re looking for reliable and track-worthy coilovers, you may want to look at the N1 ExV Coilovers from APEXi. Unlike other coilovers in the market, the N1 ExV Coilovers are serviceable, so you won’t have to worry if you ever break a seal or experience a leak, as these coilovers can be repaired. This Coilover also features 32 damping adjustment levels, allowing you to tweak it according to your needs, whether you need a sturdy but also comfy ride for day-to-day driving or a stiff and very responsive ride on the track.
Skunk2 Pro ST Coilovers
- Available Compatibility Options: NC
- Construction Type: Monotube
- Damping adjustment: 12 Levels of Damping Adjustment
- Link: https://skunk2.com/99-05-miata-nc-pro-st-coilovers.html
The Pro-ST Coilovers from Skunk2 Racing is an excellent option for track-ready performance at an affordable price. Designed for car enthusiasts in mind, these coilovers perform well on track and the street. Its adjustability options help your car cater to your desired ride quality. The only downside with this set of coilovers is its cost. With its price point, many more options can give you similar or even better performance for a much lower price.
Best Performance-Oriented Coilovers
With quality comes a price. If your focus is on getting the best performance out of your Miata, here are some of our recommendations on coilover upgrades that can help you achieve excellent handling capabilities for your track-focused setup.
K Sport Slide Kontrol Coilovers
- Fits: NA (1990 – 1998), NB (1990 – 2005)
- Construction Type: Monotube
- Damping adjustment: 36 Levels of Damping Adjustment
- Link: https://ksportusa.com/product/mazda-miata-mx-5-slide-kontrol-drift-coilovers-cmz060-sk/ref/40/
For drifting enthusiasts, the K Sport Slide Kontrols is a no-brainer. Explicitly designed for drifting, these coilovers are built ready for the abuse they will get on the drift track and, at the same time, contain a lot of adjustability features allowing you to make changes for your setup. For a fair price, this Coilover is capable of track use with its vast amount of damping adjustment options.
Zeal Function-A X-Coil NA Miata Coilovers
- Fits: NA (1990 – 1998), NB (1990 – 2005)
- Construction Type: Monotube
- Damping adjustment: 30 Levels of Damping Adjustment
- Link: https://www.vividracing.com/zeal-functiona-xcoil-aluminum-30way-pillow-coilovers-mazda-miata-
- 9098-p-150716926.html
The Zeal Function-A X-Coil Coilovers offer outstanding performance for what you are paying for. They provide excellent handling and high adjustability for your vehicle. This Coilover also comes in a street or track-oriented setup option.
Ohlins Road & Track Miata Coilovers
- Available Compatibility Options: NA, NB, NC, ND
- Construction Type: Monotube
- Damping adjustment: 20 Levels of Damping Adjustment
- Link:
- NA & NB: https://www.ebay.com/itm/114220689827
- NC: https://www.ebay.com/itm/403197555732?hash=item5de0727414:g:qEoAAOSwUDVhVFkd&mk
- cid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5338734218&toolid=20008&mkevt=1
- ND: https://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-Part/61-1823.html
The Ohlins Road & Track Coilovers are hands down one of the best-performing coilovers on this list. Whether for daily driving, autocross, track, or drifting, the Ohlins can deliver a promising performance worthy of the extra cost you will spend on this set of coilovers. The Ohlins can handle harsh road conditions without sacrificing cornering performance. It’s aluminum construction makes the Ohlins lighter than typical coilovers.
Moton 3-Way Miata Coilovers
- Available Compatibility Options: NC
- Construction Type: Monotube
- Damping adjustment: 15 Levels of Damping Adjustment
- Link: https://www.springrates.com/products/moton-suspension-motorsport-3-way-coilovers-2005-2014
- -mazda-miata-mx-5-nc-convertible-roadster-1-8-2-0-true-coilover
Being the most expensive option on this list, the Moton 3-Way Coilovers are designed for competitive drivers looking for serious performance output out of their vehicles. The Moton 3-Way Coilovers feature excellent build quality and unmatched cornering performance. This kit goes above and beyond the typical Coilover systems on the market with features like remote reservoirs for better fluid temperature control and quick-release hydraulic lines, making for easier installation. It also has a separate compression and rebound damper valving adjustment, and its spring perches are height adjustable.
Creme of the Crop
Out of the different products that we’ve covered, here are the ones that stand out in each of their respective categories:
Best Budget Coilovers – Tein Flex Z Miata Coilovers
For the budget category, we have the Tein Flex Z Miata Coilovers; their price-per-performance
ratio makes it the best choice for your budget Miata build.
Best Coilover for Street and Occasional Track Use – BC Racing BR Series Coilovers
The BC Racing BR Series is your best bet if you’re looking for excellent value performer
coilovers. Capable of providing a smooth ride and a sporty performance on the track, these
coilovers are the best fit for the street and occasional track use category.
Best Performance Oriented Coilovers – Ohlins Road & Track Miata Coilovers
The Ohlins Road & Track Miata Coilovers stand out the most in the performance Oriented
category. With the Ohlins, you get versatility, a quality ride, and handling performance for what
you are paying.
What are coilovers?
Most cars roll from the factory with springs. Literal metal, wound into a spring, that along with shocks/struts, form your car’s suspension. Coilovers are simply a variation of that. The most common coilover you’ll see is one with an adjustable height spring, with integrated shock/strut—all in a single package.
Upgrading your coilovers allows you to adjust your car’s ride height, (theoretically) improving your vehicle’s handling and performance. More sophisticated coilovers also enable you to alter the rebound & compression (dampening ability). For most folks on the street, that’s commonly “how stiff is the ride” or “how well does the car eat up these potholes.” These are all considerations you’ll make when looking to purchase, and will greatly vary the pric point.
Importance of coilovers
Almost every car can achieve better handling performance with a good set of coilovers. Again, adjusting your vehicle’s ride height is key, along with changing handling characteristics. Going lower reduces the car’s center of gravity, enhancing your car’s handling, performance, and reaction. However, while a good set of coilovers can improve your car’s performance, upgrading it can be expensive and labor-intensive.