by Matt Nelson
When it comes to bang-for-your-buck performance motoring, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is one of the best cars for your money. When it was first released for the 1990 model year, the Miata was responsible for reigniting the world's love affair with the small, sporty, two-door roadster. Before then, the old-school British sports cars that were popular throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, had fallen out of favor, leaving a large gap in the market. These days, the Miata's popularity is still widespread and well-known. It's currently in its fourth generation, also known as the "ND."
Every single Mazda MX-5 Miata that's left the factory floor comes equipped with some sort of inline-four-cylinder gasoline engine. Because of the Miata's lightweight nature, these smaller displacement engines provided an adequate amount of power, just enough to facilitate an exciting drive. However, engines can fail and sometimes need to be replaced. Other times, folks simply want something with more power under the hood, so they replace the Miata's stock engine with something else entirely.
Let's look at 10 of the best engines to be installed within the Miata as replacements for the model's standard four-bangers. Some of these we're sure you've heard of. Others... maybe not.
The following 10 engines featured have been selected due to their relative popularity, along with their reported reliability and ease of installation within the Mazda MX-5 Miata. We're confident in our choices of engine, but of course, "best" is a subjective term.
Honda K24A2
Most Popular Stock Application: Acura TSX
Honda
While also being a popular engine to swap into a Miata, the K24A2 is also one of the most popular engine swap mills. One of the hallmarks of the engine and its aftermarket popularity is the fact that it's extremely forgiving when it comes to add-ons and modifications. Parts are also cheap and plentiful. Not to mention, due to its Honda heritage, it's one of the most reliable four-pots produced in the modern automotive market. If you're looking for modest power with durability to boot, the K24A2 looks like a great choice.
Jaguar AJ30 V6
Most Popular Stock Application: Jaguar X-Type
@I_Do_Cars via Youtube
Next up is an engine not often thought about, but it is one of the most popular V6 engine swap candidates. The Jaguar AJ V6 came with a choice between three flavors, but the largest, 3.0-liter iteration is the one you'd want. It's based on Ford's Duratec V6, which itself is derivative of a Porsche design, meaning it packs a reasonable amount of reliability. The AJ30s are also relatively easy to work on, although certain parts can be a bit expensive. However, these mills do accept performance mods rather well.
Ford 2.3L EcoBoost
Most Popular Stock Application: Ford Mustang
Ford
*Specs listed reflect 2018 Ford Mustang figures
While the EcoBoost namesake doesn't carry as much reliability promise as some others, the 2.3-liter iteration is nevertheless a popular choice for use in a Miata. The reasoning behind it is its power output, which, even at base level, produces over 300 horsepower without any modifications. In other words, if you're not interested in throwing any aftermarket parts at your engine-swapped Miata, but still want a good amount of grunt, the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-pot is a good contender.
General Motors LS1 V8
Most Popular Stock Application: Chevrolet Corvette
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*Specs reflect 1997 model year Chevrolet Corvette figures
Many of you may have already figured we'd touch on the GM LS1 in this list, and you'd all be correct. LS1-swapped Miatas have become increasingly popular over the years, and for good reason. The LS1 is one of the most common V8 engines produced in the United States, and that's reflected in its parts pricing. Not to mention, like the EcoBoost we just discussed, you can just plop the mill into a Miata and not have to throw any more money at it to make it faster or more powerful. However, the LS1 requires quite a lot of custom mounting to get it to fit in the Miata's tiny engine bay.
Read the full article on CarBuzz
This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
