Gas Mileage & Eco-Driving Tips (for Miata Fans and Beyond)

Fuel economy primarily comes down to two factors: your vehicle and how you drive it. Different cars have varying engine sizes, weights, and aerodynamic profiles, so the vehicle itself can heavily influence your miles per gallon (MPG). Miatas may be light and not massively powerful, but they’re still sports cars, so you can’t expect them to sip fuel like a Prius. More importantly, your driving style also plays a huge part in your fuel economy. The way you accelerate, how fast you go, and when you shift gears are all things you have direct control over.

This article focuses on practical driving habits you can adopt every day to improve MPG. We’ll skip the painfully obvious (“don’t carry hundreds of pounds of stuff you don’t need”) and the downright dangerous (“don’t draft behind a big rig just to save gas”). Getting better gas mileage helps your wallet and allows you to go a little longer before you need to fill up. For Miata drivers, that’s especially useful since the tank is relatively small. Plus, better driving habits can reduce wear on parts like your brakes, saving you even more money in the long run.

Drive Fast When You Need to Stop

This might sound counterintuitive, but it’s really about preserving momentum rather than speeding recklessly. A common mistake is to roar up to a red light at full speed and slam on the brakes at the very last second. Doing that means you’re wasting all your momentum, converting it to brake heat. When the light turns green, you have to burn extra fuel to get from zero back to cruising speed.

A smarter approach is to notice the red light early and lift off the throttle, letting the car slow itself naturally to maybe 20–25 mph. If you time it right, the light will switch to green around the time you roll up, and you can continue without fully stopping. By staying in motion, you avoid the fuel-hungry process of accelerating from a dead stop. For the Miata, this is especially noticeable in stop-and-go scenarios, where its lightweight build makes it easy to maintain and regain speed without heavy throttle.

Drive Slow When You Need to Go

On highways and open roads, slowing down even a little bit can mean big fuel savings because aerodynamic drag skyrockets with speed. Going from 75 mph to 80 mph, for instance, increases the power required by about 20%. That’s a significant hit to MPG for only a marginal gain in time. Cutting your speed just slightly, say from 80 mph to 75 mph, over a 100-mile stretch only adds a few minutes to your trip, but it saves a noticeable amount of fuel.

During longer journeys, you might even reduce the number of fill-ups, which can save you time overall. For Miata owners, a slightly slower pace also becomes important because the fuel tank is smaller, so you might be stopping more often anyway. While the Miata’s small frontal area does help aerodynamics, driving with the top down can create extra drag. If you want to optimize MPG for a road trip, consider putting the top up on highways, even if it’s not quite as fun as enjoying the wind in your hair.

Engine Braking = Zero Fuel Usage

One of the neat features of modern engines is that they cut off the fuel supply when you lift off the throttle and stay in gear above idle RPM. Essentially, your wheels are driving the engine, not the other way around, so there’s no need for the ECU to inject fuel. The minute you press the clutch or shift to neutral, you’ll start using fuel again to keep the engine idling.

When approaching a red light, this means you can let off the gas as soon as you know you’ll have to stop and coast in gear, using no fuel in that coasting phase. You’ll also end up idling for a shorter period if you time it well. On descents, dropping to a lower gear can help maintain a safe speed without riding the brakes, and you’re saving fuel too. In a Miata, engine braking is quite pronounced because of the short gear ratios, and it’s part of what makes driving one so engaging, just remember to rev-match to keep things smooth.

“Slow Up, Fast Down” Over Hills

Hills present a classic opportunity for efficient driving. Powering up a hill at full speed uses a ton of fuel, and then you end up braking on the way down, wasting the energy you just spent climbing. Instead, let your speed gradually drop on the ascent; maybe you slow from 45 mph to 25 mph by the time you reach the top. Then, let gravity do the work on the way down. You’ll pick up speed naturally, without burning extra fuel.

In a Miata, which is lighter than many other cars, you’ll slow down more quickly on climbs. However, you also speed back up more easily on descents. This is part of why driving a Miata can feel so lively and fun; you can cleverly use momentum to your advantage and save fuel in the process.

Shift Gears Early + Light-to-Moderate Throttle

Most engines are more efficient in the lower-to-mid RPM range under a moderate load. Revving to the redline for every shift isn’t doing your wallet any favors, though it can be fun. Conversely, if you mash the throttle at very low RPM, you might move into less efficient fuel maps or put more strain on the engine.

A practical sweet spot for many street cars is around 2,000–3,000 RPM. Try shifting at around 3,000 RPM if you’re focusing on fuel economy. Accelerating firmly but smoothly will get you up to speed without excessive engine revving. Yes, if you accelerate more slowly, you’ll spend a bit longer below your cruising speed, but the lower drag at lower speeds can help offset that. If you’re trying to have some fun, of course, feel free to ignore this. The Miata’s engine loves to rev, but if saving gas is the goal, keep those revs in check.

Courtesy & Common Sense

No matter how much you’re trying to save fuel, you need to consider other drivers. Crawling in the fast lane 15 mph below everyone else is not just annoying, it can also be a safety hazard. If there’s a line of cars behind you, sometimes it’s worth picking up the pace to match the flow of traffic. You can still use coasting, smooth shifting, and moderate speeds without creating a rolling roadblock.

For Miata owners, there’s also the visibility factor. The car sits low, so it’s already less noticeable to SUVs and trucks. Maintaining an excessively slow speed where you’re not expected can be risky. Plus, if you do a lot of engine braking, remember your brake lights won’t come on during that phase, make sure they’re in working order and give the people behind you clear signals about what you’re up to.

Miata-Specific Maintenance Tips

Good maintenance goes a long way toward maximizing MPG, especially in older NA/NB Miatas. A worn or faulty O₂ sensor can make your fuel trims overly rich, tanking your economy. Fresh spark plugs, wires, and filters help keep the engine running at its best. Make sure there are no vacuum leaks and that the PCV valve is working properly.

Keeping your tires at slightly higher pressure, around 32–35 psi, can also reduce rolling resistance without killing the ride quality. Proper alignment, especially minimal toe-in, helps too. Some Miata owners advance the ignition timing slightly for a small boost in power and efficiency, but that usually requires premium fuel. Also, watch how much weight you carry, extra pounds are noticeable in a car as light as a Miata.

Putting It All Together

All these techniques can help you push your fuel economy from the mid-20s into the 30s, depending on traffic and road conditions. Some dedicated “hypermilers” claim they can reach even higher figures, but keep in mind the Miata is meant to be fun. Part of the joy is in the revs and the handling. If you make driving a chore just to chase a few extra miles per gallon, you might rob yourself of what makes the Miata special.

In practical terms, short-shifting and coasting work great in traffic or city driving where nobody’s in a rush. But when you’re on an open back road with curves and you want to enjoy it, it’s perfectly fine to let the RPMs climb and feel the Miata’s spirit. Balance is everything.

Here’s a quick recap of the core techniques:

• Drive Fast When You Need to Stop: Don’t rush up to a red light only to slam on the brakes. Preserve momentum instead.
• Drive Slow When You Need to Go: High speeds kill MPG thanks to aerodynamic drag, so slow down a bit if you can.
• Engine Braking: Take advantage of fuel cut-off by coasting in gear.
• Slow Up, Fast Down: Let yourself slow on hills going up and gain speed naturally on the way down.
• Shift Early, Moderate Throttle: Keep RPMs in the engine’s efficient range.

For Miatas, remember it’s a lightweight sports car that thrives on momentum and agility. Don’t sacrifice all the fun just to eke out an extra couple of MPGs, unless that’s truly what you want. Keep your maintenance up to date, use these strategies where they make sense, and you’ll likely see a nice bump in your fuel economy. And above all, stay safe, be considerate of other drivers, and continue to enjoy the open road in your beloved Miata.