The Mazda MX-5
was among the first cars from a mainstream brand to rekindle interest
in a type of car that used to be a British speciality. First appearing
in the UK at the very end of the eighties, with a two-seat roadster
layout, modest power and incredible agility, it embodied everything that
made famous British sports cars – like the Lotus Elan – so addictive to
drive.
The latest MX-5 hasn’t deviated far from that concept: it’s still
light, rear-wheel drive and a fantastic driver’s car. Although more
powerful than before, it doesn’t rely on sheer grunt to give you a good
time – the magic is found in its impeccable balance and steering that
puts you at the centre of the action.
The MX-5’s closest rival is the Fiat 124 Spider, which shares the Mazda’s structure, but uses different engines. As pure driver’s cars go, the Lotus Elise could be called a rival, but it costs a lot more to buy. When it comes to fun, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT 86 twins are similarly simple, light and engaging to drive, but both are coupes and miss out on the open-air fun of the MX-5.
However, the RF model
(launched March 2017) stretches the MX-5’s appeal still further. Those
initials stand for Retractable Fastback, describing a coupe-style metal
roof, the top section of which can disappear into the bodywork at the
touch of a button. It promises to deliver both the quietness, security
and practicality of a coupe and the roof-down exhilaration of a roadster
– for £2,500 over the equivalent soft-top. We've reviewed that model
separately.
This most recent evolution of the MX-5 is smaller and lighter than
the one before. This makes it incredibly nimble – tyres that are
narrower than on a lot of high-performance cars provide respectable
grip, but not too much, so confident drivers can enjoy pushing the car.
It’s a car that loves to be driven around its limit, with just enough
power to keep driving entertaining but safe.
Frenetic fun aside, the MX-5 is a great car to cruise around in: its
very compact dimensions make it easy to park and thread through narrow
city streets. The steering is accurate and tells you all you need to
know about how much grip the car has, while the clutch and gearshift are
also light and accurate so you can use them reflexively.
Another way its light weight pays off is that the suspension doesn’t
have to work so hard. This means the MX-5 has an astonishingly supple
ride for a car so thrilling to drive, while thorough engineering makes
it quiet even when travelling on the motorway.
Every MX-5 comes with air-conditioning and USB/MP3 player
connectivity for the stereo, but our favourite SE-L version features
climate control, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with
Bluetooth and DAB radio, plus cruise control. The SE-L Nav trim model
has sat nav and costs around £600 extra.
The only factor that limits the MX5’s appeal is its poor
practicality. There are only two seats and the boot can only take 130
litres of luggage. There’s not a lot of storage inside the car, either,
while a few design oversights such as poorly-sited cupholders can be
irritating. We were disappointed by the quality of some of the interior
surfaces, too.
Raising and lowering the manually-operated soft-top is an easy
process and it doesn’t eat into boot space when it’s down, while the
RF’s roof is fully automatic. Rear visibility is slightly reduced on
both versions when the roof is raised, but the soft-top is made from
thick material and does a good job of keeping the noise out, adding to
quietness and comfort.
The MX-5 can post some impressive fuel economy figures. A 1.5 or a
2.0-litre petrol engine can be chosen, both with a six-speed manual
gearbox. Fuel consumption is 47.1 and 40.9mpg respectively for the two
engine choices – buyers of the 2.0-litre might want to wait until the
new Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) laws come into action on 1 April 2017.
Annual road tax for MX-5s registered from that date will drop from £180
to £140.
The 2.0-litre engine can cover the 0-62mph sprint in 7.3 seconds,
while the 129bhp 1.5-litre car takes 8.3 seconds. Although these figures
are impressive, straight-line performance isn’t really what the MX-5 is
about – if all you’re after is speed, then a Volkswagen Golf
GTI or any other hot hatchback will serve you just as well. When it
comes to enjoying a challenging road, the MX-5 has few peers.
