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Featured · Mazda · Reviews · Road Tests

Mazda MX-5 – simply marvellous

  • by Mike Torpey
  • August 6, 2019

OPINIONS as to why the Mazda MX-5 is the world’s best selling sports car are divided.

There are those who remain convinced it is down to value for money – where else could you buy a stylish two-seater convertible for a little over £19K – others reckon it’s all about the way the car drives.

While both sides have a valid argument, they may also have missed the point.

Because the key to the Mazda MX-5 is actually its simplicity – it is light, focused, hugely nimble and, a few stowage issues apart, a car pretty much without fault.

Look at what else is out there at around the same price and there’s no contest – only the Fiat 124 Spider comes close, and that car uses the same mechanicals as the MX-5.

Two petrol engines – a 1.5-litre unit with 131bhp and a 2.0 that develops 184bhp – are up for grabs and buyers also get the choice of convertible with fabric roof or the RF with folding hard top.

Those with a greater need for speed will no doubt opt for the higher powered engine, which starts at £22,795, but there’s still plenty of grunt from the 1.5.

That’s accompanied by some extra tuning of the main silencer to project a cleaner more powerful engine note too.

Of course cruising round country lanes and enjoying the summer sunshine doesn’t come much better than in a convertible.

Problem is you’re rarely more than a few minutes away from the arrival of brooding cloud and stair-rod rain.

And with the MX-5 soft-top there’s no relaxing push-button retraction – it’s the old lift and tug strategy, which is more fun anyway!

Otherwise this is a car that’s rewarding to drive, feeling agile and stable in equal measure.

That’s partly down to Mazda’s weight saving ‘gram strategy’ which played a big part in the chassis development of a car that’s actually the lightest MX-5 since the first-generation – and that was 29 years ago.

The range also now has telescopic steering and improved seat sliding operation to boost driver comfort and improve what they call the Jinba Ittai – car-and-driver as one – ethos that sits at the heart of the MX-5 philosophy.

New active safety features included from Sport Nav+ trim upwards include front and rear Smart City Brake Support, Traffic Sign Recognition and Driver Attention Alert.

These models, like our tested variant, start at £23,595 and feature bright alloy wheels, body-coloured door mirror caps, black leather seat trim and a Premium Bose sound system with nine speakers.

  • SPEC CHECK

  • MAKE Mazda.
  • MODEL MX-5 1.5 Sport Nav+ convertible.
  • ENGINE 1,496cc, 4-cyl petrol.
  • POWER 131bhp at 7,000rpm.
  • PERFORMANCE 0-62 in 8.3 secs, top speed 127mph.
  • ECONOMY 35.8mpg Urban, 57.6 Extra Urban, 47.1 Combined.
  • CO2 EMISSIONS 143g/km.
  • BiK RATING 32%
  • INSURANCE Group 26 (1-50).
  • PRICE £23,595 on the road.

  • WHAT’S HOT

  • Style, performance, economy, price.
  • WHAT’S NOT
  • Oddment space, getting in and out.

     

  • RATINGS  {Out of 10}

LOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

RIDE AND HANDLING . . . . 8

PERFORMANCE . . . . . . . . . .8

VALUE FOR MONEY . . . . . .8

 

 

 

 

Tags: ConvertibleJinba IttaiMazdaMX-5Sport Nav

— Mike Torpey

Mike Torpey is freelance Motoring Editor of the Liverpool Echo, past Racing Editor and also a travel/golf writer, music reviewer and rock music nut. Tweet @michaeltorpey1

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