Mazda MX-5 – simply marvellous

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.