On The RoadSue Cooke

Mazda MX-5 – Review by Sue Cooke

Usually when I review an open top sports car it rains, but this weekend the forecast sounded promising, sunny and a few showers. So I arranged to pick up a girlfriend and drive over to the National Trust property, Benthall Hall in Broseley. It snowed!

So the Mazda MX-5, the lightest MX-5 since the iconic original probably wasn’t the best option for tackling the weather, but on the Sport trim the two seater sports car did feature heated leather seats. And the sun did pop its head out, so I got the chance to put the cloth roof down. It requires a manual push down which needs less pressure to close than its predecessor, so it is possible to reach behind you and close the roof with one hand. I missed the one hinged window visors, found on the Mark I model, which can be pulled to the side to deflect bright sunlight. The new MX-5 has static visors.

This sports car is for people who just like driving. The interior cabin space is at a premium and it is disappointing that Mazda seems to have disregarded a useful glovebox, although this new Mark IV model has incorporated two cup holders between the seats. The 130 litre boot has been designed for improved usability. While the outgoing car could only carry one airline sized carry on suitcase, with a 35mm longer and 36mm deeper boot, the new car can carry two. A friend, her husband and luggage drove around Europe for three weeks in a Mark III model though.

Since 2011, all new cars in the UK have to have daylight running lights so all models feature LED headlights, and alloy wheels. There are nine models to choose from and seven colour choices, including ceramic metallic and soul red metallic which is my favourite.

This model has grown up in terms of design which Mazda calls its KODO: Soul of Motion design philosophy. The more aggressive exterior is shorter, lower and wider than the outgoing car with the smallest overhangs and lowest centre of gravity yet, which gives it good stability and manageability. I found driving was very reminiscent of the Mark I model with precise steering.

Despite it sitting lower to the floor I found it easy to get in and out of. The driver sits lower and further back in the cabin, yet visibility across the long tapering bonnet is good. The wind deflector between the seat backs does get in the way of rear visibility with the roof up but it easily pulls out of place.

There is a choice of two engines with Mazda’s award winning SKYACTIV technology which delivers improved levels of performance and economy. There is a 1.5 litre petrol engine and the car I drove was powered by a 2 litre 160ps engine. Over its predecessor this new model has a promising roar on start-up which doesn’t disappoint. Instant acceleration with quick agile overtaking is brilliant.

The new MX-5 has a much more luxurious interior than the Mark I which was launched in 1990 and there is a long list of standard features. 25 years ago the 115ps Mark I MX-5 cost £14,249 (equivalent to £31,687 in today’s money), yet 25 years later with vastly more standard equipment, the all-new Mazda MX-5 costs from £18,495 – which brings the MX-5 a lot nearer to the dreams of those who love driving. And in my opinion, the Mazda MX-5 is one of the world’s best and most affordable sports cars.

Facts at a Glance
Model: Mazda MX-5 SE-L Nav
Price: £21,095 on the road
Engine: 2 litre petrol SKYACTIV-G
Performance: 0-62 mph in 7.3 seconds
Top speed: 133 mph
CO2 emissions: 161g/km
Combined fuel consumption: 40.9 mpg

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