If there’s one thing that always crops up when it comes to criticism and the Mazda MX-5, it’s power.
‘Oh, if only it had another 20 or 30 more horses’, I’ve been guilty of it myself. But finally, power has been bumped to 181 BHP, up from 157 of a few years ago.
Prices start from £29,370 with the 2.0-litre engine as it’s only available from Sport Tech trim upwards.
The 1.5 litre starts at £24,755; you can also opt for the RF if you’d prefer a more solid roof above you.
Looks
Well, not much has changed over the years regarding the exterior. The front bumper now has blanked off cut-outs where side markers should go…so it looks as though they’ve ditched the euro spec bumpers so that globally they are the same; the rear also features these blanking plates.
Hopefully, the wiring is easy enough to add them in for those wanting a more distinctive look in a few years’ time.
Drive
While the MX-5 is still the sweetest handling roadster on the market, as previously mentioned, it always felt like it needed that little bit more in terms of power for it to really come alive.
That high revving 2.0-litre N/A engine is the perfect match for some spirited back roads, especially due to the slick short-throw six-speed gearbox.
Gearing feels a little longer thanks to the extra horses, the torque delivery continues to the red line, and the sound throws you back to cars of yesteryear. 0-60 MPH has dropped by 0.8 of a second thanks to an increase in revs, topping out at 7,500 instead of 6,500 in the old 2.0 litre.
Now you’re looking at a 60 sprint in 6.5 seconds; and it feels every bit as quick as that too.
While the Abarth Spider nailed it in terms of exhaust note, that’s still something I think Mazda could improve on. An active flap wouldn’t go a miss, especially on a car costing £30k+
The 2.0 litre still benefits from a limited-slip diff, which helps you fire out of corners and effectively deploy all those horses. Switch off the traction control, and the MX-5 will teach you all you need to know about car control.
Sport Tech and above also benefit from a front strut brace and Bilstein dampers all around. The differences are subtle when driving the 1.5 and 2.0 litre back to back, but the 2.0 litre feels like the slightly stiffer, more driver-focussed MX.
Interior
Inside, again hasn’t changed all that much. The new Light Stone Nappa leather, which is a light grey in appearance, is utterly gorgeous; it really finishes off the inside of the Mazda nicely and lifts the interior from being quite a small dark place to something a lot more premium in feel.
In terms of sound, the Bose system comprises of nine speakers; again, it’s a worthy upgrade over the standard stereo; with clear, crisp vocals while giving enough of a bass kick without a sub as you can expect.
Mazda MX-5 Conclusion
It may be seven years old, but the MX-5 still concocts the perfect drivers’ car, it has all the right ingredients, and that stronger core finally gives it the extra oomph it’s always deserved.
On the other hand, if you just want a nice convertible to potter around in, the 1.5 is ideal; its softer ride is equally as delightful for the right driver. When driven on the limit, it can also be a hoot without feeling ‘kill yourself quick’.
