What is it?
Put simply, the Mazda MX-5 is an institution – the world’s best-selling roadster, a Japanese icon and the brand’s best-known car worldwide. It’s the car, Mazda says, that brings interest to the brand – keen drivers are attracted to the rest of the more practical lineup after being drawn in by the sporty and emotive MX-5.
And, with the UK buying more MX-5s than any other country in Europe, we’ve taken to it rather better to the dinky roadster anyone might expect from a country best known for its potholes and drizzle. This facelifted model, then, has to get some crucial elements right if the discerning British market is to continue its adoration.
What’s new?
You’ll struggle to tell updated model from the outgoing car at a glance, as it’s visually identical save for a small hump on the rear, which houses a reversing camera. As before, the manually folding soft-top is available alongside an electric ‘Retractable Fastback’ hard-top.
The changes are mostly under the skin, and the headline alteration is a brand-new 2.0-litre petrol engine to replace the existing unit. It offers 181bhp, up from the old car’s 158bhp, thanks to a raft of upgrades – this is more than just a slight tune-up.
Inside, a few crucial changes have been made off the back of existing owners’ feedback, while there’s also added safety kit. All versions are now compliant with WLTP emissions regulations, too.
Though I like the RF, a soft-top with cloth seats in Soul Red is my favourite MX-5. This thing is pretty mega with the extra grunt. pic.twitter.com/PDtq1Ys0fv
— Tom Wiltshire (@mctreckmeister) September 12, 2018
What’s under the bonnet?
The existing – and brilliant – 1.5-litre engine is carried over to the new car is virtually unchanged, but the headline feature is the new 2.0-litre engine. A power increase of 23bhp is well appreciated, though the five extra Newton-meters of torque is barely worth mentioning.
Of more note is the rev limit, which now sits at 7,500rpm — rather than 6,800rpm in the old car. That allows the driver to play to the MX-5’s strengths even better, as the most fun is to be had when wringing this car by its neck. The new engine is more free-revving than the old one too, giving it a character closer to the superb 1.5-litre. It’s a brilliant update.
Mazda’s refusal to give in to popular convention and turbocharge the MX-5 does mean that a hot hatchback such as the Ford Fiesta ST will easily outpace it, but a 6.3-second 0-60mph sprint is not too shabby. Nor is the claimed 40.9mpg – achieved thanks to Mazda engineers’ fanatical obsession with weight-saving and efficiency at component level.
There is an automatic transmission on offer with hard-top RF models, but the gearbox of choice is definitely the snappy and slick six-speed manual – truly one of the best in the business.
What’s it like to drive?
Drive the MX-5 hard and you’ll be unable to keep the smile from your face. So many of the ingredients are instantly right – with a perfectly low-slung driving position and compact pedal box, plus a thin-rimmed steering wheel with which to keep everything pointing in the right direction.
MX-5s have never been about ultimate pace – rather, how much fun you can have at slower speeds. We’re pleased to report that the chassis of this car is identical to the outgoing model, and so retains the sense of fun that characterizes these cars.
Everything’s fantastically well balanced, and the quick steering allows for lightning fast reactions. Best of all, the Mazda won’t punish inexperienced drivers should they try to press on a little too hard. Even when stressed beyond reasonable limits, the Mazda’s chassis remains safe and predictable.
Yet the MX-5 also remains a very capable daily driver. Though those with long motorway commutes may find it tiring, though it’s almost as much fun nipping through city streets as it is on a fantastic B-road.
How does it look?
There’s little to report here, as Mazda’s kept the styling of the facelifted model virtually identical to the outgoing car. We feel it could have taken this opportunity to tidy up some of the car’s details, though. We’d like to see an integrated aerial replace the old-fashioned stalk of the current car, for example.
Broadly speaking, however, the MX-5 remains a great-looking little roadster, with keen proportions and plenty of slashy styling detail. The new Soul Red Crystal metallic paint finish looks the part, too.
What’s it like inside?
Mazda’s improved the interior based on customer feedback. The flimsy cupholders have been replaced with supposedly sturdier units – we couldn’t notice much difference – while the actions of the seats and doors is also slicker.
Best of all – tall and small drivers rejoice – there’s now reach adjustment to the steering column for the first time. It makes it so much easier to get comfortable.
Though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto don’t feature as standard, they will be available as dealer-fit options.
What’s the spec like?
In typical Mazda fashion, specs are pretty simple and the options list short. All cars come with alloy wheels, LED headlights, keyless entry, and air-conditioning for no extra cost.
If you opt for the 2.0-litre engine, the range kicks off with SE-L Nav+ trim, which brings climate control, DAB radio, cruise control and a 7.0-inch multimedia system, plus 17-inch alloy wheels. Sport Nav+ adds sports suspension with Bilstein dampers, heated leather seats, automatic lights and wipers and a Bose stereo system, while the new top-of-the-range GT Sport Nav+ level brings a bootlid spoiler, stainless steel scuff plates and Sand leather seats.
All 2.0-litre models also come with a limited-slip differential at the rear to mark them out as a real driver’s option compared with the 1.5-litre.
Safety kit has been stepped up for this latest model, too. There is blind-spot monitoring – especially useful in the RF, which suffers from poor rear visibility – lane departure warning, cross traffic alert and front and rear autonomous emergency braking.
Verdict
This modest update to the MX-5 is a brilliant one, as it brings in an engine that finally has the effervescent and fizzy character of the 1.5-litre, but with enough power to delight serious drivers. Outright pace may not have improved that drastically, but the new engine is enough to turn the 2.0-litre MX-5 from a great car into a fantastic one. The additional comfort and safety features are also well appreciated.
Facts at a glance
Model: Mazda MX-5 SE-L Nav+ 2.0
Price: £23,085
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Power: 181bhp
Torque (Nm): 205
Max speed (mph): 136
0-60mph: 6.3sec
MPG: 40.9
Emissions (g/km): 156