Mazda MX-5

The iconic MX-5 now offers more space but retains the same wind-in-the-hair fun factor as before...

What's New
It's not the first thing you'd notice, but the MX-5's rear-view mirror design is new. A team of Mazda engineers thought long and hard about its shape and construction, and then retreated to the design studio to create something completely different. They finally emerged with a brand new mirror that was lighter… by 84 grams - less than the weight of a small mobile phone.

While this might sound insignificant, it underlines Mazda's almost fanatical obsession with putting the third-generation MX-5 on a diet. After all, lightness and simplicity were at the core of the first two models' appeal but there was always a danger of the new car bloating up because of the need for it to pass stringent crash tests and have the extra space and features today's buyers expect.

But all of Mazda's work has paid off handsomely. The new MX-5 is considerably larger all-round than the previous model but weight gain has been restricted to just 10kg. This has been achieved partly by the extensive use of lightweight aluminium for the bonnet, boot lid, suspension arms and rear brake calipers, among other parts.

Packaging most of the hardware between the two axles has also given a perfect 50:50 weight distribution, but only when two people are on board. Clearly, the MX-5 is not meant to be enjoyed solo.

The styling represents a subtle evolution of a familiar theme, with trademark MX-5 details such as the rounded edges and dainty oval tail lamps being carried over intact. The nose now looks much more muscular though, with pumped-up RX-8-style wheel-arches dominating the front three-quarters view. It's hard not to fall in love with the car at first sight, such is the overall 'rightness' of its design.

While the car still looks lithe and trim, jump inside and it's immediately obvious how much wider the cabin is than before, so much so that Mazda has even found the space to fit side airbags and a door-mounted cup holder for each occupant. Also for the first time in an MX-5, the steering wheel adjusts for height so taller drivers don't have to put up with it rubbing up against the insides of their thighs.

The soft top is still a fully manual affair - fitting electric motors would have added too much weight to the car - but it now has a single release lever above the rear-view mirror so it's easier than ever to use. And let's face it, if you can't spare five seconds of your time and a little arm power to put the roof down, you'd really be better off with something like a Peugeot 307 CC.

How it Performs
Naturally, the best way to enjoy the MX-5 is when it's topless. Quite a bit of road and wind noise makes its way through the fabric with the roof up anyway, so you might as well just fold it away and drive al fresco. As long as the sun isn't directly overhead, there's no need to worry too much about the heat since there are waist-level vents directing cool air to your torso.

The sound system is a snazzy Bose integrated unit with steering wheel remote controls, and these come in useful since there's a fair amount of volume adjusting to be done on the move. The 163bhp 2.0-litre engine - the largest unit fitted to an MX-5 so far - is eager and surprisingly punchy given its modest power and torque outputs but it's also far from quiet, issuing a raspy, almost gruff note from anything above idle.

Acceleration is brisk if not neck-snapping, but you're unlikely to be disappointed unless driving on the limit is one of the staples of your motoring diet. Manual and automatic gearboxes, both with six forward ratios, are available - although purists should, as always, opt to shift gears themselves.

The automatic is very responsive to throttle inputs and serves up satisfyingly snappy gearchanges, but it can also be a bit jerky with the downshifts when the manual override buttons on the steering wheel are called into play.

As always though, straight-line speed forms only a small subset of the MX-5's appeal. It's the car's lightning-quick reflexes and almost magical poise through corners that make even a trip to the supermarket an experience to savour.

With superb front-end grip, the car darts into bends, nosing its way into corners like a shark swooping sideways toward its prey. The firm suspension settings never allow the sickly, lurching sensations of excess body roll to creep in and whenever the steering wheel is turned, the whole car seems to pivot around its driver in one smooth, fluid motion. All-round visibility is excellent for such a low-slung car, while the ride is surprisingly supple given the handling prowess.

If there's a criticism to be made, it's that the steering isn't quite as delicate and full of feel as that of previous MX-5s. This is a shame for the rest of the car is so beautifully balanced in every way, but it's perhaps a fair trade-off for the better-looking big wheels and much-improved high-speed stability.

How it Stacks Up
There really aren't any other cars within the MX-5's price range that possess such a deep-seated ability to entertain the driver on so many levels. This Mazda is an impeccably engineered machine in every respect - it retains all the dynamic flair that made its predecessors so many fans, while gaining a more spacious interior and higher levels of refinement to help it win new ones.

Technical Specifications

MODEL Mazda MX-5 2.0 (A) ENGINE Engine: 1,999cc 16V in-line 4 Max Power: 163bhp at 6,700rpm Max Torque: 191Nm at 5,000rpm TRANSMISSION 6-speed automatic TOP SPEED 191 kmh 0-100km/h 8.8s