Sector: Roadster Price: €20,170–€25,400 Fuel: 6.0–6.9l/100km CO2: 139–161g/km

Replacing one of the most popular and affordable two-seat roadsters on the market must rate as one of the more difficult tasks facing a car design and engineering team. If the car in question is the Mazda MX-5, the pressure must have been even greater.

The new MX-5 is shorter, lower and wider than the model it replaces, with shorter overhangs too. In fact it is 55mm shorter and 10mm lower than the 1989 original. This was designed to lower the centre of gravity to give it better handling, not that handling was an issue with its predecessor.

Even though it is shorter, there is still plenty of room for taller drivers, while Mazda says that there is also more luggage space at 130 litres.

Mazda offers two Skyactiv-G petrol engines. The smaller, 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine produces more power than the 1.8-litre engine in the outgoing model at 131hp and offers 6.0l/100km on the combined cycle with 139g/km CO2 emissions. If that is not enough, the 2.0-litre variant produces 160hp with a combined consumption of 6.9l/100km and CO2 emissions of 161g/km.

While the 2.0-litre engine’s CO2 emissions will be enough to rule it out of some company car schemes, anyone specifying the 1.5-litre engine is not likely to be disappointed. For a start, the lighter engine makes the car feel more agile and while 29hp does make a difference in a light car, part of the fun of a convertible is simply driving with the roof down and speed is not necessarily the issue. The 1.5-litre engine gives the MX-5 a good turn of speed anyway, with the excitement of driving an open car with a capable chassis.

The 2.0-litre engine gives the car noticeably more performance, but for drivers brought up with front-wheel-drive cars, that may not be such a good thing. If performance is important to you, the 2.0-litre engine brings several changes including sports suspension with Bilstein dampers, a limited slip differential and a brace between the front suspension struts. It will all go down well with car enthusiasts. 

All models get a new electric power assisted steering system, aimed at reducing weight and improving steering feedback. It is one of the many changes to the chassis that the MX-5 engineering team have made to improve the car’s road behaviour.

Mazda claims that the hood is lighter by some 3.0kg. While that may not sound much, it makes raising and lowering the roof far easier. In fact, Mazda has designed the mechanism so that it can be done from the driver’s seat. Simply release the catch behind the windscreen and push the roof back until it locks, with one hand. The reverse is just as simple. Release the catch holding the roof down, then pull the hood back up again and fasten the windscreen catch. It can be done in a matter of seconds, while waiting at traffic lights.

Open top car drivers probably don’t mind a bit more noise than you would get with a closed car, but I would have preferred a little less noise with the hood up.

Getting in and out is not necessarily the easiest thing with a low two-seater, but it’s not much of a challenge with the MX-5, even though the windscreen feels close in the process. It’s a comfortable place to be when in position too. There is plenty of seat adjustment to accommodate tall and short drivers.

Mazda has provided plenty of safety equipment with front and side airbags and an active bonnet system for pedestrian safety. A list of driver assistance systems is available either as an option or standard depending on specification.

Verdict:

Mazda’s designers and engineers should be pleased with the new MX-5. It does what the MX-5 has always done, provide a great deal of fun at a reasonable price. It’s great fun to drive, roof up or down and the 1.5-litre engine is definitely not the poor relation.