Fun in bucket loads
Doctor on the Road: Mazda MX-5
This pocket-sized sports car is a breath of fresh air in a world dominated by EVs. But it could be a dying breed. If you have got petrol in your veins, then Dr Tony Rimmer reckons you should get hold of one while you can.
Major breakthroughs are scattered throughout the history of medicine. Many are still as relevant today as they were on discovery but will have been refined and fine-tuned over the years.
Take penicillin; first identified in 1928 by Fleming and still in use today. X-ray investigation is another; used for the first time in 1895 on the wife of discoverer, Röntgen, it is still used daily on a global basis.
Occasionally, in the world of automobiles, a car comes along as a breakthrough model, that is ‘just right’ and goes on to have a life much longer than expected and has, seemingly, never-ending appeal.
Such a car is the Mazda MX-5. I first drove one in 1990 and on testing this latest 2024 version, it became immediately apparent how little had changed over 34 years. This is a blessed relief and is the key to this Mazda’s longevity: it is a small affordable sports car that delivers fun behind the wheel – in bucket loads.
Since production began, more than one million have been built in Mazda’s factory in Hiroshima, Japan, and over 130,000 have found their way to UK homes.
Even more desirable
The current fourth generation car was launched in 2015 and, for 2024, several useful upgrades and tweaks have made it even more desirable.
It is still available as a soft-top convertible, the Roadster, or with a powered solid roof, the RF.
The engine choice has not changed either: two four-cylinder petrol engines. The 1.5litre unit produces 132bhp and the 2.0litre has 184bhp.
And the gearbox remains the sweet six-speed manual box and, in the UK at least, no automatic option is available.
Externally, the lights are all new LED units front and rear, but do not alter the overall appearance of this neat sports car. Inside, there is a new and bigger 8.8inch infotainment touchscreen and the driver’s dashboard is clearer.
The steering has been refined with more directness and driver feel tuned into the electric assisted system.
Connection with road
Mazda’s philosophy with this updated MX-5 is to enhance the oneness with the car and the connection to the road for any driver who gets behind the wheel.
So, has it been successful and can it improve an already brilliant recipe?
The cockpit is neat and cosy with a perfect driving position and all controls easily to hand
For me, slipping into the driver’s seat was like meeting an old familiar friend. The cockpit is neat and cosy with a perfect driving position and all controls falling easily to hand.
Visibility is fantastic even with the roof raised. As soon as you engage the lovely direct gear lever into first and move off, you are aware as to how neat and light this Mazda is.
At around 1,100kg, it is half the weight of most electric cars and only a third of the weight of many of them.
Constant feedback
Acceleration is brisk and the chassis provides the driver with constant feedback from all four wheels all of the time. The ride is firm, as you would expect, but not uncomfortable and on smooth roads such as motorways, it allows relaxed cruising.
However, the MX-5 is at its best on windy ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads where it quickly shows how brilliant it is as an enjoyable driving machine.
Its relative narrowness is well suited to British roads, too. Like all great sports cars, it has all the close involvement of driver and machine that you get riding a motorbike – but it is a lot safer.
In fact, this Mazda’s trump card is that you don’t need to be doing silly – and potentially licence-losing – speeds to get that satisfaction.
Faster, heavier and much wider sports cars like Ferraris and Porsches really need racetracks to get the best out of them.
Having said that, I found that the more powerful 2.0litre version had the right amount of power for the chassis. The 1.5litre engine revs more easily but feels like it has to work too hard to serve up the fun.
Enjoyable re-acquaintance
The fact that you can drop the hood quickly whenever the sun shows its face is just icing on the cake. I prefer the lighter soft-top roadster because you can push the hood back with one hand and, in my view, it looks better than the RF hard-top.
There is even enough room in the boot for a couple of soft overnight bags, so a weekend away is perfectly possible.
I really enjoyed my re-acquaintance with Mazda’s pocket-sized sports car. In a world dominated by EVs, it is a breath of fresh air.
How long it can continue in production is a question I would rather not contemplate. Electric sports cars coming along, like the MG Cyberster, will be faster but they will be bigger, heavier and lack a manual gearbox and be a lot more expensive.
The MX-5 is a dying breed, so my advice to any medic with petrol in their veins is to take the plunge and get one while you can.
Dr Tony Rimmer (right) is a former NHS GP practising in Guildford, Surrey