Mazda's MX-5 roadster has completely altered the automotive world since its introduction in 1989. Prior to then it had been assumed the open-top roadster was a thing of the past, that it had been killed off by safety regulations and buyer interest in the greater comfort offered by fixed-head coupes.

 

Lateral thinkers at Mazda produced the little MX-5, then other marques realised they had made a mistake and copied the Japanese maker’s efforts. Marques which included all the big name Europeans, as well as host of other players. Yet, the Mazda continues to be king of the market segment. The MX-5 has become the biggest selling sports roadster of all time, bar none.

 

It's very much a benchmark car and we have to admit we love jumping into one at any excuse just to enjoy the simple pleasures of motoring in a ‘real’ car. A quality car that's remarkably affordable for something of provides so much enjoyment. The price tag starts at just $43,850, plus on road costs for the soft top. The folding hardtop we tested is priced at $48,755.

Our test car had a slick six-speed manual gearbox that is beautifully direct in its short-throw action. A sometimes forgotten benefit of using rear-wheel drive is that the gearbox is mounted inline and between the feet of the occupants of the front seat, so the linkages are short and precise.

If you are doing a lot of commuting work Mazda can provide a six-speed automatic transmission that's remarkably well suited to the sporting nature of the MX-5. It really seems to respond to the driver’s every thought.

 

The latest Mazda MX-5 was launched in Australia in 2005 and received a facelift and mechanical makeover in March 2009. The facelift was a sad occasion for the purists who love the car. Because it removed the last traces of the traditional oval-style radiator grilles used since the first-generation car. Instead the MX-5 now has a sporting variation on the five-point grille design as used on the rest of the Mazda range. This new grille design suits the MX-5 nicely and ties in neatly with a new bumper which includes large cutouts to frame the foglights.

At the rear there's a new bumper and redesigned taillights.

In the cabin, the changes to the styling are more subtle. The materials used in the console highlights are of a more subdued nature than the somewhat reflective ones used on the superseded model. There's a revised trim around the gear lever that gives it a neater look. The Bose sound system has been upgraded and includes iPod / MP3 connectivity.

Suspension tuning has given the already nimble Mazda MX-5 an even more positive feel. It still grips superbly and is such a joy to drive that it's pretty well guaranteed to put more fun into your day. There's nothing quite like fanging along your favourite stretch of road during a quiet morning in a lightweight sports machine with the top open and all the sensations of the car, the road and the surrounding landscape flooding your senses.

Though the 2.0-litre Mazda engine retains the same power and torque outputs (118 kW and 188 Nm) as the one it superseded, it now revs out all the way to 7500 revs (it was 7000) and the torque has been spread over a wider range. At the same time the fuel consumption has been trimmed by six per cent on the manual models and eight per cent on the automatics.

However, the last 500 rpm doesn't really produce a lot more in the performance stakes, but it does let the driver enjoy a semi-race feel and helps you slot up to a lower gear with more revs on board. As the engine speed rises it continues to feel smooth and refined.

 

Interestingly, Mazda's engineers have worked hard to improve the engine’s sound when experienced from the cockpit, but have cut the amount of road noise getting into the interior when the top is in place. It's not all that noticeable unless you drive the new MX-5 back to back with the older one, but it's tiny changes like these that illustrate the passion the Mazda MX-5 team feels for its baby.

Everyone should own a Mazda MX-5 at least once in their life. The purity of the design is simply brilliant and calls up questions of the need for overly complex electronic devices that seem to take more and more from the sheer pleasure of driving these days.

AT A GLANCE

PRICE GUIDE
MX-5 Soft top 2.0-litre convertible: $43,850 (manual)
MX-5 Touring Soft top 2.0-litre convertible: $45,720 (manual), $47,920 (automatic)
MX-5 Roadster Coupe 2.0-litre convertible: $48,755 (manual), $50,955 (automatic)
MX-5 Sports Roadster Coupe 2.0-litre convertible: $41,455 (manual), $53,655 (automatic)

FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Air Conditioning: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Not offered in soft top, $2200 option in all other models
CD Player: Standard in all models
Central Locking: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Stability Control: Standard in all models
Traction Control: Standard in all models

SPECIFICATIONS (Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 2.0-litre two-door convertible)

ENGINE
Engine Capacity: 1.998 litres
Configuration: Longitudinal, four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.8:1
Bore/Stroke: 87.5 x 83.1 mm
Maximum Power: 118 kW @ 6700 rpm
Maximum Torque: 188 Nm @ 5000 rpm

DRIVETRAIN
Driven Wheels: Rear
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 3.727:1

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 3995 mm
Wheelbase: 2330 mm
Width: 1720 mm
Height: 1255 mm
Turning Circle: 9.4 metres
Kerb Mass: 1152kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 50 litres
Towing Ability: Not recommended for towing

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension: Independent double wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Disc

PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 7.8 seconds

FUEL CONSUMPTION/EMISSION RATINGS:
Type: Petrol 95RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 8.1 L/100km

GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 6.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 6.5/10

STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km