Big on fun, low on cost – the Mazda MX-5 still has a depth and breadth of talents. Here's what to look out for when buying used -
There are two engines to choose from in the MX-5, both are longitudinally mounted four-cylinder Mazda Skyactiv units, and come in either 1.5- or 2-litre capacities, and are subtly different in their pre- and post-2018 guises. At launch the 1.5 developed 129bhp and 111lb ft of torque, with the 2-litre upping those figures to 158bhp and 147lb ft.
The pre-facelift 2-litre posted a 7.3sec 0-62mph time but in the later cars with 181bhp this drops to a more respectable 6.5sec, and sounds pretty good while getting there, too, thanks to its naturally aspirated twin cam. The RF models carry a little bit more weight than the soft-top – around 40kg depending on spec – and this does have an effect on performance, with the 1.5 taking 8.7sec to hit 62mph and the 2-litre 6.8sec. Spec the six-speed auto and those times increase by a second.
The RF does feel slightly stiffer than the soft-top but it still exhibits very similar driving dynamics. However, it does a good job of hiding its extra weight.For a sports car the MX-5 has low running costs, with the potential for excellent fuel economy, low VED and reasonable insurance costs too. The 1.5 is the economy champion thanks to its efficient engine and low kerb weight and its official combined economy figure is 47.1mpg.
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