2012 Mazda MX-5: Clear skies in the forecast

The day your humble and eminently competent servant photographed the Mazda MX-5, the temperature was 26 degrees Celsius and about 35 with the Humidex. Fortunately, that warm weather will be back soon.

If the sun was an automobile, it would be the Mazda MX-5. It is nothing short of happiness on four wheels. Eternal youth, basically. I like it a lot. Although it’s become bigger and heavier with each passing generation (this is the third generation since it was unveiled in 1990), the MX-5, formerly known as the Miata, remains one of the smallest cars sold on our market.

Since 2007, this lovely roadster has been offered with a hardtop – something that will make your life more fun almost all year long. And by “all year long,” I mean spring, summer and fall! This roof considerably reduces wind and other noises. Of course, you can still get a car that approaches the first Miata (which purists consider the one and only) but for that, you’ll have to choose the soft top!

The spirit of the Miata

That was the version Mazda lent us last summer, although it feels like a lifetime ago. This summer car was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder developing 167 horsepower (158 with the automatic gearbox) and 140 lbs-ft of torque. These numbers alone aren’t impressive, but since the MX-5 isn’t heavy (1,200 kg at the most), its performances are quite respectable, though they don’t merit any superlatives. The real fun of driving the MX-5 lies in its laser-precise steering, ultra-rigid chassis, and uncomfortably firm suspension that, if nothing else, remind us that it is indeed a sports car. Plus, there’s the short and precise shifting. An automatic MX-5 isn’t as charming, but if you don’t want to fiddle with the stick shift, then who are we to stand in your way? The steering wheel isn’t telescopic, but you can nonetheless find a good driving position right away, as though the car was happily allowing itself to be tamed. Automobile journalists often use the term “agile” to describe cars. If you want to know what that means, test drive an MX-5!

Roadsters are synonymous with sacrifice. The passenger compartment is Spartan at best and you’ll have to learn to travel light. In the car’s defence, the trunk is a fair size but it has a very small, horizontal opening that prevents you from squeezing in any large objects. As if by magic, the roof doesn’t infringe on trunk space when lowered.

Speaking of the roof, note that the canvas top that we had on the test car can be lowered in the blink of an eye – and with one hand and without ever leaving your seat! That is, anyone not suffering from capsulitis, like the excellent but weak-shouldered journalist who is writing this article, can even put the top back up with a single hand while remaining seated. This roof doesn’t offer the same soundproofing as the hardtop, but it certainly brings back the spirit of the “old” Miata.

A little charm goes a long way

Mazda made no shortage of concessions with the MX-5. Hard suspension, an engine that revs too fast (2,900 rpm at 100 km/hr in sixth gear while the average for an engine with this capacity is about 2,200), lack of a seventh gear, troublesome rear visibility (when the top is up), very limited foot room on the passenger side, the near impossibility of using the stick shift when there’s a water bottle in the cupholder and no spare tire. Oh yeah, and then there’s the fact that you can’t really use this car in winter, unless you’re a real risk-taker. Mazda will be revising its cute little car for 2013, and many of these annoyances will undoubtedly be dealt with.

Don’t worry, summer’s on its way and it’s sure to bring nice weather along with it. And with the warm weather, convertibles and roadsters will be back, too. There’s no doubt that Mazda’s MX-5 offers the most fun for the price. The base version (GX) starts at $28,995 while, at the other end of the spectrum, the more luxurious GT, with its hardtop, heated seats and optional automatic gearbox can go for as much as $41,000. In our opinion, the GS represents the happy medium, as it comes with air conditioning, a nice six-speed manual gearbox, height-adjustable driver’s seat and, of course, the exterior thermometer for those 26-degree days in the not-so-distant future!