2012 Mazda MX-5: More fun with every ride

This elegant little roadster has been unchanged for several years now, and everything leads us to believe that it will eventually be revamped. In fact, rumour has it that a collaborative effort with Fiat is in the works.

In the meantime, does this Japanese car still meet expectations? Or are there more powerful, more modern – and more fun to drive – models on the market? We carefully analyzed the market, and it seems that the MX-5 is practically in a class by itself. You might say that it’s up against the Mini Roadster, but there’s a big price difference between the two. However, the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S coupes will definitely encroach on the MX-5’s territory, even though they aren’t convertibles. Indeed, these two automobiles feature the same driving precision, slightly better handling and are sold for about the same price. And some people just find new models more attractive than old ones.

At any rate, this Mazda is a real-one-of-a-kind (for now) and it remains true to the initial concept: a small sport roadster whose performances aren’t very powerful, but is a lot of fun to drive.

I spent two weeks at the beginning of June renewing acquaintances with a retractable hardtop version of this model.

Small, but...
My son Daniel would love to drive this car but at 6’4”, he’s a little too tall for a vehicle of this size. Indeed, on the softtop version, his head made a distinct bump in the roof. Moreover, he wears a size 47 shoe, so it goes without saying that heel-toe technique is out of the question for him.

As for me, I fit, but just barely. The head space with the hardtop is alright and the same goes for the elbow and leg room, but if I were a centimetre taller, it would be cramped. Furthermore, getting in and out of this vehicle necessitates a certain amount of agility. I’m proud and happy to report that I’m flexible enough to slide in and out of the cabin without looking too ridiculous. Once seated, it’s comfortable and, you guessed it, everything is within reach.

In fact, getting into this car is like slipping on a glove. The seats offer good lateral support while the central console and door offer excellent support in turns. Also note that the decision makers at Mazda resisted the temptation to transform this little cabriolet into a luxury vehicle. The plastics are good quality, but there are no unnecessary gadgets. This is a car that makes a fun ride its priority.

I really liked the fact that the hardtop opens and closes in a few seconds and tucks away behind the seats without eliminating trunk space. Speaking of trunk space, there isn’t much of it, but there aren’t any obstacle encroaching on it either, which helps if you want to transport fairly large objects.

Suffice it to say, the silhouette remains elegant, having intelligently evolved since arriving on the market more than 20 years ago.

Those who have never driven an MX-5 may wonder why people get so excited about a vehicle whose engine produces only 167 horsepower and has a rather modest capacity. But that’s precisely what makes it so charming! When horsepower is limited, you need a certain amount of commitment from the driver to squeeze decent performances out of the car. You have to play with the stickshift to get the most out of each gear and maintain speed so that the car performs to its potential. The MX-5’s gearbox and its almost ideal gear ratio and flawless shifting distances help in this regard. And don’t be afraid to rev the engine higher for better accelerations. With vigorous shifting, we managed to go from 0-100 km/hr in 7.8 seconds. On the road, however, the relatively high engine revs at 110 km/hr won’t please everyone.

If you want to have real fun with this car, head to a winding road instead of the highway. The precise and well-assisted steering will leave you giddy as you take on the curves. What’s more, since it’s a relatively short car, it pivots in tight turns, which adds to the fun.

Back in the 60s, sports cars were prized less for performance and more for the involvement of the driver in obtaining performances. Not to mention that feedback from the road was very direct. This is exactly what this Mazda offers, and the more you drive it, the more you like it. Even with the top down, there’s no turbulence in the passenger compartment. Finally, for those who like fall driving, air vents on the lower part of the dashboard will keep you cozy when the temperature drops outside.

I had all kinds of fun during this test drive. In my opinion, no other convertible on the market offers reasonable fuel consumption and fun without ever going over the speed limit – or almost never anyway.