Mazda MX-5 review

The Mazda MX-5 is a terrific two-seat convertible that's great to drive and won't cost a fortune to buy or own

RRP £28,605

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• Used

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Power

130 bhp

0-62 mph

8.3 s

Efficiency

45.6 mpg

Figures for 1.5 SKYACTIV-G Prime-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

Convertible

Coupe

Sports

Jump to:

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Buying & owning

Dan Jones

Updated: 5 February 2025

How we test cars

Introduction

The Mazda MX-5 is one of the best loved and most recognisable sports cars you can buy, with millions of fans around the world and a string of awards to its name.

Mazda launched the first-generation MX-5 more than 30 years ago, with a focus on plastering a big silly grin on your face. It's earned its stripes as a "fun car" since then, and the current MX-5 sticks with all the essential elements that have made it such a hit – including the lowest price in its class.

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Best price from £24,995

What is What Car? best price?

The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.

Available now from: £24,995

RRP from: £28,605

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From £24,995

These days you can choose between the MX-5 Roadster soft-top or the MX-5 RF (Retractable Fastback), which has a folding metal roof for added security. This review covers both body styles.

So how do they stack up against the best sports cars, including the light and lithe Alpine A110, the formidable Porsche 911 or the Roadster’s closest rival, the BMW Z4? Read on to find out whether the Mazda MX-5 is the right car for you...

What’s new?

- January 2023: What Car? names MX-5 Best Sports Car for Value for the third consecutive year
- July 2018: Mazda announces facelifted MX-5 and MX-5 RF, with more safety equipment and more engaging handling
- January 2018: MX-5 named Best Convertible at 2018 What Car? Awards
- March 2016: new Mazda MX-5 RF retractable hardtop model revealed
- January 2016: MX-5 named Best Convertible at annual What Car? Awards
- June 2015: all-new MX-5 scheduled to land in dealers in August

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Overview

The Mazda MX-5 Roadster and MX-5 RF with the 1.5-litre engine and Prime-Line trim are terrific two-seaters for those that don’t want to spend a fortune. They're not as fast as more expensive sports cars, but with free-revving engines, a sweet gearbox and nimble handling, they’re well worth considering.

Our pick

1.5 SKYACTIV-G Prime-Line Roadster 2dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (132 ps) review

RRP £28,605

Pros

• Good ride and handling balance
• Performance suited to UK roads
• Low running costs

Cons

• Not much head room for tall drivers
• Limited storage
• Driving position would benefit from greater range of adjustment

Our pick

1.5 SKYACTIV-G Prime-Line Roadster 2dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (132 ps) review

RRP £28,605

Trims available

Exclusive-Line

Available with either the 1.5 or 2.0-litre engines, Exclusive-Line gets useful extras such as rear parking sensors, automatic wipers, auto high-beam assist, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and automatic emergency braking. You also get leather trim and an uprated Bose sound system.

Prime-Line

Entry-level Prime-Line has everything you’d need, including the all-important heated seats necessary for driving with the roof down in cold weather. You also get sat-nav as standard, along with cruise control and 16in alloy wheels. It's our pick of the range – although you'll need to stick with the smaller engine to get it.

Homura

This is the range-topping MX-5 that comes exclusively with the larger 2.0-litre engine, and replaces GT-Sport Tech. It differs from the rest of the range because it has 17in BBS alloy wheels, red Brembo brake calipers, and a light stone interior. All those things are nice, but not necessarily worth it over a 2.0-litre Exclusive-Line trim.

New car deals

Available now

Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

Strengths

• Lively engines
• Agile handling
• Manual gearbox is joyful to use

Weaknesses

• Heavier RF isn’t quite as balanced
• Noisy on motorways

Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox

You might be surprised to see a three-star result here, but it’s all a case of context. After all, the Mazda MX-5 occupies the same class as brutally powerful beasts including the Porsche 911.

In such company, the 130bhp 1.5-litre MX-5, which covers 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds, seems rather tame. That’s especially true of the RF version, which due to its heavier roof arrangement takes a little longer to 62mph at 8.7 seconds. We’d still recommend this engine though, because it provides lively performance for the cost.

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We can understand you plumping for the 2.0-litre though. With 181bhp, it provides more mid-range punch and a far more enthusiastic top end, and drops the soft-top version's 0-62mph time to 6.5 seconds. That can't match the Alpine A110 but is a bit quicker than the entry-level BMW Z4.

Suspension and ride comfort

The 1.5-litre MX-5 is softly sprung and proves relatively comfortable over most road surfaces, despite its low-slung appearance. It’ll cope easily with speed bumps and isn't too unsettled by awkward road cambers.

The 2.0-litre models get firmer sports suspension for a more focused handling set-up, along with bigger (17in) alloy wheels. You’ll notice rough surfaces and expansion joints more, but not uncomfortably so.

Handling

The MX-5's lightness helps to make it feel nimble, while the steering's accuracy gives you the confidence to sweep the nose from one corner to the next with enthusiasm. True, it’s no Porsche 718 Boxster but we think it'll put a bigger grin on your face than the BMW Z4.

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You can sense the RF’s additional 45kg of weight over the Roadster version when pressing on, otherwise it doesn’t affect the handling too much in everyday driving. In addition, the rear-wheel-drive set-up makes it feel more balanced than most similarly priced front-wheel-drive hot hatches.

The soft suspension of the 1.5-litre models does mean they suffer from quite a lot of body lean in corners. The stiffer suspension of the 2.0-litre versions keeps body lean under tighter control and makes them feel keener to turn in to corners. That’s helped by a limited-slip differential, which aims to give greater traction out of corners.

Noise and vibration

Noise levels with the soft or hard-top roof up are acceptable for a sports car but there’s still a fair bit of wind and tyre noise at motorway speeds. As you might expect, with the roof down, the convertible is a little blustery, but it’s the RF’s redesigned roof that’s the problem, scooping more air into the interior.

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Both engines can be quite loud at idle on a cold start, but deliver a throaty rasp when driven enthusiastically, so it's a hoot to rev them out. You do, however, feel a fair amount of background engine vibration through the steering wheel, and it's not as refined as the Z4.

The manual gearbox, with its short, precise shift pattern, adds another joyful facet to the driving experience and is arguably one of the best in the business.

"If you’re after sportiness, I’d stick to the Mx-5 Roadster over the RF. The differences aren’t massive but you can feel that the heavier RF isn’t quite as happy on a spirited drive." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

Strengths

• Easy to use infotainment system
• Smart interior

Weaknesses

• Seats could be more supportive
• Tall drivers might struggle with driving position

Driving position and dashboard

The Mazda MX-5's driving seat gives you a sporty driving position, with your legs straight out forwards as if you were in a go-kart, and your posterior close to the road. Many will undoubtedly like that set-up, but getting in and out can be a touch, er, inelegant.

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All but the tallest drivers will be able to get comfortable in the snug seat, so long journeys won't be a chore – although the BMW Z4 is better for long-distance comfort.

The MX-5's stubby, high-set gear lever is in just the right place, and there’s a well-placed padded central armrest and a sensible dashboard layout that’s easy to use.

Visibility, parking sensors and cameras

The MX-5 provides its driver with clear forward visibility. Looking down the sloping bonnet gives you a real sports car feeling and the windscreen pillars don’t obscure your view at junctions and roundabouts.

With the roof up, the view back towards the rear corners of the car is poor and the rear window is tiny. What’s more, the RF also has an over-the-shoulder obstruction when the roof is down because of its rear buttress.

To make parking easier, rear parking sensors are standard across the range, while all 2.0-litre models also get a reversing camera.

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Sat nav and infotainment

Every MX-5 gets a smart 8.8in touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, sat-nav, DAB radio and Bluetooth.

The display is clear and the simple system is far less distracting to use than the touchscreen-only systems in some rivals because you get a physical rotary dial and shortcut buttons.

All MX-5s except entry-level Prime-Line get a punchy nine-speaker Bose sound system. The Z4’s infotainment system is better still, but the MX-5’s system is easier to use than almost every other rival's, including Porsche models.

Quality

Considering the MX-5 is a relatively inexpensive sports car, its interior looks commendably smart. There’s a good array of soft textures and a metal-effect trim that adds to its visual appeal, helping to disguise an interior predominantly put together with hard-touch plastics.

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Ultimately, a Z4 has a far greater spread of squishy plastics, while the Porsche 718 Boxster is in a different league entirely. Still, the MX-5's well-damped switches and stalks do give you the feeling this is a well screwed together interior.

"While most cars have moved all of their controls inside a touchscreen, it’s a breath of fresh air that the MX-5 still has a rotary dial for the infotainment system and physical air conditioning controls." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

Strengths

• Boot space unaffected by roof positioning

Weaknesses

• A bit of a squeeze for taller occupants
• Lack of storage space

Front space

The Mazda MX-5 is small – and feels it inside. The driver sits in close proximity to their passenger and can touch their door without stretching.

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Taller drivers might feel that leg room is tight, especially in the RF version, which has an altered rear bulkhead to accommodate the folding metal roof. It means you can’t slide or recline the seats quite as much as in the MX-5 Roadster, so those over 6ft tall need to try both before they buy. You’ll have the roof close to your head in either version, so if you're quite big, we’d recommend looking at the larger BMW Z4.

Storage space is fairly scarce – for starters, there aren’t even any door bins. You can stow smaller items such as keys in the shallow central armrest cubby or on a small tray at the base of the dash. You do get two removable cupholders, each big enough for a large coffee.

Rear space

The MX-5 is strictly a two-seater, with no usable rear passenger seats. For that, you’ll need to look at a four-seater convertible – the BMW 4 Series Convertible for example.

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There's a square glovebox-sized cubby between the seats, with enough space for the service manual and maybe a small packed lunch.

Seat folding and flexibility

The MX-5's passenger seat has a lever to control the backrest angle and slide it forwards and backwards. You don’t get height or lumbar adjustment, or electrically adjustable seats on any trim level.

Boot space

The MX-5's boot is unaffected by the roof’s position, so you can drive with the top down and still have a reasonable amount of luggage space. The soft-top Roadster version has 130 litres of boot space while the RF has 127 litres because it loses a bit of space to the complex folding metal roof.

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The boot's high sill and restrictive oval-shaped opening makes loading chunky items a pain, but it's big enough to take a couple of carry-on suitcases.

Golf clubs will need to go inside the car in place of a passenger. Alternatively, consider the BMW Z4, which offers more than double the boot capacity.

"While I've seen most car models grow over the years, the MX-5 has remained rather tiny. That’s good when it comes to driving but rubbish for interior space. Anyone 6ft or above will want to sit in one before buying." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Strengths

• Well equipped
• Good choice of trims
• Strong fuel economy

Weaknesses

• Depreciates faster than rivals

Equipment, options and extras

The MX-5's entry-level Prime-Line trim comes well equipped, with goodies such as climate and cruise control, 16in alloy wheels, heated seats and touchscreen infotainment. It's restricted to the 1.5-litre engine, but if you're happy with that, it's the trim we'd recommend.

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To get the 2.0-litre engine you’ll need to upgrade to at least mid-spec Exclusive-Line trim. It adds keyless entry, leather seats and some additional safety kit. It's worth noting that 2.0-litre cars also get 17in alloys, adaptive LED headlights, a number of suspension upgrades and a limited-slip differential.

Ways to buy

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Top-spec Homura is only available with the 2.0-litre engine but adds cosmetic tweaks, including BBS alloy wheels, red brake calipers and Nappa leather seats. It’s quite a bit more expensive than our chosen version but still won’t cost you nearly as much as the entry-level BMW Z4.

Costs, insurance groups, MPG and CO2

The Mazda MX-5 is the only two-seat sports car you can buy new at this price level. Even the more powerful 2.0-litre versions are much cheaper than bigger and more powerful rivals, costing significantly less than an entry-level BMW Z4.

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The MX-5 is predicted to depreciate faster than most of its rivals, which can have an effect on PCP finance rates. When you combine the low CO2 output and cheaper list price, it’ll still cost less in BIK tax as a company car.

Whichever engine you go for, the MX-5 is very cheap to run by sports-car standards. Both the petrol engines are fairly efficient, managing more than 40mpg in WLTP tests and our own real-world testing. In our True MPG tests the 2.0-litre returned an impressive 45.1mpg, which is even better than the official figure.

Reliability

In our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, the MX-5 finished towards the middle of the sports car category, sitting above the Porsche 911 but below the BMW 4 Series Convertible and the Porsche 718 Boxster (which topped the table).

Meanwhile, Mazda as a brand performed fairly well as a manufacturer, placing 16th out of the 31 car makers ranked. That places it way below the table-topping Mini, a fair way below BMW but above Porsche.

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The MX-5 comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. That can be extended at extra cost with the option of European roadside assistance.

Safety and security

The testers at Euro NCAP gave the MX-5 four stars out of five for safety in 2015, but that has since expired. The BMW Z4 was awarded five stars in 2019 in more stringent tests so it’s likely to be a safer car.

One reason the MX-5 scored four rather than five stars was that automatic emergency braking (AEB) was not standard across the range, but that has changed. All versions now get AEB, lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition, a system that pops the bonnet up to protect pedestrians and driver attention alert.

There’s an alarm and engine immobiliser as standard, and Thatcham Research gave the car a maximum five stars for resisting being stolen, with four stars for resistance to being broken into.

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"I can’t argue with the amount of equipment and car you get for the price. Indeed, compared with its rivals, the MX-5 is fantastic value and will bring you more smiles than many." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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Protect your investment

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Reduce your car finance bills

Refinancing your car effectively means taking out one loan to pay off another, which could help reduce your monthly payments, or reduce your finance term

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Similarly priced cars

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If you're interested in finding a Mazda MX-5, or any of the other sports cars mentioned here, head over to our Cars available now pages to find new cars listed for sale at great prices.

FAQs

Is the Mazda MX-5 a good car?

Yes – if you’re after a convertible sports car that’s great to drive, comfortable every day and won’t break the bank, the MX-5 is well worth considering.

Are Mazda MX-5s fast?

Straight-line speed has never really been a strength of the MX-5, with the little Mazda favouring cornering ability. Even so, it’ll be fine for the everyday, with even the entry-level engine managing 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds.

Are the Mazda MX-5 and Miata the same car?

Yes. Mazda sells the MX-5 in the UK and European markets, and the Miata in the US, but they are the same sports car – just with different name badges.

Mazda MX-5 specifications

Our pick

1.5 SKYACTIV-G Prime-Line Roadster 2dr Petrol Manual Euro 6 (s/s) (132 ps) review

RRP £28,605

RRP price range

£28,605 - £36,065

MPG range across all versions

41.5 - 45.6

Available fuel types (which is best for you? )

Petrol

Available colours

Number of engines (see all)

2

Number of trims (see all)

3

Company car tax at 20% (min/max)

£1,903 - £2,491

Company car tax at 40% (min/max)

£3,807 - £4,982

New car deals

Best price from £24,995

What is What Car? best price?

The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.

Available now from: £24,995

RRP from: £28,605

Available now

From £24,995

Cars available now

In partnership with

Mazda MX-5

1.5 SKYACTIV-G Exclusive-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £31,235

£24,995

Mazda MX-5

1.5 SKYACTIV-G Exclusive-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £31,205

£28,795

Mazda MX-5

1.5 SKYACTIV-G Prime-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £29,255

£28,850

Mazda MX-5

1.5 SKYACTIV-G Exclusive-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £31,185

£28,995

Mazda MX-5

2.0 SKYACTIV-G Exclusive-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £34,165

£29,995

Mazda MX-5

2.0 SKYACTIV-G Exclusive-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £34,315

£29,997

Mazda MX-5

2.0 SKYACTIV-G Exclusive-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £34,545

£29,998

Mazda MX-5

1.5 SKYACTIV-G Exclusive-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £31,255

£30,255

Mazda MX-5

2.0 SKYACTIV-G Exclusive-Line Roadster Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £34,215

£30,465

See all available cars

About the writer

Name: Dan Jones

Title: Senior Reviewer

Follow Dan Jones on

Dan joined What Car? in 2021 and is now the road test team's Senior Reviewer. In that role, he produces new car reviews for Whatcar.com and What Car? magazine, alongside occasional contributions for Autocar and Move Electric.

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