In a world of huge, heavy SUVs, over-active driver help options, and rising electrification, the Mazda MX-5 is a refreshing reprieve.
It has loads of security gear, thoughts you, however in any other case that is as near an old-school sports activities automobile as you may get in the present day in need of ponying up for a Caterham or Morgan.
The RF takes the basic MX-5 components and provides a power-retractable targa roof. For a automobile that’s all the time been about wind-in-your-hair thrills, the RF provides some additional comfort however removes the 360-degree views you get with the convertible.
Is it value the additional cash over the usual MX-5?
How a lot does the Mazda MX-5 RF value?
You pay a penalty for the power-folding roof, to the tune of $4310. The bottom MX-5 RF is priced at $42,770 earlier than on-road prices, or $47,108 drive-away primarily based on a New South Wales postcode.
An automated transmission provides one other $2000, and whereas most paint finishes are no-cost choices there are a trio of metallic finishes – Zircon Sand, Soul Pink Crystal, and Machine Gray – that entice a $595 surcharge.
Whereas they’re fixed-roof coupes, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 are probably the most direct rivals for the MX-5. A base guide GR86 is $43,240 earlier than on-roads, and a base guide BRZ is $40,290 earlier than on-roads.
What’s the Mazda MX-5 RF like on the within?
For a automobile within the basic roadster mould, the MX-5’s inside feels appropriately designed – however on this period of smartphones and higher connectivity, it has fallen behind.
Cabin storage is abysmal, and that’s most noticeable if you simply need to plug in your cellphone to make use of smartphone mirroring.
There’s nowhere to even preserve a cellphone safely – it juts out of the area of interest on the base of the centre stack and will get in the way in which of the shifter, and can simply slide proper out.
The cup holders are additionally successfully behind you, leaving you to drape the cable throughout the cabin. I simply ended up getting my passenger to carry onto my cellphone.
There’s no glove compartment, both, nor are there bottle holders within the doorways.
There’s a centre console bin however you’d be fortunate to suit a pockets in there, whereas the lockable storage compartment behind the seats can be small and awkward to achieve. There’s a small area of interest constructed into the passenger aspect of the centre console, however we will’t think about what you’d put in there.
You might want to plug your cellphone in to make use of Android Auto (solely Apple CarPlay is wi-fi), and whereas the dated MZD-Join system has extra contact performance than the newer Mazda Join system in autos like the three, it doesn’t have sufficient.
You may solely use the contact performance when you’re parked, and whereas we love a rotary dial the MX-5’s is each awkwardly positioned and infuriating to make use of with smartphone mirroring. Typically it’s simpler to the touch a display to manage one thing somewhat than use a rotary dial, even in a driver-focused, guide sports activities automobile.
The MZD-Join system can be laggy. Flip off the automobile with Android Auto on and swap it again on together with your cellphone unplugged and you need to undergo via an extended loading display. Whereas we’re moaning, the graphics are dated, too.
The MX-5’s cabin does a lot proper, nevertheless. Most switchgear falls neatly handy, and the analogue dials are clear and easy to learn.
The dashboard is completed completely in exhausting plastic, however stitching particulars in addition to body-colour trim and leatherette upholstery on the doorways enhance the atmosphere. All the things feels strong and well-built, too.
You grip a steering wheel that’s each tactile, because of its leather-based wrapping, and well-sized.
The seats are additionally glorious. They’re surprisingly snug and supportive, and regardless of being low the MX-5 is simple to get out and in of.
A few different minor complaints: there’s no seize deal with for the passenger, and the sound system is common at finest – you should get the GT to attain an upgraded nine-speaker Bose audio system.
Open the boot and also you’ll discover a pretty deep however small space for storing measuring simply 127 litres in quantity. You may match an in a single day bag in right here, however don’t even take into consideration making an attempt to shove a suitcase in right here.
What’s below the bonnet?
With the bottom 1.5-litre engine being axed in 2022, all MX-5 fashions include the beforehand elective naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 135kW of energy at 7000rpm and 205Nm of torque at 4000rpm.
That’s down fairly a bit from the 174kW/250Nm outputs of the newest BRZ and GR86, although they weigh over 100kg extra.
The MX-5’s engine is mated to both a six-speed guide or six-speed automated transmission. All fashions are rear-wheel drive.
I constantly noticed gas financial system within the low sevens, and over the course of per week – which included loads of freeway driving but in addition some spirited jaunts within the mountains – I recorded general consumption of seven.2L/100km. The official declare is 6.9L/100km.
The MX-5 requires 95 RON premium unleaded gas.
How does the Mazda MX-5 RF drive?
The RF’s roof actually does take away from the basic convertible really feel of the MX-5. The buttresses behind you mess with visibility, and you’re feeling extra hemmed in.
And for what? The cabin nonetheless will get fairly boomy at freeway speeds and you may nonetheless hear wind noise across the mirrors, so it’s not prefer it turns into the image of quietude with a tough prime.
The common MX-5 Roadster’s comfortable prime could require guide operation but it surely’s fairly simple to drag up or put down. The RF’s roof requires solely the contact of a button, however you’ll be able to solely function it at speeds of as much as 10km/h. A minimum of it takes solely 13 seconds.
Don’t make the error we did and attempt to shortly do it at a pink mild – you’ll hit 10km/h shortly and chimes will blare at you such as you’re in a fighter jet that’s been struck by enemy fireplace.
It’s a great factor the MX-5 has normal blind-spot monitoring, because it has blind spots you might lose a truck in.
There are two colleges of thought with the MX-5: those who imagine all you want is a comparatively low-output naturally-aspirated engine to have enjoyable, and people who clamour for extra energy.
The chassis genuinely feels prefer it may deal with extra energy, however I aspect extra with these within the first camp. You may have a lot enjoyable wringing out the atmo engine and climbing via the gears.
The MX-5 isn’t what we’d name fast – we’d say it has “ample” energy, very like a GR86 or BRZ.
You may nonetheless provoke some good, managed oversteer if you happen to push it, and the load distribution is great. It feels light-weight, balanced and tossable, similar to an MX-5 ought to.
The guide has an ideal shift motion, feeling good and tight. The clutch pedal additionally has a great weighting to it.
I proceed to be flummoxed by individuals who purchase automated MX-5s, the automotive equal of sporting sneakers to the seaside. In case you’ve acquired criminal knees, you get a cross. In any other case, purchase the guide!
The steering is properly weighted and communicative, with loads of street really feel, and the wheel feels simply the best measurement. The pedals really feel just a little offset and there’s a barely intrusion into the driving force’s footwell, however you get snug fairly shortly.
The suspension tuning additionally doesn’t masks what’s happening beneath the automobile. That’s not a criticism, as certainly the MX-5 by no means feels harsh. However the automobile is small, sits fairly low and is sort of firmly suspended, so you’ll be able to actually really feel the topography of the street floor.
Round city, it proves typically snug. Even driving throughout tram tracks and floor modifications, the MX-5 is sort of pliant. You gained’t really feel a lot in the way in which of jolts and crashes on this automobile.
The RF’s roof carries little weight penalty: it weighs simply 27kg greater than the equal comfortable prime variant.
Whereas we don’t suppose the MX-5 wants extra energy (or a turbocharger) to offer thrills, the atmo engine may use some work within the sound division.
It revs as much as a 7500rpm redline, but it surely will get mighty raucous. Basically, this sounds similar to a Mazda 3, and due to this fact doesn’t sound notably sporty or sonorous.
What do you get?
MX-5 RF highlights:
- Restricted-slip differential
- Kinematic Posture Management
- 17-inch black metallic alloy wheels
- 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired, wi-fi Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 6-speaker sound system
- Computerized LED headlights
- LED tail lights
- LED daytime working lights
- Rain-sensing window wipers
- Gloss black powered aspect mirrors
- Black material upholstery
- Local weather management air-conditioning
- Cruise management
- Leather-based-wrapped gear shift knob
- Leather-based-wrapped handbrake deal with
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- One-touch down energy home windows
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Push-button begin
The mid-range GT mannequin provides niceties like leather-based upholstery, heated entrance seats, automated high-beam, keyless entry and a nine-speaker Bose sound system, whereas the flagship GT RS provides Bilstein dampers and four-piston Brembo entrance brakes.
Is the Mazda MX-5 RF secure?
The Mazda MX-5 has a five-star security score from ANCAP, primarily based on testing carried out in 2016. It scored 35.20 out of 37 towards older standards.
The next security options are normal:
- Entrance and aspect airbags
- AEB low velocity
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane departure warning
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Reversing digital camera
- Rear parking sensors
- Visitors signal recognition
- Hill-start help
- Seatbelt warning
- Tyre stress monitoring
How a lot does the Mazda MX-5 RF value to run?
The MX-5 is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
It requires servicing each 12 months or 15,000km, with Mazda having not too long ago prolonged intervals from 10,000km.
The primary 5 providers are capped at $337, $442, $418, $442 and $475.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mazda MX-5 RF
The MX-5 stays simply as charming as ever, even developing on eight years after the launch of the present ND technology.
It’s totally partaking to drive, with communicative steering, a pointy shifter, and terrific dealing with.
Infotainment and cabin storage are weak factors, however these aren’t precisely disqualifying. Even when the MX-5 was half nearly as good as it’s, what different small, rear-wheel drive convertible are you going to purchase at this worth level? Spoiler alert: there aren’t any.
However for our cash, we’d keep on with the usual Roadster. The RF’s thick buttresses not solely impede visibility, they actually detract from the basic roadster thrills of the MX-5.
Our recommendation? Pocket the financial savings and go for the basic soft-top.
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