The Mazda MX-5 is a great car – but which one should you buy?

Mazda is launching a hard-top version of its wonderful MX-5. What do potential owners make of it?
Rob Adams19 January 2017

The latest fourth-generation Mazda MX-5 is a hit. Launched in 2015, the series may have been around since 1989 but, with this new model, it’s as good as ever. A frequent awards-winner, there’s little out there to touch it. Mazda has the roadster market sewn up.

Now it’s trying to do the same with the hard-top sector, by launching the MX-5 RF. That stands for Retractable Fastback: previously, electric-folding hard-top MX-5 have taken four in five sales so it’s an important launch.

Prices start from £22,195, £3700 more than a regular MX-5, and it’s offered with a choice of 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre engines. To find out if people think that stiff premium is worth it, we invited three sports car owners and potential owners in to give their verdict on the new Mazda.

Enterprise architect Paul Keegan drives a 2011 MX-5. It’s his weekend car and he’s looking to change – and the new MX-5 RF is high on his list. He likes it, particularly the contoured lines. “With the roof up, it’s better-looking than the previous hard-top MX-5, which doesn’t quite look right with the roof up.”

The simple one-button electric roof-fold impresses Paul, as does improved headroom for someone who’s over six foot. The only gripe this traditionalist has is the infotainment screen. “I’ve been driving for 35+ years just fine without a screen in the corner of my vision.” Luckily, you can turn it off.

It’s a good job communications manager Andrea Rivlin thinks the MX-5 looks beautiful: she’s already ordered one. She particularly liked the Soul Red paint of this car, which she described as “awesome”.

A drive in the soft-top version convinced her to place an order. It was so much fun, she said: “When I heard this RF version would be available with an automatic gearbox, I was sold.” Even her one hesitation, interior quality, looks to have been addressed. “This top-spec car is fantastic quality.”

Not even the fact there’s a roll bar above the driver worries her. “Some will complain that it doesn’t feel like a true convertible, but I’m hoping it will reduce wind bluster and noise.” Sounds to us like she’s counting the days until she can find out.

IT and finance man Mark Hanson currently drives a Mini Cooper S, but he doesn’t like it. Previously, he’s driven two-seat sports cars, so he’s hoping to find lots to like with the new MX-5 RF. He has a generous £30k budget and is in the market for a hard-top “because you spend most of the time with the roof up”. The RF, he says, is the only car currently on sale that meets his brief.

He pours over the car, rating the roof as clever and elegant, and praising the short throw of the gearshift highly. “It’s pretty similar to the Honda S2000’s layout (he used to own one), which feels really engaging.” He did have some practicality concerns and noted the lack of a glovebox, but liked the handy cubby between the front seats.

His main concern, space, will need more time to make a call on, though. Head room seemed marginal and although legroom was OK, he found himself sitting in an odd position. “I’d need to drive it to see if it would be comfortable.”

Mark was another who wasn’t sold the infotainment screen, either. Calling it ‘sticky-uppy’, he didn’t like how it naturally drew attention even when sat stationary in the car. Even so, such concerns didn’t seem to unduly concern him. You expect compromises in a car like this, he said.

The owners give their final scores. Paul rates it five stars, Andrea gives it four, Mark awards it five. It seems Mazda might just have another hit on its hands with the new MX-5 RF.

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