Mazda MX-5 Review: Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Flea

Under the hood

The featherweight Mazda MX-5 is the antithesis of the Porsche Boxster S. It’s cheap, front-engined and produces about as much power as Ed Miliband – for our overseas readers (or those who don’t give a damn about politics), he’s the bloke who’s in charge of the Labour Party. And as you’ve probably guessed, nobody gives a sh*t what he has to say.

In the 1.8-litre Mazda’s case, that equates to an output of 125bhp and a top speed of just 121mph. Spank Ed’s bottom and you’ll hit 62mph in a pedestrian 9.9sec. Yawn.

Behind the wheel

But fear not Labour loyalists, the MX-5 does have its charm. A lot of it, as it happens. Because it’s so light – just 1150kg – the entry-level Mazda’s livelier than the numbers suggest. Granted, you’ll be left for dead at the lights, but it’s on the twisty stretches of tarmac where things make sense…

To call this sports car ‘nimble’ is a brutal understatement. The MX-5 is a darty little mite, utterly feelsome and responsive through each bend and about as balanced as our hatred for the Nissan Figaro is explicit.

Jack the notchy five-speed manual ‘box into a low gear, launch the front-end at a bend and you’re greeted not with massive, life-changing oversteer, but with a progressive drift that even your mum could own like a boss.

The Mazda’s steering is the perfect accompaniment to the MX-5’s handling too. It’s wonderfully direct, well weighted – not overly light – and comes attached to a quick steering rack for rapid changes of direction.

The ride, however, isn’t quite so accomplished. It’s firm and occasionally crashy, but hey, what do you really expect from a Japanese drop-top with an £18k sticker price?

Roof up refinement isn’t great either. Take the 1.8 on a motorway and engine, road and wind noise creep in. Actually, they bust in and spank your ears. Hard.

Let’s talk looks now. Our special edition Kuro model – which adds £500 onto the standard car’s £18k cost – is a banging little convertible. It sits on beautiful 17s, gets a diffuser-style rear bumper and sports a fruity-looking exhaust, one either side of the MX-5’s flanks.

Splash the cash?

As long as you don’t cover most of your miles on motorways, the entry-level MX-5 is a sure-fire way to make even the most boring of commutes pretty entertaining. You’ll feel every bump, relish every turn and you’ll look like a boss with the roof down. Providing you’ve got a really hot girl in the passenger seat, that is.

Otherwise, we’d recommend splashing out on the 2.0-litre roadster. You’ll be able to explore more of the MX-5’s fine handling more more of the time and you won’t get punished on motorways quite so much. And with 158bhp on tap, you’ll destroy most rude boys at the lights.

#Winning.