For more than three decades and across four generations, the Mazda MX-5 has always been viewed as the benchmark pure lightweight sports car with driver engagement at the centre of its appeal. With over 1.25 million units sold, the MX-5 holds the Guinness World Record for the best-selling two-seater sports car. The latest Mazda MX-5 continues to deliver pure open-top driving pleasure, leaving this reporter grinning like a Cheshire cat. Its core values of agility, lightweight and finely balanced handling have all been retained, ensuring the MX-5 is the most fun you can have on four wheels for less than €50k.
Mazda Ireland only sells the MX-5 in the ‘Exclusive-Line’ specification, which starts from €39,890. This spec comes with leather upholstery, a new infotainment system, a nine-speaker Bose premium sound system, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a frameless auto-dimming interior mirror. The Exclusive-Line can be chosen with either the 1.5-litre or the 184ps 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G petrol engine. The bigger engine bumps the starting price up to €43,290, with a myriad of interior and exterior extras available on the configurator. The ‘Soul Red Crystal’ – the only colour you really want for an MX-5 – is a €900 extra.
Tested here was the 2.0-litre version on 17-inch Bridgestone Potenza tyres, which features a front strut brace, limited slip differential and Bilstein dampers as standard. Updates launched in 2024 include a new asymmetric limited slip differential and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) track driving mode, which basically make it safer to explore the car’s true capabilities. Both engines are paired with possibly the best six-speed manual transmission I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. I averaged a fuel consumption of 6.9-litres/100km – which is quite remarkable for a car that spent the week on the rev limiter.
The 2.0-litre unit redlines at 7,500 rpm, with a maximum output of 135 kW/184 PS at 7,000 rpm, and peak torque of 205 Nm available at 4,000 rpm. Zero to 100 km/h can be achieved in 6.5 seconds. Figures for the 1.5-litre model are 97 kW/132 PS at 7,000 rpm and maximum torque of 152 Nm at 4,500 rpm.
In addition, the 2024 model year cars feature upgrades to the snug cabin of the MX-5, as inside there’s a new larger central 8.8-inch touch-screen multimedia display and an updated instrument panel. Apple Car Play and Android Auto can now be wirelessly connected and can also be operated by touching the screen. Mobile phones may now also be connected via one of two USB-C sockets.
A small car means a small boot – 130-litres to be exact, which is still ideal for a couple of duffle bags for a weekend away. The soft-top roof can be manually taken down and back up in a matter for seconds, even at rolling speeds of around 10km/h. Subtle updates have been made to the exterior design which include advanced LED headlights and revised rear lights.
The quick-shifting, front-mid engine, rear-wheel drive Mazda MX-5 remians the ultimate driver’s car.
