► Month 6 with our Mazda
► A guided tour in photos
► It’s all in the details…
It’s more tightly packed than an airline dinner, but loads more tasty. How’re we doing with our favourite little red roadster?
Hidden boot release of joy
It’s a small detail, and not that unusual in the grand scheme of things, but the hidden boot release in the corner of the number plate recess brings me joy every time I have to show someone how to use it. Too much Gone in Sixty Seconds in my youth, I fear…
So long A14, it was never nice knowing you
I bang on about this a lot, but the iDrive-alike infotainment is one of the MX-5’s unexpected gems – especially the sat-nav’s ‘avoid route’ functions. Stuck in traffic? Simply dial up the distance you want to divert and it will find another way. Or tell it to avoid certain roads altogether…
Tight packaging is tight
Not a car for the generously proportioned, taller occupants will find themselves locked in a battle between compromised seating ergonomics and keeping their head out of the air stream. Mazda has pushed the packaging so far in pursuit of weight reduction the sun visor clips the rear view mirror whenever you lower it.
Perfect pedals. Or are they?
We could argue the relative merits of the MX-5’s engine capacity and suspension all day, but no-one criticises the snicky gearbox, and the pedal positioning is basically perfect for heel and toe. However, the initial brake feel’s eerie similarity to the accelerator can cause confusion when exiting a cruise control nod.
Logbook: Mazda MX-5 1.5 Sport Nav
Engine 1496cc 16v 4-cyl, 129bhp @ 7000rpm, 111lb ft @ 4800rpm
Transmission 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Stats 8.3sec 0-62mph, 127mph, 139g/km
Price £22,445
As tested £23,105
Miles this month 1237
Total miles 8105
Our mpg 39.2
Official mpg 47.1
Fuel this month £137.13
Extra costs £0
Read more from the June 2016 issue of CAR magazine