Mazda MX-5 Review – The Tiny Dancer

I’m just going to say it. Jinba Ittai, better known as the unity between horse and rider. It’s Mazda's ethos about that visceral bond the MX-5 shares with its pilot. This car has it in spades, and on a tiny footprint even littler than the original postage stamp sized car. And now it’s here in RF configuration. That’s retractable fastback for the uninitiated.

But first, that Kodo-lingo

If Kodo is the term for Mazda’s design language then this particular MX-5 is just so, but rendered with a razor-edged pen. When you first encounter it you’ll notice how tiny it is. It’s barely begun before it’s all over, a glinting package, square of stance and squat, with anthracite alloy wheels tucked into bulging arches – it’s ridiculously adorable.

It even wears a smile on its face. And in case I missed the opportunity of saying it, this is very much a Japanese take on a British roadster – always has been. If anything, its new roof just completes the already iconic design.

Tiny doesn’t mean an inadequate interior

Huddle aboard and it’s cramped for a six footer with some (lots of) spread around the middle, but not impossible to endure. Lower the new roof and the cabin becomes a much airier affair. A happy place like no other – that’s the overall flavour of Mazda’s littlest sports car.

But tiny doesn’t mean inadequate – all the bells, whistles and such are here, including multimedia, telephony and air-conditioning and such. Climate control? There’s no roof man! Mind you, I do wish for more storage bins and the cup holders couldn’t be in a worse place, tucked as they are behind my elbows.

The helm position however feels perfect and it feels as if my bum is placed mere millimetres above the asphalt so, you know what that means.

Short, constant bursts

Ah no, six forward speeds are being held hostage by the ghost in the machine, accessible only via flappy paddle shifters thanks to the automatic transmission. I console myself with the reminder that go-karts don’t have gear levers, flatten the throttle and set off!

Even with the auto making its presence felt, this still feels old-school thanks to a naturally aspirated two litre 4-cylinder that likes to rev. And it’s an effervescent little thing, with a fair bit of real noise - no active exhaust or dashboard acoustics here. Good for 118kW and 200Nm, this equips the little Mazda with a zero to hundred sprint in 8.5 seconds.

Not blistering then, but engaging. Engagement thanks to lightness.

Two litres. 118kW, 200Nm. 0-100kpn: 8.5 seconds

The light side of life

Here’s the thing – this new Mazda MX5 is really light. A full 100kg lighter than the car it replaces – that’s 250kg lighter than a similar automatic Toyota 86.

What this means is unparalleled alacrity on par with the featherweight Alfa 4C, only easier to drive with its tiny bucket of power. The Bridgestone Potenza tyres offer great grip – but not so much you can’t escape their clutches should you be feeling... funny.

Take it some place smooth and it’s a pristine ride, point it someplace else, perhaps where the road is pockmarked and uneven and the Mazda’s soft suspension will soak it up with maximum effort. The caveat? Too much body roll for my liking, but then this is also a tiny GT.

Okay, let’s wrap this up

I’m going to level with you. Long after a mad bout of hard driving, I settled down to a more leisurely pace – a trick I perform with every sports car.

Whilst there’s a fair amount of grunt here, it’s that levity about the MX-5 that stays with me. Drop the top, and with the smell of the sea plus Freddie Mercury belting out through the speakers along with the MX-5’s 6000rpm crescendo for company – this is bliss.

At R540k which works out to R270k per pew, the MX-5 is an indulgence for a very limited amount of people. One that made me smile from the moment I got in.

Mazda MX-5 RF Auto Specs: