nlike most people, I don’t view cars merely as a mode of transportation. For me, some cars are much more than just an assemblage of steel, plastic, glass and leather: They’re lovingly sculpted works of art, companions that you can take with you wherever you want to go, or to put it more correctly, they take you wherever you want to go.
Moreover, every once in a while, you come across a car all of whose attributes come together in complete harmony to produce something truly special, with just the right styling, the proper measure of performance, the appropriate level of comfort and luxury – neither too little nor too much, but just right. And of course it has to be a convertible because if we were meant to drive with a roof over our heads we would have all been born wearing steel helmets.
And what if on top of all that the car also offered something that’s increasingly rare in today’s market: a true connection between you, the car and the road?
It’s been a while since I came across anything that came even remotely close to meeting such criteria, but over the weekend I had the pleasure of test-driving Mazda’s new MX-5, and it blew me away. As soon as I saw the car that I was generously trusted with for several days, I couldn’t help walking around it and admiring its lovely design – both the words adorable and stylish come to mind.
While Mazda has retained the long hood and short-deck proportions of a traditional front-engine, rear-wheel-drive roadster, for 2016 the company has redesigned this famous model for a more contemporary age.
I suppose it also helped a lot that the model I drove came in Mazda’s outstanding and rich Soul Red color, which not only gives greater definition to the MX-5’s crisp and elaborate folds and highlights reflections on the curvy sheet metal, but also lends the car a distinct character, making it as much a statement as a delectable roadster.
That color also extends into the interior, on the upper trim of the door panels, going a long way toward creating a connection with the car’s exterior. The dramatic cabin itself is everything you would hope to find in such a roadster. It feels sporty yet mature, well-coordinated and sufficiently stylish and rich without undermining its purpose with excessive lavishness.
Naturally leather is everywhere, from the incredibly comfortable seats and the multifunction steering wheel to the gear shift and the handbrake. The interior of the example I drove came in black with red stitching, even on the dash, a perfect combination with the exterior color.
As you would expect, the cabin is tight, but it’s anything but cramped. In fact, once you settle into the driver’s seat, you feel like you’re in your private space, totally comfortable with everything you need surrounding you, and just where you need it to be.
Here’s the best part: It takes about three seconds to pull a latch on the ceiling, release the soft top and push it back to lock it in place behind the seats, and closing it is just as fast and easy – after seeing this, I’ve become convinced that electric convertible tops are overrated.
While it looks great, feels even better and affords you all the amenities you need in today’s connected world, where the MX-5 truly shines is on the road. Its four-cylinder 2.0-liter SKYACTIV DOHC mill pumps out 155 horsepower and comes mated with a six-speed Tiptronic transmission and a set of paddle shifters. That may not be in the same league as more powerful sports cars, but considering the MX-5’s small stature, its 1,058-kilogram curb weight and fun-oriented mission, it doesn’t need any more power and can get you from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in a little over six seconds.
Driven normally, the MX-5 is an easygoing free spirit, nimble, agile, quick to respond and easy to maneuver. It handles both urban driving and extra-urban cruising with equal finesse, and though the suspension is sporty, it’s neither hard nor tiring. But take the car on back roads in the countryside, change the driving mode to Sport, and the fun begins.
With 50-50 weight distribution, handling is also delightful, because the MX-5 responds and reacts just as you need it to. It even oversteers when needed, and corrects itself without drama. Steering in such conditions is critical, and the MX-5 has one of the best I’ve ever come across. It’s incredibly precise, light and perfectly weighted, and somehow manages to convey tremendous feedback while filtering out all the road’s imperfections. Braking is just as confidence-inspiring, capable of stopping the car quickly with no fade whatsoever.
It’s also safe, with both front and side air bags for driver and passenger, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and brake-force distribution and blind sport monitors. And it’s economical, a trait enhanced further by the addition of I-stop, which shuts off the engine when the car is standing still to preserve fuel.
Overall, the 2016 MX-5, which can be had for $47,200 with VAT and another $2,700 for registration, carries on the Miata tradition, and easily ranks among the most singular cars on the market today and will likely become one of the cars we covet and reminisce about fondly decades later.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on April 15, 2016.
