Mazda MX-5 (2001-2005) Review

On the road

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You sit low in the MX-5, but you soon get used to that, and soon enjoy the unusually direct action of its steering, gearchange and pedals. It's fairly small, very nimble, provides terrific visibility hood down - it's a bit difficult rearwards hood up - and the minor controls are easily understood. This is a car in which most non-motorway miles will be savoured. Sports cars are built to be fun to drive, and the little Mazda doesn't disappoint. The flick-wrist gearchange, precision steering, eager engine and terrific agility convey its sports-car character within yards - and the confidence this car inspires will soon have you scooting about with the cliche grin. Enthusiast drivers will love its rear-wheel-drive characteristics, which allow for the odd tail-slide, too. Of all the budget sports cars, this one is the best developed and the most entertaining, and the latest modifications, which improve its high-speed stability on demanding roads, only cement that advantage.

Sports cars like these are rarely road rockets - they're too blustery for that - but the revised 1.8 engine gives the MX-5 plenty of eagerly delivered zip, which it serves with far better manners now. The 7500 rpm rev limit remains, but the engine sounds willing and a lot smoother now. It'll hit 62mph in 8.4 seconds and top 129mph when kitted with the six-speed gearbox that comes with the Sport package. The 1.6 motor is unchanged, which means less refinement than with the 1.8 and less power too, although it's a perky performer. The five-speed 1.8, incidentally, is fractionally slower than the six-speed, for gearing reasons.