Mazda MX-5 - November turmoil
What is the basic premise of convertibles? Summer, sun and wind in your hair. Following this path, in our climate we can only enjoy a roofless car for a few short months of the year. But if we own a small, nimble, rear-wheel drive roadster like the Mazda MX-5, the weather doesn't matter. Even if it's November and it's raining.
The popular roadster has had four incarnations. From 1989, when the first version of NA debuted with flip-up tubes and endearingly funny expression, through more subdued NB and NC to two-year-old looking resentfully from the front - because it's hard to describe her face any other way - Mata N.D. The headlights look like eyes narrowed in anger. After all, the look of a small basilisk drives literally everything on it from the left lane. Other cars will scatter in front of the approaching evil mote, as if fearing the presence of even the Viper behind them.
When you stop and calmly look at the silhouette of Mazda, you can easily see the spirit of its predecessors. In the ND model, the front part, in addition to the evil headlights, also received a large stamping over the wheel arches, which optically inflate the silhouette, adding aggressiveness. They lack subtlety so much that they are constantly visible from behind the wheel. Looking at the profile of the Japanese roadster, one thought arises: the design of the MX-5 itself promises phenomenal weight distribution. A rather long hood, a low windshield and a black canvas "chicken coop" with a short, neat rear end. In fact, the MX-50 model boasts a weight distribution between the axles close to 50: which the driver will feel after the first few turns.
Tight but own
How can this be inside a two-seat roadster? Tight. On the contrary - very crowded, but surprisingly not claustrophobic. Despite the fact that the interior elements seem to hug us from all sides, and the roof almost caresses the head, the MX-5 cabin will quickly become your second home. It is difficult to explain the phenomenon of a dark, cramped and almost ascetic interior, where plastic seems only where cables had to be hidden.
While the version of SkyFreedom we had the pleasure of testing should have Recaro sports seats, Mazda's light pastel gray comes with "regular" leather seats. They are far from typical buckets, but you can still see (and feel!) that they have a sporty nature in their genes. They provide good lateral support and, when paired with the handlebars in the right way, create a harmonious duo for uninterrupted fun. Because the place behind the wheel of an aggressive Miata is almost like a go-kart. The elbows are close to the body, the hands are clenched on a small, comfortable steering wheel, the legs are spaced almost horizontally and it seems that the buttocks are sliding on the asphalt. One thing is for sure - it is impossible to gracefully get out of this car in a skirt.
Due to limited space in a Japanese roadster, we won't find many compartments. The designers excluded the standard one in front of the passenger's feet. Instead, a small “wardrobe” was placed between the backs of the chairs. It is a little difficult to get close to him, in order to put a cup or bottle in the handles next to him, you have to twist your shoulder a little. There is a groove in front of the gear lever that is perfectly sized for a smartphone. However, the bottom is sloping, which means that the phone that has lain so far is catapulted during a dynamic takeoff and (if it doesn’t knock out the driver) lands somewhere behind the right shoulder or on the floor. The best place for little things like a phone or a gate remote control is a small compartment under the driver's elbow. Firstly, it is closed, so even with aggressive driving nothing will fall out of it. Having stopped on the topic for now, it is worth mentioning the trunk, which should rather be called a large compartment. It can hold only 130 liters.
Although the interior of the Mazda MX-5 is somewhat austere, its sporty character is felt from the first moment. In addition, we will find everything that a driver accustomed to comfort can count on: a radio with a Bluetooth connection, heated seats, parking sensors, navigation, cruise control and a Bose audio system (in the SkyFreedom version).
While convertible makers outclass each other, whose electric retractable roof folds and unfolds the fastest, Mazda transfers the power pack and drives to a black canvas roof. You can make it yourself and even a small woman can handle it. Simply loosen the knob on the rearview mirror and slide the roof back. The only thing that could be a problem is fixing it in place. But standing at a traffic light, it is enough to slightly rise in the seat and press on its design, so that Mazda announces with a soft click that it is ready to receive sunlight. Closing the roof is even easier. After pressing the button that releases the roof from the locks of the glove box, just grab the handle and pull it over your head like a big hood. This can be done even when driving slowly.
Great spirit in a small body
Under the hood of the tested Mazda MX-5 is the most powerful petrol engine on offer, the 2.0 SkyActiv with 160 horsepower and a maximum torque of 200 Nm. The inline four, although not impressive in terms of parameters, can provide much more than the driver might expect. Accelerates to 100 km/h very quickly, in 7,3 seconds. Further on it’s also not bad – the MX-214 approaches the highway quite briskly. Having driven further, you feel that the naturally aspirated engine doesn’t really want more, despite the fact that the manufacturer claims a maximum speed of 140 km/h. Achievable, but above the mentioned km/h the car begins to float slightly on the road, and the cabin becomes noisy. It's hard to complain about that, though, given the fabric roof.
The manual transmission deserves praise above all else. It seems that it was created specifically for a sports roadster. The six-speed gearbox has rather short first gear ratios, which contributes to dynamic starting, acceleration and lowering. Because MX-five even loves the latter! At the same time, the box is so flexible that it works great on the road. Stick travel is short and specific gearing is tight, like a typical sports car.
The steering wheel makes the same impression. It works with a lot of resistance, which makes it easy to feel what is happening with the wheels, and when driving dynamically, you can feel one with the car. All of this, combined with the Bilstein sport suspension (available on the SkyFreedom package), makes the Mazda MX-5 the perfect fun companion. Even if the rear axle “accidentally” slips, it seems to say: “Come on! Play with me! ”, Without giving the impression of an uncontrollable machine.
Sportiness is felt not only at first glance, but also when you press the start button. After a metallic cough, a steady grunt is heard from the engine compartment to the driver's ears, indicating that there is no excess of soundproof mats. The sound is quite unusual for modern cars, quiet, soft and seems to want to put us to sleep. Mazda, revving its four cylinders with a humming growl, seems to be saying, "Don't sleep!" And in fact - when you're driving, you no longer need your morning coffee.
Economical not only in terms of fuel
There are not many driver assistance systems on board the Mazda MX-5. We have an unscheduled lane change assistant who acts like a lazy security gentleman - sleeping until the last minute, sometimes even forgetting what his role is. But maybe it's better that way, at least we don't feel bad playing on the streets. Mazda was also equipped with the i-STOP system, commonly known as start/stop. While this is supposed to help reduce fuel consumption, the MX-five is not "greedy". With dynamic driving around the city, it is difficult to exceed 7,5-8 liters. With smooth acceleration, the manufacturer's declared 6,6 l / 100 km is easily achieved. Among the most interesting solutions, the small Mazda used the i-ELOOP system, which converts the energy generated during braking into electricity, which is stored and used to power various components of the car. Although it is not visible and does not affect driving pleasure in any way, it seems to be a practical solution.
When it comes to driving, the little Japanese girl from Hiroshima is simple, playful and prone to mischief. It doesn't make life difficult for the driver and doesn't require being a Schumacher to put a smile on our face that ends at the back of our head. The herd of 160 horses handles the sub-ton Mazda MX-5 well, although it feels much better in corners than in straights. She literally loves curves, enjoying them like a little puppy. And just before the turn, drop two more gears down so that she, howling with joy, rushes forward, biting into the asphalt. Thanks to its excellent weight distribution, it is mostly neutral, although causing it to oversteer is not a big problem. Especially if it's raining. Then “for-miata” backwards, it’s nice to look and turn the steering wheel. However, with dynamic (sometimes too much) driving around the city, it obediently obeys the driver's commands, knowing when it's time to play, and when to quickly get to your destination. And in this role, he copes phenomenally - a pugnacious city roadster with which even Mondays will cease to be so terrible.
