Max Kruse
It’s hard not to love a convertible. Wind ripping through your hair, sun shining down on your skin, your senses alive with the sounding of a roaring engine- and cruising through some of the most pristine lands in Victoria? Well, it’s hard not to feel on top of the world.
With the weather turned up, we had the pleasure of testing the latest Mazda MX-5, a snappy little car perfect for a weekend getaway. Picking up the keys in Melbourne, we headed down to the Peninsula for a weekend of hedonism- staying at Jackalope’s famed 5* designer hotel, dining at the award-winning Point Leo Estate, and cruising through the endless wineries this part of the world has on offer – and what better way to do it than with this sweet ride.
This isn’t the first time we’ve put the Mazda MX-5 through its paces, (you can read our other review here), but iteration brings some welcomed features.
With this year’s update – the MX-5 has all the styling cues you’d want from a sports car. Housed on 17’’ black metallic wheels, it’s sleek yet aggressive and it has got to be one of the best-looking non-euro sports cars on the market. Blending into Jackalope’s hotel with ease, the Mazda MX-5 paired perfectly alongside all the Rick Owens, Rolf Sachs and Tracey Emin art pieces found inside- a testament to Mazda’s KODO: Soul of Motion design philosophy, symbolising the Japanese manufacturer’s belief that a car is more than just a mass of metal, and that through design, it can exude the vitality of a living being. The Polymetal Grey which we tested was a fantastic colour option too, given Jackalopes stealth black fit-out.
On the inside, the Mazda MX-5 hasn’t strayed much from its award-winning recipe. It’s a simple layout that takes minutes to learn and seconds to appreciate. Things are exactly where they should be, with a ginormous rev counter in the dash, perfect placement of the foot pedals and large manual air-con controls. The optional addition of new tech – including Apple CarPlay alongside lane-departure warning and blind-spot monitoring systems was a welcome feature too.
The fourth iteration of the MX-5, for the first time in ages, has seen a decent power update. The top range model (RF GT – pictured) has seen a major power climb of 24bhp since the last version we tested. This may not seem like a whole heap, but for a car that weighs stuff all, it’s actually pretty big. The rev-limiter has also climbed 700rpm too – and driving the 6-speed manual, we greatly appreciated.
Is this car for everyone? Certainly not. However, provided you can see past the inconveniences, namely space and size, then we think you might enjoy this car. The MX-5’s light and compact body, as well as other features, are aimed at one thing: exciting those that love to drive. However, this falls apart the second you’re needing to travel with more than a leather duffel bag.
The Mazda MX-5 isn’t the world’s best-selling roadster by accident. A recipe of simple mechanicals and accessible fun mean it’s a car with cheap running costs. With an RRP of $47,400 for the model we tested too -it’s relatively affordable and has broad appeal.
Interested in test-driving this snappy little ride? You can find out more information here.