- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 2 seats
- Engine
2.0i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
118kW, 188Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 8.5L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2009 Mazda MX-5 Review & Road Test
2009 Mazda MX-5 Review & Road Test
- Hugely engaging, gearbox, steering, quality
- Slightly soft suspension
The horse and rider are going to enjoy themselves
Model Tested:
- 2009 Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 2.0-litre manual - $48,775
CarAdvice Rating:
- by Karl Peskett
Mazda doesn't like Americans. Well, that may not be strictly true, especially with the CX-9 running around. But with the MX-5, the Americans were basically shut out of the design phase. I like Mazda for that. But how do we know? Just look at the size of this car.
It's tiny. Parked in my garage, alongside our long term Santa Fe, the MX-5 is completely dwarfed. There are only a few cupholders, and the footwells are quite tight. For these reasons, Americans won't be flocking in droves to lay down their hard-earned on the new MX-5.
The rest of the world (us included), however, might be more inclined to do so. There's something about this little car that is enamouring. It's not any one specific reason, and it's more subjective than you'll find written on a stats sheet.
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The interior build is first class, too, and there's plenty of storage options around. Even the boot is usable and doesn't lose any volume when you drop the lid. Just make sure you're in neutral, and completely stopped when you do press the convert button or it refuses to budge.
The other annoying thing is the windows don't come all the way up or down when the conversion motion has finished, like almost all other convertibles do. Bear in mind that it's a manual unlock and relock of the roof each time.
But the windscreen is far enough forward to not impede your view, and you end up with one very good Sunday drive car. Actually, make that any day of the week. The 2.0-litre engine is free spinning, and linear in its power, and it sounds smooth and unfussed, so you're happy to rev it out and make the most of it.
Even when you do, it's pretty economical, putting away 8.1 litres for every 100km. And of course, there's the full swathe of safety equipment with front and side airbags, DSC and traction control.
The MX-5 hasn't really lost what it always stood for. A fun, two seat convertible that allows you to extract the most out of it, Jinba Ittai is still evident. But unlike sitting on a horse, in these winter months it's a case of windows up, roof down, heater cranked, and you sit in a cocoon of warmth while the cold air rushes over the top.
Thank goodness it doesn't rain a lot in Australia.
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