It’s my fault Mazda’s cool new roadster was slipped into the small car category. Here’s why.
So far we’ve only received the 1.5-litre MX-5 and it’s a stretch to place the car in the Performance category. Like its predecessors the fourth generation is brilliant fun to drive, with a sense of occasion and on a great road it contradicts expectations of how much enjoyment 96kW can deliver.
Notably the MX-5 follows the proven recipe of the greatest small cars — the focus is on light weight, design simplicity and a combination of nimble steering and chassis competence that happily outstrips the amount of power available. A more competitive price point seals the deal.