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Mazda MX-5 RF review: does a solid metal roof make the world's best-selling sports car even better?

Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017 - www.dominicfraser.com
Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017 - www.dominicfraser.com

Mazda MX5 RF review

The Mazda MX-5 is not only one of the best sports cars on sale, but one of the best cars full stop. For that you can thank its combination of low weight, fantastic handling, excellent build quality and punchy engines, which when thrown together with the level of expertise Mazda has managed results in a car that is sure to brighten your day.

However, Mazda has spotted the opportunity to add to the MX-5’s repertoire by building a version with a folding hard-top roof which both improves security and should in theory result in superior comfort. It’s called the MX-5 RF (that’s Retractable Fastback) and is available with the same 1.5- and 2.0-litre engines as the roadster.

Space 5/10

Boot is one the small side

Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017
Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017

The RF’s automatically folding hard-top roof is a more elaborate affair than the manually retracted soft-top of the standard car, so it’s impressive that Mazda has been able to package it into a broadly similar space, in turn meaning there’s no penalty in terms of boot capacity if you opt for the RF.

That said, the boot is still smaller than you’ll find in most other cars of this type; with room for just a couple of soft bags you’ll need to get good at packing light.

There’s no glovebox, either, although you do at least get a reasonably sizeable cubby between the two seats, and there are a few more handy storage slots dotted around the place.

If luggage space is a little wanting, though, people space isn’t. Even sizeable folk will have plenty of room to move around without knocking elbows or heads, though the tallest will need the seat wound back as far as it goes.   

Comfort 7/10

Marginally improved over the soft-top

Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017
Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017

One of the MX-5’s most likeable features is how it manages to combine excellent handling with a genuinely comfortable ride. Despite the RF carrying more weight (that metal roof and its motors add 45kg to the car’s mass), it still soaks up bumps impressively, even when you opt for the 2.0-litre engine with its stiffer suspension and 17-inch wheels.

Of course, one of the main reasons you might opt for this folding hard-top model is for the promise of improved refinement over long distances. This is something it largely delivers, with less tyre noise than you get in the soft-top, and reduced wind noise when the roof is in place. However, don’t go thinking it’s some luxury cruiser, because above 60mph there’s still enough wind noise that you’ll need to raise your voice to communicate with your passenger.

Engine noise is as it should be in a sports car: evident when cruising, before turning into a pleasant growl when revved, no matter which engine you opt for.

Some drivers might find the lack of lower back support in the seats is an issue.

Book a free Mazda MX-5 RF home test drive
Dashboard layout 9/10

Great to look at, and to use

Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017
Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017

The RF features a small switch below the heater controls which you hold down for 13 seconds to make the roof open or close. It is the only feature that distinguishes the dashboard from the RF’s roadster sibling, and that’s no bad thing.

The quality of the construction is excellent, the heater controls easy to use, the dials clear and the screen for the infotainment is placed high on the dashboard, well in your line of sight. The only glitch is the slightly awkward placement of the rotary controller for the satnav and music, which has been sited next to the handbrake, where it doesn’t fall comfortably to hand.

Easy to drive 9/10

Never becomes a chore

Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017
Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017

Unlike the MX-5 roadster, the RF is available with a six-speed automatic gearbox, but so far we’ve only been able to try it with the manual. That’s no hardship at all though, because Mazda has engineered one of the most satisfying manual gearboxes around, with a precise, short shift that will have you changing gears just for the sake of it.

The clutch is also light enough that it never becomes tiresome to use, even in heavy traffic, as is the steering.

Being a very small car, the MX-5 RF is easy to place on the road, and although the extra bodywork of the hard-top mechanism reduces rear visibility it’s still far from terrible.

Fun to drive 10/10

Pound for pound, one of the most enjoyable cars around

Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017
Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017

Driven absolutely flat out you might just be able to detect that an MX-5 RF has a bit more body lean than its soft-top sibling, but for 99 per cent of the time it feels every bit as good. Both engines are fantastic, revving hard and producing a great noise in the process, but not being so fast that you are forever at risk of breaking the speed limit.

There’s loads of feel and feedback through the chassis and the steering is communicative and responsive, which means you’re always given a thorough understanding of what’s going on beneath you. If you can drive along a country road in an MX-5 RF and not have a good time then you’re made of tougher stuff than us.

Reliability 8/10

Should be a dependable choice

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Mazda has a great reputation for reliability, which makes its 12th place finish out of 24 manufacturers in the 2016 JD Power customer satisfaction survey a little surprising. Its three-year, 60,000-mile warranty is also rather minimal these days.

In addition, while the latest MX-5 is too new to have been included in the Warranty Direct Reliability Index, which is based on frequency and cost of warranty claims, its predecessors scored well.

Fuel economy 10/10

Pretty good, especially if you choose the 1.5

Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017
Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017

On paper, the RF version of the MX-5 returns identical economy to the soft-top, which is to say impressive for a two-seater sports car. What that means is you can expect up to 47mpg for the 1.5-litre model, or 40mpg for the 2.0-litre (whether you opt for manual or automatic gearbox). What’s really impressive, though, is how frugal the car is in normal driving, with both versions capable of getting close to their on-paper figures provided you can resist using all of their performance. In fact, driven gently the 2.0-litre model will even exceed its official figures, which is almost unheard of.

Affordability 9/10

More expensive than the soft-top, but still great value

You’ll need to dig a little deeper into your pockets to buy an MX-5 RF over the standard car. This is in part because you can’t order it in base SE specification, so have no choice but to opt for the pricier SE-L Nav, but also because of the added complexity of the roof. All told, the RF carries an £1,800 premium over the equivalent soft-top, but that still makes it significantly cheaper than other folding hard-tops such as the Mercedes SLC-class, as well as sports coupes such as the Toyota GT86.

Running costs are also low, helped by the car’s light weight putting less wear on components, and leasing costs are pleasantly affordable for this type of car.

Safety 7/10

Should look after you – and those around you

Mazda MX-5 Euro NCAP crash test
Mazda MX-5 Euro NCAP crash test

The MX-5 RF is unlikely to be tested by crash test organisation Euro NCAP, but the roadster on which it is based scored four out of five stars. The model scored highly on pedestrian protection, and reasonably well on adult occupant protection.

All models come with front and side airbags to protect you in a crash, while electronic systems that help to prevent involuntary skids in corners and under braking come as standard.

You also get a system that pops the bonnet upward in the event of an impact with a pedestrian, so that it cushions their fall better. And top-spec models have a system to alert you when you’re crossing lanes unintentionally.

Where the MX-5 loses out is in the lack of an autonomous emergency braking system that can apply the brakes to avoid an impact if the driver has failed to react. However, systems that turn your high-beam headlamps on and off automatically and tell you when there’s a car sitting in your blind spot are available on some MX-5s.

Standard spec 8/10

SE-L feels about right for the price

Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017
Mazda MX-5 RF - 10-point review April 2017

The range starts with SE-L Nav spec, which includes climate control, cruise control, a 7-inch infotainment screen, DAB radio and satnav, plus either 16-inch alloys if you opt for the 1.5-litre engine, or 17-inch wheels on the 2.0-litre model.

Sport Nav adds rear parking sensors, heated leather seats, keyless entry and a nine-speaker Bose stereo system.

Our favourite version

1.5 SE-L Nav, list price £22,295

Options to add: Metallic paint (£550)

The verdict 8/10

The standard Mazda MX-5 is one of our favourite cars, and by adding a folding hard-top Mazda has done little to spoil that. True, the RF is not perfect in terms of how it deals with wind noise, and you pay a premium for the added security of a folding metal roof, but this is still a very successful addition to Mazda’s range, not to mention a great deal of fun.

 

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