SE-L

With 184 horses to bear, the MX-5 finally gets the engine it's always needed. And deserved.

This 2.0 version of the MX-5 underwent a significant power hike from 160 to 184 hp at the end of 2018. And the result is simply marvellous. It makes 60mph in 6.6 seconds in the RF, and pulls much more strongly toward the upper echelons of motorway speeds and is less vulnerable to changes in road gradient. The ride is firmer as a result of the Limited Slip Differential (LSD), but not uncomfortably so, and, although the power steering is electric (rather than hydraulic - think MX-5s of old...), affords the most feedback of any modern car I have ever driven. The bigger alloys (17") also help the ride feel less "jittery" compared to the 1.5 verison which gets 16" wheels. As such this version of the MX5 is an even more capable long distance cruiser provided of course that you're not counting on carrying anything much bigger than a few carry-on suitcases and one other passenger. Who knows - you might get a 2 week old Jack Russell puppy in the "glovebox" located between the two seats....
Economy remains impressive, official stats claim 40.9mpg, I've managed typically 39mpg - but this is indicative of me mashing the accelerator more (or less?) than some people. Either way, what stands out for me is that with the previous 1.5 MX-5 I owned - you could do a lot more accelerator mashing and get away with the mpg stubbornly refusing to drop below 40 mpg. It also meant trees in the Amazon would not spontaneously start dying, nor would Al Gore go into anaphylactic shock for a good 10 minutes or so..... Dispensing with the jocularity, thrash the 2.0 and you'll pay for it with mpg tumbling towards 30 or so.
Reliability? So far so good - fingers crossed. Hopefully I won't have to update this review to go on a diatribe about how it broke and cost me the earth....
Would I recommend the car? Definitely. So long as you're not as tall as Richard Kiel, or as wide as Vanessa Feltz.

Report as offensive