Mazda MX-5 RF 2017 Review

Mazda MX-5 RF GT
Australian Launch Review
Walgan Valley, New South Wales

The Mazda MX-5's simple recipe has been successful for more than a quarter of a century. And what's not to like? The light weight, low-slung, rear-drive sports car platform with a folding roof makes for a memorable drive. But with the advent of RF, or Retractable Fastback model, the car has come of age. Say goodbye to its toy-like image and hello to a mature, modern vehicle, whose $38,550 price contradicts its upmarket image.

The Mazda MX-5, or Miata as it was once called in the USA, is an icon of the motoring world. More than a million of the plucky little convertibles have been sold since it was introduced in 1989. Its popularity has even earned it a Guinness World Record, for the best-selling sports car in history.

Mazda didn't have to reinvent the metal folding roof for its fourth-generation (ND) MX-5 to ensure its success either. In fact it could have just created a car similar to the previous generation hard-top convertible.

But it didn't. And I'm glad, because the MX-5 RF – or Retractable Fastback – takes all the good bits from its rag-top sibling and adds Brad Pitt good looks to the recipe. Granted, it's slightly heavier and more expensive, but by Jove it cuts a sharp figure!

Driven to open up
The metal folding roof comprises just four moving parts, and at the touch of a button transforms the car from a sleek coupe into an eye-catching roadster in 13sec.

To my rheumy eyes, both forms look absolutely gorgeous.

It's easily the most sophisticated-looking MX-5 to date, the rear buttress lending it an upmarket appeal that no other MX-5 thus far has been able to deliver. Yes, it's still a very small vehicle and has precious little boot space (127 litres, three shy of the soft-top which is enough for a couple of backpacks) and no glove box. But it turns heads faster than an osteopath, and does so like few other cars can at this sub $40K price.

And the kicker? When the roof sections begin their balletic motions, it'll bring a tear to the eye of art lovers everywhere. It's lovingly choreographed movement is a thing of beauty as the rear buttress rises and lowers with the silky smoothness of 'Barry White's Love Making Music'.

The only car I can think of that comes close to the visual poetry Mazda has created here is the Porsche 911 Targa. And that's just a tad more expensive. Check out the video to see the roof in motion.

The metal roof adds an extra 45kg of weight over the regular cloth-roof MX-5, or roughly four per cent overall mass, for a total of 1080kg. But it's worth every kilogram in my estimation.

It's impossible to say whether the RF is faster or slower or more fun than the regular MX-5 without testing them back to back, but after giving it a bit of a squeeze on Aussie roads it feels just as lively and engaging as the rag-top versions.

Fastback fun factor
Beyond the show-off factor, which is an undeniable drawcard for this car and something it's never had in such abundance before (you can operate the roof while rolling slowly, at up to 10km/h), it's a fetching dance partner.

The moment you throw the MX-5 RF into a corner your body becomes intimately connected with the car via communicative steering and neat suspension. Speaking of which, this one gets a stiffer anti-roll bar up front, slightly longer compression stroke on the front dampers and tweaked rear bushes, but other than that the springs and dampers are carried over.

Guiding it through corners, the rear wheels pushing, the front wheels directing, is hugely entertaining – moreso with the top dropped.

The sights, the scents and the sounds become an inextricable part of the experience and unless you're stuck behind a 1996 Toyota HiLux belching diesel it's an absurdly pleasant way to get around.

There's some body roll as it turns into fast corners but it grips up nicely and you can gun the throttle early in corners without fear of losing traction. Underpowered is one way to describe the car, but the obedient 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (118kW/200Nm) rarely needs to exceed the speed limit to put a smile on your dial.

The six-speed automatic gearbox (7.4L/100km) comes with semi-manual paddle shifters and is good in traffic and around town but lacks the response, involvement and noise of the six-speed manual (7.0L/100km). And how's this: Mazda reckons 70 per cent of RF sales will be manuals. Planet MX-5: Where purists live!

Pros and cons, soft top vs hard top
More expensive than the plain-Jane MX-5, the extra cost of the RF buys you more features and a more potent engine. And did I mention the stunning roof as well? It's the vehicular equivalent of eating ice-cream from the tub while watching tennis on a hot summer's night.

The MX-5 convertible now starts at $33,550 and it comes with the smaller, less potent 1.5-litre engine (96kW/150Nm). The Mazda MX-5 RF gets the more muscular 2.0-litre motor (118kW/200Nm) and additional standard features.

Comprised of two variants, both the RF ($38,550) and the RF GT ($43,890) get extra safety equipment over regular models, including rear-cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring, although a reversing camera is a still a $485 option and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is not available.

A conventional (epicyclic) six-speed automatic adds $2000.

Both models come with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, Bluetooth connectivity, six-speaker stereo (with a speaker inside the driver's headrest!) and the MZD Connect system, which includes sat-nav and a handy-dandy infotainment system with a colour screen. The latter is now in all MX-5 models too, even the 1.5-litre soft-top cheapies.

Top-spec RF GT models add adaptive front headlights that can swivel to illuminate more of corners, a choice of black or tan leather upholstery, automatic climate control, heated seats, power mirrors and a nine-speaker BOSE stereo with integrated headrest speakers for both occupants.

Chuck in an extra $1000 and you get higher-quality brown Nappa leather upholstery on the seats and door inserts, along with a contrasting black roof panel.

Out on the open road the RF model's powered metal roof affords better weather and thermal protection when closed. And it'll give you a touch more peace-of-mind when parked in dodgy areas, where soft-top buyers may fear slashing or vandalism.
However, it stands to reason that acoustic protection when the roof is open is reduced.

Outside noises are slightly better damped with the roof closed but increasing wind noise around the top corners of the rear buttress towards 100km/h with top down is very noticeable. It won't be a deal breaker, but those upgrading from the soft-top should take note.

Like the soft-top, the new RF models persist with tilt adjustable steering – there's no telescopic adjust which can be a pain in the arms for taller drivers.

More metal, more maturity
Despite presenting a similar interior to the soft-top model, the MX-5 RF looks and feels more adult and more sophisticated. I've driven a lot of MX-5 soft-tops and none have ever given me that "superstar" feeling like the RF does. That alone is worth the extra moolah.

Instead of developing a regular metal folding roof variant of its MX-5 as was the case with its predecessor, the Japanese company took a risk with the RF. It wanted form before function… but with some clever packaging and intelligent design, it's resolved both.

Okay, it's not fast, it's a bit cramped inside, you certainly can't fit a surfboard in it and it's strictly an intimate experience with seating for two. But I'm still impressed that such an affordable convertible can deliver on its promises.

We had a chance to chat with the bloke who designed the MX-5 RF, Masashi Nakayama, at the national launch of this intriguing vehicle, and he summed it up nicely.

"The MX-5 is more than a tool to move from A to B. Our goal in engineering has always been about the idea of enjoying the car and feeling great. This is the inspiration since the first-generation and we have no intention to change it."

So the objective of this car is to make owners feel good? Mission accomplished Nakayama-san.