Mazda MX-5

The interior of the Mazda MX-5 looks classy and sporty, with the cabin getting a combination of full black upholstery with leather and exterior color-coded bits on dashboard and door panels.

The three-spoke multifunctional steering wheel and the 7-inch TFT instrument console have been shared with the Mazda 6 sedan, which makes up for a classy looking view from the driver’s side. The dashboard is dominated by a large touchscreen infotainment system that freely mounted above the centre console, and like all the Mazdas on the inside, it gets a minimal looking and clutter-free panel for automatic climate control.

Apart from the aforementioned features, various other bits like push-button start with keyless entry, cruise control, leather upholstery, and a premium 9-speaker BOSE music system ensures that the MX-5 ranks up as a premium and modern car despite being small in size. The retractable roof integrates quite smoothly in the boot compartment too.

Like all the convertible cars, the Mazda MX-5 too has been blessed with a striking road presence. The car is not big in size, but its smooth curves and minimalist theme for the design make sure it turns many heads on the road.

At the front, the sleekness of the Mazda MX-5 is personified by the slim bird eye-shaped curvy headlamps which do get LED projectors integrated with them. The front bonnet gets curved haunches on the sides, with the wide front bumper getting the main grille which has rounded sides which goes well with the curvy theme of the car. The air vents integrated into the corners of the bumper too lend a nice sporty touch to the front look.

The side profile of the Mazda MX-5 looks smooth, thanks to the curvy shoulder line running all the way from the front headlamp to the tail lamp at the rear. The door-mounted rearview mirrors, alloy wheels, and A-pillars are finished in contrasting black colour to enhance its sporty appeal. The rear of the Mazda MX-5 too has a clean look with simple-looking round tail lamps with extended edges and curved rear bumper design, which gets dual exhaust ports.

The rear-wheel-drive layout, as well as stiff setup for the suspension combination of double wishbone at both the ends, do go well with the sporty design of the Mazda MX-5. This sporty essence in its driving dynamics is further enhanced by the small dimensions of the MX-5, which do make it a fun-to-drive car.

The Mazda MX-5 is bestowed with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which sounds a bit underrated for a convertible car. The engine is paired to a conventional 6-speed automatic gearbox and sends the power produced to rear wheels. It is worthy enough to belt out a maximum power output of 182 PS and a peak torque output of 205 Nm.

The list of safety features in the Mazda MX-5 is impressive as well, with the car getting some noteworthy additions like front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control, dynamic stability control, blind-spot monitoring system, lane departure warning, tire pressure monitoring system and front and rear parking sensors with reverse camera.

The Mazda MX-5 might be small in size but is indeed very high in visual appeal and road presence, with the cutesy and curvy looks going well with the convertible theme of the car. The 2.0-litre engine might sound small for a convertible sportscar, however, given the low kerb weight and dynamically sorted suspension setup, the MX-5 offers itself as a strong contender for the range-topping coupes and sportscars from more premium brands.