Mazda MX-5 2016 Long-term test - 2

Mazda MX-5
Long-Term Test (Update #1)

It was never going to be easy to match the first report we filed on motoring.com.au's new long-term MX-5, whose adventures involved race track hijinks, some of Tasmania's greatest Targa roads, about 100 other MX-5s, and even a bit of sea-faring. Instead, we're looking at what it's like to live with on a far less exciting level – think daily commuting, doing the weekly shopping, and meeting up with friends. Is this a car you can live with long-term? Let's find out…

Would you believe I'm still yet to pilot the MX-5 through a smooth asphalt corner? During my stint with the long-term MX-5 many a roundabout was navigated – rewardingly so – but a Sunday drive up to the wine regions or down to the Great Ocean Road still beckon.

For many buyers, however, the MX-5 will be their primary mode of transport (not just a weekend toy), and initially I was left wondering if this particular challenge was all a big joke. At 182cm getting in and out of the low-slung car was trying at times...

There's a hefty bulkhead on the inside of the footwell, which means you have to deftly swing your feet into the narrowing crevasse, which ends in the tight pedal box. With practice it all becomes easier.

Once seated, there's an average amount of seat adjustment fore and aft and I found leg room was adequate after a bit of shuffling about. Everything is rather snug but the controls are easy to use, from the gear shifter to the heating and cooling controls and even fiddling with the radio is easily managed.

It's basically the same interior treatment as the Mazda2, which is no bad thing considering that vehicle's concise cabin design. The only minor hassle was getting the Bluetooth paired, which took some trial and error due to the dot-matrix display's simplistic output.

There's a couple of rather sketchy cup holders that will spill most drinks without lids (if they fit) despite the car having a decent level of ride comfort, and a small central stowage cubbie big enough for a phone or the car keys.

By and large, there's not a lot of storage, so plan your trip. I collected a large parcel at work that only fitted in the passenger seat with the roof open! And going surfing with a buddy is out of the question.

The boot is tiny at 130 litres (-20 litres from the NC-series) and won't swallow a $150 grocery shop. There is a small lockable box between and behind the two seats, handy for tucking away valuables, especially if you've left top dropped when parked, and two more hidden behind each seat.

The Mazda MX-5's manually-operated roof mechanism is a winner. Even without being shown how to use it, watching a YouTube tutorial, or even reading the owner’s manual, I nailed it first time without any strain – one-handed! That's the beauty of the system; it's so light and cleverly engineered that it doesn't need heavy servo motors.

I found myself opening the roof several times when parked at traffic lights on the drive to work. It clicks loudly when fully opened and secured and the feeling on a warm summer morning when cruising to the office is hard to beat.

The first couple of days commuting to and from work – a relatively short inner-city run – I was hooked. The steering is so direct and precise and getting the nose to turn at right angles around town is equal parts effortless and enjoyable. There's something eternally engaging about small rear-drive sports car, where you're virtually sitting on the rear wheels.

The way it's propelled forward is charming, and running costs wouldn't be too bad either, considering it sipped less than the 6.1L/100km.

The six-speed manual of this entry-level MX-5 won't be to everyone's taste (or talent) but it's such a sweet-shifting unit that I always considered taking the 'scenic' route to work.

Seat comfort is pretty good for the most part, despite a lack of adjustment, and parking the car is child's play, given its tiny size and direct steering. The only real concern when driving in traffic is that it's hard to see out when attempting to triangulate some angles (less so with the top dropped).

Moreover, it sits low to the ground and larger vehicles can be intimidating, and again they can reduce your line of sight and general vision. Being flanked by large B-double trucks on both sides when cruising along the highway at 100 clicks is not something I remember with fondness.

The Mazda's four-star ANCAP safety rating is well above average, but not quite the five-star level many expect, so this could also be counted as a drawback.

When all is said and done however, the MX-5 is a jubilant, playful companion that generates smiles.

If you have the sort of personality that celebrates living in the moment, whose inner child is well and truly intact, and who doesn't mind cosy surroundings, the MX-5 will be an ideal daily drive. Sure, you have to make some sacrifices, but the refined 1.5-litre petrol engine is a sweetie and the connection between car and driver is special.

And really, when the Mazda MX-5 begins haunting one's dreams – racing an RX-2 of all things – after spending weeks without so much as a long, open left hand turn that screams "more throttle!".

It's clear this car can have a deeper effect on one's spirit than most.

2016 Mazda MX-5 pricing and specifications:
Price: $31,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 96kW/150Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 6.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 142g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Four-star ANCAP

Related reading:
>> Mazda MX-5 Long-Term Update (Introduction)
>> Mazda MX-5 on tour in Tassie
>> Mazda MX-5: Ice Academy