Miata with a hardtop? Yes, please
2017 MAZDA MX-5 MIATA RF
The Mazda MX-5, the world’s best-selling two-seat convertible sports car (it holds the Guinness World Record, no less), gets a new set of clothes in 2017 in the form of a retractable fastback design.
By now, most people recognize a MX-5 (or Miata, as it is still referred to) on the road. Introduced in 1999, it has captured the hearts of enthusiasts around the globe, with more than a million of them finding homes by April 2016.
The fourth generation debuted in 2016 to general praise, helped in part by a reduction in size and the shedding of more than 100 kilograms of weight.
For 2017, Mazda has finally come through with what purists have wanted for years — a classic fastback design.
Don’t worry, the regular fabric top continues.
The RF (retractable fastback) model is essentially identical to the roadster but for the addition of a rigid roof that gives the MX-5 a more coupe-like appearance. To say it’s pretty is an understatement — I think it’s gorgeous and classy all rolled up in one.
But Mazda didn’t stop there. They designed a top where the top panel of the roof folds away, making it into a Targa top (Mazda can’t call it that because Porsche, which debuted the concept in 1966, still holds a registered trademark on the term).
This is not the first time Mazda has tinkered with its top. The previous-generation MX-5 received a PRHT (power retractable hardtop) option in 2006. On that example, the whole top retracted into the body.
The RF’s ace in the hole is that the space needed for just storing the top is a lot less than the whole roof, meaning no loss of the MX-5’s already-meagre trunk capacity.
The power-operated top takes about 10 seconds to remove the roof section.
The good news is that, with the hardtop up, the MX-5 is quieter. Unlike the PRHT, the retractable roof doesn’t intrude into trunk capacity, a big bonus.
The not-so-good news is that there is a little more wind buffeting than the regular car. On our wet coast another quirk manifests — the top has no rain gutter. While it might not matter on any other day, when the car is wet, water droplets form on the edge.
These droplets are strategically positioned to drop right on the seat when the door is opened.
It’s not a deal-breaker, though. I found that simply running my finger along the edge before opening the door will dispel the droplets.
The mechanism to open and close the top is worth admiring. But be aware that it will operate only when the car is fully stopped. Any movement will cause the electric actuators to stop in their tracks. Other manufacturers allow their tops to operate at low speeds.
The top reduces headroom by 1.5 centimetres. Individuals over six feet tall should look elsewhere (even those who say they have long legs and a short torso) Even if you sardine yourself into the car, your vision would consist of the upper part of the windshield and you would need to drive with your legs splayed out around the steering wheel.
The roof mechanism adds approximately 51 kilograms to the car’s weight. The suspension has been slightly retuned to compensate, Mazda says.
Those smaller in stature will immediately find the cabin both inviting and intimate. All the controls are where they should be, and there are no extraneous details that would detract from the pure pleasure of driving.
A drive will dispel any misgivings about the new-fangled top. The engine, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 155 horsepower and 148 foot-pounds of torque, remains unchanged.
As always, the MX-5 is a joy to drive, with steering that is almost intuitive and a manual gearbox that inspires confidence.
Prepare to travel light. The glovebox is a cubbyhole on the rear bulkhead between the seats. Cupholders (if used) are attached to slots on the transmission tunnel on the passenger side. There are no door pockets, just a cavity ahead of the short stick shift.
The trunk is only 127 litres and soft-sided backpacks or small duffel bags fit best.
The RF carries a $3,000 price premium over the regular MX-5 and is only available in GS and GT trims (the regular MX-5 has a base GX model).
The GS starts at $38,800.
I drove a GT model, with a list price of $42,200. The GT model comes with 17-inch high lustre wheels, leather-trimmed seats and a Bose audio system with speakers in the headrest. My tester also had a special-order Exclusive Package that upgraded the seats to saddle-brown Nappa leather and a piano-black top. With the pre-requisite freight, delivery and inspection charges, my RF was more than $45,000.
While some might balk at the price, it is prudent to consider that hardtop convertibles are rare. The Mercedes-Benz SLC 300 is perhaps the closest, at close to $60,000. The other Targa-like vehicle is the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, with a price approaching $80,000.
With the Mazda you get to play in the sun with a hard or soft top. Factor in its bulletproof reliability and enviable fuel economy and that entry cost suddenly becomes reasonable.
Feel free to use those lines of reasoning when trying to convince your partner you need, and deserve, to buy one.
THE SPEC SHEET
Type: Compact two-seater roadster, front engine, rear-wheel-drive Engine: Direct-injection 2.0-litre fourcylinder, 155 hp at 6,000 r.p.m., 148 lb.ft. of torque at 4,600 r.p.m. Transmission: Six-speed manual Dimensions (mm): Length, 3,914 ; width, 1,918; height, 1,245; wheelbase, 2,309 Curb weight (kg): 1,114 Price (base/as tested): $42,200/ $45,295 (includes $1,795 freight and PDI and $100 AC tax) Options: Exclusive Package $900, metallic paint $300 Tires: 205/45 R17 Fuel type: Premium Fuel economy (L/100km): 8.9 city/ 7.1 highway Warranty: Three years/unlimited km new car and roadside assistance, five years/unlimited km powertrain