Auto Driven: Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe

It's hard to believe Mazda's diminutive MX-5 is 17 years old. The modern-day Lotus Elan has become the most successful roadster in history, and it's not hard to see why.

Combining good looks, excellent value for money and a driving experience that would shame cars costing three times as much; drivers have taken to the MX-5 in a big way.

Stuart Milne was one of the first to sample the delights of the new MX-5 Roadster Coupe - complete with a folding hardtop roof.

Stepping out of the Innsbruck airport in southern Austria, it's impossible not to be struck dumb by the stunning vista of the mountainous Tyrol region.

So maybe it's not the best place to launch a car that will sell mostly on the way it looks.

Putting thoughts of the scenery to the back of my mind, I looked over the MX-5 Roadster Coupe.

I'm still unconvinced by the front of the car. Its headlights look like the puffy eyes of someone who's just woken up.

Far better are the muscular-looking sides and the curvy rear that's barely changed since 1989.

And then there's the roof, which blends so seamlessly, it's difficult to spot the fact it's a folding roof and not the previously available removable hard-top.

One of Mazda's objectives with the Roadster Coupe was to retain the soft-top's flowing looks, and not inflate the rear of the car to house the folded roof.

Retracting the roof is a simple affair - push a button to release a safety catch, and press another dash-mounted button. Twelve seconds later, the roof is stowed, making it the world's fastest folder.

The roof consists of three sections and a rear deck cover which fold behind the rear seats. Unlike most models on the market, it doesn't impede on boot space.

Out on the road, the small increase in weight due to the hard roof and extra chassis strengthening doesn't blunt the razor-sharp driving experience.

Although around half a second slower than the soft-top options, the three Roadster Coupes we drove in 1.8, 2-litre and 2-litre six-speed guises had plenty of urge in a straight line.

The best of the bunch was the Sport version, which combined a gutsy 157bhp, 2-litre engine with a slick six-speed, close ratio gearbox which was a joy to use.

The standard five-speed 2-litre wasn't far behind, but we found the 1.8-litre's lack of power frustrating on some of the steeper parts of our test route.

At motorway speeds, I could chat to my passenger with the roof down with minimal wind noise or buffeting. But as the roads got twistier, and the scenery more impressive, we found ourselves talking less as the Roadster Coupe is so involving to drive.

iPod

The interior is identical to the soft-top, mixing lots of dark plastics with racy metallic bits. Our test car was fitted with a BOSE stereo which, in a first for Mazda, features a lead to plug in your iPod.

Once connected, the iPod can be operated via the standard stereo controls.

We also had the optional heated leather interior, which at £720 seemed like pretty good value.

Climate control, alloy wheels, ABS with EBD, electric windows and mirrors and driver and passenger airbags are standard across the range. Fork out an extra £1,000 for the 2-litre Option model and you'll get stability and traction control systems, along with a grip-enhancing limited slip differential.

Opt for the top of the range 2-litre Sport, and you'll find a six-speed gearbox, larger 17 inch alloys, uprated Bilstein suspension and those heated leather seats as standard. Another £555 will get you a higher spec BOSE stereo, which includes a 6-disc CD changer, seven speakers, a digital amplifier and an equaliser which adjusts the sound depending on whether the roof is up or down.

Mountainous

Climbing to the highest point of our route along the Timmelsjoch pass, which borders Austria and Italy, I was reassured by the MX-5's excellent roadholding.

The high levels of grip were only breached when accelerating quickly from hairpin bends. And even then, the traction control reigned the power in quickly when provoked.

Rising to the top of the 3,025 metre high pass, we drove through thick clouds, which spoiled our fun until we descended to the other side, and into Italy.

Once there, we were able to exploit a bit more of the MX-5's ability through the 60-or-so hairpins.

The steering is perfectly weighted to provide bags of feedback, and it's easy to understand what the front wheels are doing.

Our final stop of the day was the sleepy, 800 year old village of Lans, and after filling up in one of the local restaurants, we blasted out of the town and towards some of the best scenery in the region.

Once again, the view was jostling with the car for our attention, but ultimately the car won the battle.

It - like the Austrian Tyrol - is simply stunning.

More car reviews

Related links

Auto Trader takes no responsibility for content on external sites.
Official Mazda site