The previous Mazda MX-5 was hailed as a great driver's car and its reincarnation is no different. It's light and compact and low to the ground, giving it a ground-hugging agility that just begs you to drive it hard through the curves.
Operating the short-shift gear lever is like cocking a rifle; it moves with a satisfying precision that makes you want to use it as often as possible.
This the third-generation MX-5, launched here in November, is the latest and most advanced evolution of the world's best-selling roadster - nearly 720 000 have been delivered worldwide.
This two-seat, open-top sports car is a cult car if ever there was one. Its appeal has always been that it offers the driving dynamics of a true sports car (straight-line performance excluded) at a fraction of the price.
The great handling has remained but now there's more power to enjoy it. The 1.8-litre engine has been replaced by a two-litre unit producing 118kW and 188Nm which took the car from rest to 100km/h in 09.6sec in our tests on the Highveld.
Mazda quotes a sea-level time of 7.9sec and a top speed of 210km/h.
Though these numbers seem nothing special, the MX5 is a supremely driveable sports car with a willing, peppy nature that always makes you look forward to getting into the driving seat. It has a quick throttle response that makes it feel livelier than bland-looking numbers on paper and the four-cylinder engine has a cheeky snarl.
Britain's Autocar magazine voted the previous MX-5 its favourite driver's car in a giant test that also included Ferraris and Lamborghinis and I can understand why. Admittedly its straight-line speed is on the modest side when compared with serious sportscars but there's great entertainment to be had in the Mazda in a snaking mountain pass.
The power-to-weight ratio is what's important in a four-wheeled athlete and the MX-5 unveils its trump card with a kerb weight of only 1095 kg. This is one of the keys to its sure-footedness in the twisties.
Another crucial factor separating dull repmobiles from sports cars is the steering and Mazda has this most important driver-car interface dead right. It's quick and direct and, when you turn, the car will dive into a corner with the agility of a startled hare. There's no vagueness or soggy feel.
Grip is in good supply - both from the wide tyres and the traction control system - and the MX-5 won't readily spit the novice driver into the roadside scenery.
However, switch off the traction assist and flick the steering more aggressively into tight curves and this rear-wheel drive sportster will reward the more experienced driver with entertaining and very controllable slides.
Suspension shortcomings
Body rigidity is very good: the MX-5 doesn't shudder and shake on a rough road like some open-topped cars of old. Its ride is firm but it tackles speed humps and long undulations with remarkable poise. The car's not impractically low, either, so a steepl driveway can be tackled without fear of scrapes.
However, at high speeds on rippled roads, the firm suspension reveals its shortcomings by making the car skittish.
The MX-5 is available with a hard top for R258 990 or as the R241 990 soft-top version we tested.
The fabric roof is not power-operated but it's a very easy manual operation that can be done even while seated. To go topless is a matter of opening the windows, unclipping the latch that secures the roof to the windscreen, and simply pulling the roof back over your head until it clips into a receptacle behind the seats.
The reverse process is just as simple and requires no special contortions. In fact this manual method takes under 10 seconds and is far quicker than the electronically operated versions that take twice that time.
Cabin more spacious
Styling-wise, the new MX-5 is an evolution of its predecessor with soft, almost feminine lines. Tinkerbell on steroids, if you will. You can't argue with the sales figures and the design is obviously a hit with buyers but I can't help thinking that a genuine petrolhead's car such as this deserves to be bit more macho.
However, there's nothing to complain about on the practicality and equipment fronts. The cabin's more spacious than the previous model and there's plenty of room for the long of limb (though the pot-bellied might struggle to squirm into those narrow bucket seats).
The leather-clad cabin has a high-quality look and feel and is garnished with attractive brushed aluminium trims. There's plenty of storage and a pair of cupholders.
The boot is not entirely useless: its 150-litre capacity is large enough for a hand luggage-sized suitcase and a few odd and ends. There's no spare wheel but a puncture repair kit is provided.
Standard equipment includes a six-disc, front-loading CD player, audio controls on the steering wheel, air-con, power windows, four crash bags and seat heaters (remember, a sunny Highveld winter day can be chilly with the top down).
The "key" is a flat, credit card-shaped transponder with buttons to open the doors and boot. Once the car's unlocked the "key" stays in your pocket and the MX-5 is started by twisting a knob on the dashboard.
SUMMARY
Mazda's new MX-5 roadster is Japan's Car of the Year and, given that two-seaters are usually considered too impractical to get the nod in these competitions, it says a lot about how good this car is.
This junior roadster offers a fine way to mess up your hairstyle and throws terrific handling and good value-for-money into the deal.
It's a pity the MX-5 doesn't come with a maintenance plan but, for an outright joyride, there's little to beat it at the price. - Star Motoring