Mazda MX-5 2005 review: road test

It is the all-new Mazda MX-5, the first time the car has been totally renewed since it arrived in 1989. And a lot of people will not be satisfied unless it ticks all the boxes.

The good news is that it does the job. It looks fresh and new, it drives a fair bit nicer, it has more space, more refinement, and is still designed and built to the same winning formula.

The new MX-5 is also still relatively affordable, from $41,860.

Explore the 2005 Mazda MX-5 range

• Mazda MX-5 SE 2004 review
• Mazda MX-5 2004 review
• Mazda MX-5 manual 2004 review
• Mazda MX-5 2005 review: snapshot
• Mazda MX-5 2005 review: road test

The bottom line? It is a top drive and delivers real fun. It will make its new owners, and even people who just see it driving past, smile.

It still looks cute and cuddly and Mazda hasn't strayed far from the formula that has made it the world's best-selling sports car.

The mechanical layout puts the engine in the front, the drive to the back wheels, and there are two seats in the middle.

The roof is an easy-fold mechanical system that turns the car into a convertible in fewer than 10 seconds.

So, what is new? The body is bigger and stiffer, there is more power and torque, a new six-speed automatic, multi-link rear suspension for the first time, and an equipment upgrade that adds everything from side airbags and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel to a leather-pack upgrade with a Bose sound system.

There is more but those are the basics, and the basis for a continued run of sales success in Australia and around the world.

Mazda says it went back to basics for the MX-5, which was developed by a new program director, Takao Kijima.

He is as passionate as anyone who has led the MX-5 team and adopted the Japanese expression jinba ittai -- for the feeling of one-ness between a rider and a horse -- for his objective.

He focused on everything from weight control to a bigger cabin and has delivered on all his aims.

Things that most people will notice run from the upgraded 2.0-litre engine to the extra leg and shoulder room in the cabin, some real boot space (at the expense of a spare tyre), the improved mechanism for the roof, and better headlamps.

There are even cruise-control and sound-system buttons on the steering wheel.

It is also good to find side-impact airbags, larger disc brakes, more storage space in the cabin and slightly lighter steering.

The new look, including flares over the wheels, makes the MX-5 more muscular without losing the car's heritage or broad appeal.

Mazda Australia expects to sell 140 cars a month in the first year and has already delivered more than 450.

On the road

The new MX-5 is a winner. It looks tasty and drives like a real sports car. Just what you would expect, really. It's proof the development team at Mazda knows what it is doing, with everything from the baby Mazda2 to the flagship RX-8.

The new MX-5 is not better, but that would have been impossible without jacking up the price to Porsche levels. There is still room for a tickle-up, and perhaps a turbo engine, in coming years. Let's hope we don't have to wait another 16 years for the next total overhaul. From the start, the new MX-5 feels more roomy and refined and has a little more go. We found the ride a bit jiggly at first, but on home ground and over time it is not a problem.

We're still a bit worried about the absence of a spare tyre and wonder why any car, but particularly an MX-5, needs four cup holders.

The performance just about matches the outgoing MX-5 Turbo -- 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds. But we most enjoyed the mid-range punch. The updated engine is really going from 3000 revs and is keen to push to the red line to liberate its 118kW.

It is nicely perky, has good overtaking punch and the six-speed manual gearbox is light to use and its ratios well-chosen. We like the idea of the automatic's six speeds and paddle change, but it dulls the car.

There is nothing dull about the ride and handling, though. It's turn-and-go unless you go totally crazy in a tight corner.

The suspension seems more compliant than the previous MX-5, particularly in the rear, but the response to the wheel is still crisp and instant. The brakes are great.

There is almost no wind buffeting in the cabin, the new top works easily, we liked the extra boot space and found the seats more comfy and supportive in the bigger cabin.

The dash layout is what you expect in a sports car, but we wonder about buttons on the steering wheel, even if they help with the welcome cruise control.

There are plenty of details to like, from the twin exhaust pipes to the alloy wheels.

The MX-5 is really about driving and the new model is a top drive. It is a car that encourages you to take a trip, have some fun, enjoy the sunshine and relax. It is a winner.