Mazda MX-5 Review: 2016 Model | MX-5 | Car Buyers Guide

I've had many encounters with the new Mazda Mx-5. I'm one of the lucky ones. I witnessed its international launch, I've raced it around tracks and I've enjoyed it on Ireland's open and scenic roads. This is the best roadster that Mazda has ever made. It's more stylish, more fun and more KODO than ever before.

KODO design is what Mazda is all about these days, oh and SkyActiv technology plays its part in this to. Let's focus on the design language first. KODO adds incredible lines to the entire Mazda range, and for the European market, the MX-5 was the latest to get it. We all wondered how they'd do it and what it would look like, and the results are beautiful. KODO bring the external into the internal in this soft top roadster.

Then we have SkyActiv technology. The Irish market only benefits from one of the two engines that are available with the new MX-5, but what we've got is not to be laughed at. On-paper, the figures aren't spectacular, but take this machine for a drive and they all seem to make sense. Ireland gets a 1.5 litre SkyActiv-G engine. There is such a thing as a 2.0 litre engine, and we hope it'll arrive during 2017. On-paper we're told that this offers 130 hp and that it'll get from 0-100km/h in 8.3 seconds. These figures are most likely accurate, but when you drive on an empty road with the roof down, it doesn't feel like it. The standard MX-5 is a joy to drive around the track too.

This car is a real driver's car and it handles beautifully. It deserves the praise that it's getting from journalists around the globe, and to be honest, it probably did deserve the World Car of the Year Prize.

Another nice touch about this car is the price. Mazda are working hard to place themselves into the luxury end of the market, and when this car was launched we expected it to come in at silly figures. However, they wisely priced it low at just under €28,000. Not bad really. It will have some competition soon from Fiat with their 124 Spider, but even that benefits from Mazda’s chassis.

Fans of the MX-5 are also eagerly awaiting the arrival of the retractable fastback version, which should land soon enough too. I’ve seen plenty of reviews on this car and I’ve noticed that many find it difficult to criticise it, but at the same time they feel like they have to. The usual choice of criticism is practicality. I won’t be giving out here – it’s simple, if you need a more practical car, then don’t opt for a roadster.