Top on or top off, the MX-5 is the ultimate date car.
THIS Valentine’s day weekend, one is often reminded of memorable “date drives.” Aside from choosing one’s favorite restaurants or weekend getaway, the car is the most common denominator on a Valentine’s date, or any date for that matter.
This leads me to pick this year’s Valentine’s date car, and the most obvious choice for me would be the Mazda MX-5, and a red one at that.
This choice was even made more obvious with all the accolades the all-new MX-5 recently got. US News and World Report named it as the “Best Sports Car for the Money,” while Wheels Magazine awarded it as the “Wheels of the Year.” Wheels Magazine gave the same title for the previous 1989 and 2005 generation models. Auto Express called it the “Roadster of the Year 2015,” and for the second time in just a decade, it was awarded “Japan’s Car of the Year as well.
The new MX-5’s weight loss compared to its first iteration some 27 years ago has made driving so much fun. What’s more, everything including driving performance, interior features and creature comfort, reliability and safety ratings have never been better.
The MX-5’s interior is elegantly simple and functional but is packed with the latest features for today’s connected individuals.
The latest generation MX-5 does not only continue to thrill its new generation of owners with a wind-in-the-face classic roadster experience, but its modern amenities and ride comfort fits in as a more civilized and practical daily commute.
The alchemy on the sheet metalwork had made the car lighter and its powerplant lean and efficient. Thanks to the Mazda SkyActiv technolotgy and Kodo “Soul of Motion” design, this sexy roadster has become a real head turner.
Aside from a 100-kilo weight loss, the fourth-generation MX-5 is also 4.1 inches shorter, bringing its weight to about 1,041 kg. With a lighter and more efficient wind-cutting body, it was enough to rival its more muscular counterparts so Mazda decided to fit a small 2-liter direct-injected twin-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine to gives out 160 horsepower and 200 Newton-meters of torque.
Just like its original model, Mazda made open top driving an affordable and almost sinless ownership proposition.
With a price tag too good to refuse, there’s both a manual and an automatic variant to suit one’s driving habits.
For the purists, the manual variant is definitely the real deal. The manual variant offers a more spirited driving experience at a lower price tag.
For those who prefer the advantages of automatic transmissions, they need not fret. The automatic transmission variant comes with a paddle shift feature so zipping through the twisty backroads of your favorite out-of-town road trip will not be less exhilarating.
Traffic is not a problem when you are connected to the MX-5’s premium Bose audio system to keep you entertained.
What’s cool about the new MX-5 is its infotainment system. In the premium variant, one gets the Bose sound system. All you need is to pair it with your smartphone to “set the mood” for your date night. With today’s cool weather, opening the soft top will be a delightful experience.
If you don’t have a date this weekend, go out to any Mazda dealership and sign up for a test drive with the MX-5. It’s guaranteed to be one of your best dates.
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