Mazda has bolstered its MX-5 line-up for 2020 with extra standard kit and a new GT Sport Tech variant, alongside a new higher starting price of £23,795. The two-seater retains its revvy 1.5 and 2.0-litre engines, while inheriting Mazda’s latest driver assist safety systems to help justify the bump in price, which equates to nearly two grand on last year’s opener.
Think of that raise more as a price correction, though, because a Mazda spokesperson told PH that this was the first significant change in list price since the ND generation launched back in 2015. And it’s true that the plucky little roadster has looked more and more like a steal thanks to its blend of authentic sports car handling and lack of genuine like-for-like rivals.
Even with the increase, the MX-5 still looks like a bargain – it undercuts fellow rear-drive Japanese sports car, the Toyota GT86, by £4k. Lack of rear seats aside, you get much more kit in the Mazda, too, with new standard features including accident-reducing auto brake tech, a lane departure warning system and rear cross traffic alert tech. There’s also traffic sign recognition and driver attention alert, while adaptive LED headlights and a reversing camera are standard on Sport Tech and the top GT Sport Tech trims.
Those two variants are available exclusively with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor, with the new-for-2020 trim marked out by 17-inch BBS alloy wheels and Burgundy Nappa leather seats inside. There’s a new metallic colour for the whole range called Grey Metallic, as well, pictured here, but no changes to the ND’s design. Most importantly, the MX-5’s near one-tonne kerbweight and underlying chassis setup remain as before, meaning no harm will have been done to the MX-5’s famed balance and adjustability.
While not quite enjoying the highs of the NC - which shifted around 10,000 units per year in the UK - the current model is still plugging along with around 3,500 deliveries last year. A smaller number, yes, but Mazda’s spokesperson told PH that it’s in line with brand expectations at a time of economic uncertainty. Two-seater sports cars, it turns out, are not high on the priority list for consumers with tightening purses. But for those taking the plunge, the 2020 updates ought to make the experience of MX-5 ownership even easier - if no cheaper.
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