You demanded, and they’ve responded.
Japanese carmaker Mazda’s released an MY2019 update for its well-received MX-5 sports car lineup, adding much-requested power to the range, as well as a handful of smaller revisions that make the MX-5 an altogether more appealing, more well-rounded affair.
“Every time we update the MX-5, it’s in the pursuit of refining and enhancing the thrilling drive that is so unique to our iconic two-seater. Added power has been finally balanced to ensure the same smooth, direct response is felt from the moment the throttle opens up.” — Alastair Doak, Marketing Director, Mazda Australia
The familiar 1.5-litre SkyActiv engine hasn’t been retired though: Instead it’s undergone some small changes (higher-pressure fuel pump, improved injectors, new piston crowns) to produce more power and torque than before. The totals add up to 97kW and 152Nm, and in case you’re wondering, that’s 2Nm more twist and a whole 1kW more grunt. Amazing.
The kit list for the MX-5 Roadster Standard remains mostly familiar, with automatic LED headlights & wipers, black fabric seats, electric windows, climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel/gear lever/handbrake, and 16-inch alloys. However, the Standard now gains a reversing camera and AEB, features that are also shared with the rest of the range. Carry-over safety kit includes some airbags, blind-spot monitoring, tyre-pressure monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, and traffic-sign recognition.
Also standard is the MZD Connect infotainment system, displayed on a tablet-style 7.0-inch screen with a rotary controller, six-speaker audio system, Bluetooth & USB connectivity, and satellite navigation. No Apple CarPlay or Android auto here, but GT cars get a 9-speaker Bose audio system to make up for it somewhat.
Move up from the Standard and you get the revised 2.0-litre SkyActiv engine with 135kW and 205Nm as, uh, standard. Its many revisions are very technical and rather boring, but to sum up, lots of really small changes have resulted in a 17kW/5Nm output increase over the outgoing model. 17-inch alloys also come as standard with cars using this engine.
Opt for an MX-5 GT model (available as either a Roadster or an RF powered targa top) and you get a whole lot more kit. You get keyless entry and go, heated leather seats & wing mirrors, an electrochroamatic interior mirror, and LED headlights with an adaptive beam. Safety kit in the GT models grow too with driver-drowsiness detection, lane-departure warning, and reverse-AEB (at parking speeds).
Also, the 2019 MX-5 gains two things that’ll massively change the cabin. First up is the reach-adjustable steering wheel, which allows for 30mm of reach adjustment, something that the MX-5 did not previously offer. Second is a set of brand-new clip-in cupholders, which are of a new design and are said to be sturdier than before. OK, we might have overestimated the importance of the cupholders, but Mazda underestimated their importance the first-time round.
| Model | Engine | Transmission | Price |
| MX-5 Roadster | 1.5 SkyActiv | 6-speed Manual | $34,190 |
| MX-5 Roadster | 1.5 SkyActiv | 6-speed Automatic | $36,190 |
| MX-5 RF | 2.0 SkyActiv | 6-speed Manual | $39,400 |
| MX-5 RF | 2.0 SkyActiv | 6-speed Automatic | $41,400 |
| MX-5 Roadster GT | 2.0 SkyActiv | 6-speed Manual | $41,960 |
| MX-5 Roadster GT | 2.0 SkyActiv | 6-speed Automatic | $43,960 |
| MX-5 RF GT | 2.0 SkyActiv | 6-speed Manual | $45,960 |
| MX-5 RF GT | 2.0 SkyActiv | 6-speed Automatic | $47,960 |
*All prices exclude taxes, insurance, and other on-road costs.
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