Mazda MX-5 RF – wise to the weather

GIVE or take a few crisp sunny mornings, the weather facing us over the next few months isn’t going to tempt many sports car fans to drive with the lid down.

Even with the rag-top firmly in place there’s still a slightly uncomfortable ‘close season’ feel to those outings.

Mazda came up an ideal solution when introducing what it calls the RF version of its popular Mazda MX-5 roadster – and, recently updated for 2023, it remains in a class of its own with no immediate competitors.

RF actually stands for Retractable Fastback so it has an automated solid roof that, at the touch of a button, disappears behind the seats along with the rear glass window.

The fastback buttresses remain in place to give the RF its own distinctive appeal, even though the open air space is less than on the roadster, and the whole process takes just 13 seconds in each direction.

As its starting price is almost £2,000 more than the roadster, it’s essential that insulation is of paramount importance and to that end Mazda has a noise absorption headliner along with sound insulation in other key areas including the rear wheel housings.

The combination works effectively, though at high speed on roads with a rougher surface you definitely need to keep the radio volume cranked up.

A common talking point with sports cars in general, and the RF is no exception, concerns its suitability for taller drivers given that there isn’t too much space in the cabin.

Well it really makes only a minor difference in th e MX-5because the footwell is long, so your feet can be stretched out anyway, the seats slide, the steering is adjustable and we had no issues over headroom.

All models come with a seven-inch infotainment screen and include sat nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay while GT Sport Tech versions come loaded with stuff like a reversing camera, 17-inch BBS alloy wheels, piano black wing mirrors and perforated Light Stone Nappa leather seats with contrast stitching.

As for stowage, there’s an upright lockable box between the seatbacks, a lidded central container, two cupholders and a tray in front of the gearstick for a phone or keys, but no door bins or glovebox. The boot is also small at 127 litres – okay for a couple of holdalls or shopping bags but nothing really substantial.

Two engine options are up for grabs in the RF, a 1.5-litre petrol unit and the 2.0-litre variant that powered our tested model in top spec GT Sport Tech trim.

Both these units are lively without delivering any blistering acceleration or pace, but they really beckon to be seriously revved and the raspy exhaust note is everything you would hope for.

It’s quite cheap to run too, the 2.0-litre model’s official average fuel consumption being 40.1 mile per gallon, a figure we came very close to matching over the course of 275 miles.

There’s an awful lot to like about the RF, from the way it performs  to its head-turning looks – with the top up or down.

As a rear-wheel drive car it’s very agile, with loads of grip and a nicely balanced and well weighted feel from the steering. The stubby short-shift six-speed manual transmission is also a treat.

Top spec variants, like our tested model, also get a sports suspension that makes the ride stiffer but also has Bilstein dampers that monitor the road surface plus a Limited Slip Differential that gives a touch more traction in cornering.

With safety in mind all models include front and side airbags, the side bags featuring a bracket to protect occupants’ heads – even with the top down – ISOFIX anchors on the passenger seat and Mazda’s i-Activsense active safety technology.

Some unusual colours are on offer for the MX-5 RF and while you have to pay £570 for one they call Platinum Quartz, it looks really classy and is worth every penny.