The biggest cockpit improvement deals with the top. While I had become fairly adept at raising or lowering my NC’s top, even while tootling along at idle speed, without so much as taking my eyes off the road, the new top is even easier to open or close. The new top seems to slide forward more than rise up, creating less drag in the wind while moving, and less resistance on the operator’s shoulder. It really couldn’t be simpler, and will hopefully negate the need for a weighty and complex power hard top like the up level NC models had last year.

Competitors:
Subaru BRZ / Scion FR-S
Mustang EcoBoost Convertible
Pre-owned BMW Z4
Pre-owned Porsche Boxster
Classic British Roadster

Mazda has added performance, content and of course lightness, yet reduced the cost of the comparably trimmed MX-5 for 2016. This car is not only uniformly better than last year’s model (except for the tiny reduction in trunk size), it is absolutely one of the preeminent and most exciting new cars available today.

The NC generation MX-5 remains the best car I’ve ever owned, but it instantly feels dated and sluggish compared to this new car. And while I get that not everyone can live with a tiny, two-seat roadster for their own daily driver, I can say that if you think you don’t like the new MX-5, it’s simply because you haven’t driven it yet.

2015 MX-5 GS 6-spd PRHT 2016 MX-5 GS 6-spd
Engine 2.0L DOHC I-4 2.0L DOHC I-4 Skyactiv
Horsepower 167 @ 7,000 rpm 155 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque 140 @ 5,000 rpm 148 @ 4,600 rpm
Length (mm) 4,032 3,914
Width (mm) 1,720 1,734.80
Height (mm) 1,255 1,240
Weight (kg) 1,182 1,058
Wheels 7 x 17″ 7 x 17″
Tires P205/45WR17 P205/45WR17
Fuel Cons. City 11.1 8.8
Fuel Cons. Hwy 8.4 6.9
Fuel Cons. Comb. 9.9 7.9
Cargo (L) 150 130
MSRP $CAD $36,045 $35,300
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