Long-Term Test Update: 2014 Mazda MX-5 GT

Our long-term test continues

Spending a snow-ridden week with this rear-drive convertible put a seemingly permanent smile on my face.
Our long-term test continues

Spending a snow-ridden week with this rear-drive convertible put a seemingly permanent smile on my face.

by Adi Desai | February 4, 2014

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Over the past few years, I’ve driven nearly every iteration of Mazda MX-5 they have sold. In fact, I have recently acquired a 1990 MX-5 with just over 30,000 miles on it as a project. It needs a few things here and there, but it’s an all-original car that has never seen a winter.

 

2014 Mazda MX-5 GT side profile
During the week that I ‘took delivery’ of the classic icon that is the 1990 MX-5, I decided to take over our long-term tester, the 2014 MX-5 GT. Spending a snow-ridden week with this rear-drive convertible put a seemingly permanent smile on my face. There’s no doubting that this is one of the most well-balanced, easiest to drive sports cars out there. I took it out on a particularly snowy night and confirmed the fact that I would prefer a rear-drive car over a front-drive car in the white stuff any day of the week, provided it’s equipped with a proper set of winter tires. The Michelin Primacy Alpins work wonderfully.

 

I also decided to talk about a few things that the average MX-5 Miata review may forget to mention:

 

Pros:

  • The Bose premium stereo in this top-trim GT model is surprisingly good. Bass, treble, and mid-range notes are all clearly noticeable.
  • Perfect pedal placement on this 6-speed manual makes heel-and-toe downshifting a cinch.
  • No matter how spiritedly this MX-5 is driven, it still does no worse than 8.7L/100km.
  • When pushing the car on a snowed-over closed course, I observed that maintaining control is very simplistic, even with traction/stability control systems turned off.
  • Even with only 167-horsepower, the gearing helps the MX-5 pull nicely in sixth gear at highway speeds.
  • The limited-slip differential coupled to the Michelin winter tires pushes the smiles-per-dollar ratio off the charts.

 

2014 Mazda MX-5 GT with Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid

 

Not-so-Pros: 

  • In order to operate the power-retractable hardtop (PRHT), the vehicle must be in neutral with the emergency brake engaged. Unlike other convertibles which allow you to retract the top at low speeds, the MX-5 must be completely stopped.
  • Due to the compression of the engine, premium fuel is recommended (read: required!).
  • Our tester, which is a top-level GT, lacks automatic headlights. It’s almost forgivable given it has projector xenon high-intensity discharge lights and front fog lamps.
  • Despite this model having a hardtop rather than the convertible soft-top that the MX-5 Miata is known for, the interior is extremely noisy at highway speeds.

 

2014 Mazda MX-5 GT front 1/4

 

It may have taken a serious amount of effort to squeeze my one carry-on bag into the trunk of the MX-5 after it spent a day parked at Pearson International Airport, but I couldn’t bring myself to be angry with the little car. It’s seriously such a good car in every way imaginable. I even braved the cold and drove it with the top down a few times – my tuque was my friend!

 

Nearing two weeks into our long-term road test, the MX-5 GT is now past its break-in period. We took delivery of the car with ~500km on the odometer. It’s now nearing the 1,800km mark, and we have no issues to report.

 

2014 Mazda MX-5 GT top down

 

 

See Also:

Long-Term Test Introduction: 2014 Mazda MX-5 GT

2013 Scion FR-S

2014 Ford Fiesta ST

 

 

Vehicle Specs
Segment
Engine Size
Horsepower (at RPM)
Torque (lb-ft.)
Fuel Efficiency (L/100km, City/Highway/Combined)
Observed Fuel Efficiency (L/100km)
Cargo Capacity (in L)
Base Price (CAD)
As-Tested Price (CAD)
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About Adi Desai

Founder

Adi has been living his childhood dream ever since he launched DoubleClutch.ca Magazine in 2012. He's also an award-winning pianist, so if you can't find him behind the wheel or tinkering on one of his many toys, he's either binging The Office or playing his baby grand piano.

Current Toys: '07 V8 Vantage 6MT, '97 550 Maranello, '91 Diablo, '91 911 Carrera, '04 S2000, '00 M5, '90 Camry AllTrac, '09 LS 460 AWD, '24 LC 500 Performance

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