Car of the Week: Mazda MX-5 2.0 SkyActiv-G 184

Some cars make sense on paper. Others make sense the moment you take the first corner.

This week’s AutoNext Car of the Week belongs firmly in the second category: a 2019 Mazda MX-5 2.0 SkyActiv-G 184, available at Hedin Automotive in Kontich, with 63,000 km, a manual gearbox and exactly the kind of specification that reminds us why the MX-5 is still the people’s sports car. Less power. Less weight. More smile.

The roadster that never lost the plot

The Mazda MX-5 has been with us since 1989, and that matters. Not because age alone makes a car interesting, but because Mazda has resisted the temptation to ruin the formula. Front engine. Rear-wheel drive. Manual gearbox. Lightweight body. Roof down. Driver happy. Simple.

The MX-5 has long been recognised as the world’s best-selling two-seat sports car, with Guinness World Records certification dating back to the model’s early production milestones. Mazda itself confirmed the record when production reached 900,000 units in 2011, after the car had first been certified in 2000.

Why the ND is the sweet spot

Every MX-5 generation has its charm. NA has the pop-up headlights. NB has the classic roadster feel. NC is a bit more mature. But the ND generation, launched in 2015, brought the MX-5 right back to its core.

And with the 2.0 SkyActiv-G 184 hp engine, this is probably the one to have if you want just a bit more punch without losing the MX-5 character. Mazda’s own technical data lists the 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G at 184 hp and 205 Nm, which is more than enough in a car this light.

The right car for the right season

Summer is basically knocking on the door, and this is exactly the kind of car that makes you invent reasons to go for a drive. A quick evening loop, a Sunday morning backroad, a short trip that somehow becomes three hours longer than planned. That is MX-5 life.

This particular car comes with the 2.0-litre petrol engine, a manual transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, heated and electrically adjustable mirrors, central locking, leather steering wheel and gear knob, air conditioning, Bluetooth, phone integration and the kind of simple, focused cabin that puts the driver at the centre.

It also gets the important driver-focused hardware, including a limited-slip differential, stability control, ABS, Brake Assist and tyre pressure monitoring.

Not perfect. Better than perfect.

Is the MX-5 the best car for long motorway days? No. Is the boot huge? Also no. Is it the car you buy because you need one car to do absolutely everything? Probably not. But that misses the point completely.

You buy an MX-5 because cars are not supposed to be only about usefulness. They are also about feeling something. About connection. About a perfect gearshift. About a rear-wheel-drive chassis that talks to you at normal speeds. About remembering that driving can still be fun without needing 600 hp, launch control or a carbon roof.

Key details

Year: 2019
Mileage: 63,000 km
Engine: 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G petrol
Power: 184 hp
Transmission: Manual
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
Location: Hedin Automotive Kontich

AutoNext Take

We love cars like this because they remind us that driving pleasure does not need to be complicated. The MX-5 is not trying to be a supercar. It is not trying to be aggressive. It is not trying to impress people who only read spec sheets.

It is just light, honest, balanced and fun. And that is exactly why every enthusiast should experience one at some point. Any generation will do. But if you want the charm of an MX-5 with just a little more comfort, modern usability and the right amount of power, the ND with the 184 hp engine is a brilliant place to start.

View the Mazda MX-5 2.0 SkyActiv-G 184 on Gocar.be