Mazda MX-5 RF

Like the exterior, the cabin experience of the Mazda MX-5 RF also feels simple and minimalist, yet classy and timeless in appearance. The cabin of this two-door coupe has a lot of round-themed elements across the dashboard, including those for the AC vents and climate control knobs. While the Skyactiv variants feature Nappa leather upholstery, the Club Edition feels more focused in its approach with sporty Recaro seats.

The cabin of the Mazda MX-5 RF is being offered with an all-black theme with a contrast red soft-touch layer for the middle part of the dashboard and door panels. The round-themed multi-functional steering wheel has contrast silver accents for the spokes while having traditional round-themed dials with chrome surrounds in the instrument console.

The centre console of the dashboard of the Mazda MX-5 RF has a free-standing touchscreen infotainment system at the top, which features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and is supported with a 9-speaker BOSE audio system. This infotainment screen has sleek AC vents below it in the middle of the dashboard and three rounded dials for the climate control in the lower centre console.

Mazda MX-5 RF is offered in six different colors in the Philippines- Arctic White, Soul Red, Jet Black Mica, Snowflake White Pearl, Eternal Blue, and Ceramic Metallic. The exterior of the car flaunts the carmaker’s Kodo design statement, which helps in making the car appear to be in continuous motion. One can spot various curves running around the car, which makes it look sporty. The slim headlights are sharp and offer good visibility under low lighting conditions. The legendary roadster shape has been followed by the carmaker that flaunts a short rear and long hood.

The overall chassis of the Mazda MX-5 RF is not properly sports car-oriented, with it having a double wishbone setup at the front and multi-link at the rear. The manual variants of the Mazda MX-5 RF also come with Bilstein dampers for the front suspension and a limited-slip differential for a more enthusiastic driving experience.

The Mazda MX-5 RF is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine as the standard powertrain under its hood, which is being offered with two choices of transmission – a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic. This engine claims a maximum power output of 184 PS and a peak torque output of 205 Nm, and while these figures might seem a bit underwhelming for a two-door coupe, the compact and lightweight character of the Mazda MX-5 RF ensures that the performance is adequate. However, more power on tap would have been appreciated.

The Mazda MX-5 RF has a basic safety equipment list, which covers most of the essentials required for a two-door coupe, such as front and side airbags, ABS with EBD, dynamic stability control, reverse parking sensors and camera, front and rear smart city brake support and lane departure warning.

The Mazda MX-5 RF might not offer the pure experience of a sports car with not-so-intimidating performance and swankiness in its design inside-out. However, it does offer the exclusivity of a two-door coupe with the right proportions, and the fact that it is more affordable than all the other coupes on sale makes it a considerable option for those who prioritise the exclusivity of a coupe over all the other aspects.