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All-New Mazda MX-5 Available in Britain with 1.5 and 2-Liter Engines, Is Cheaper than a Clio RS

What's the cheapest rear-wheel drive roadster you can buy in Britain today? The all-new Mazda MX-5, available from £18,495 to £23,295 on-the-road.
2015 Mazda MX-5 89 photos
Photo: Catalin Garmacea
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We're amazed how Mazda's people were able to make a groundbreaking car and yet still sell the 4th generation convertible so cheaply. A Ford Fiesta ST is slightly cheaper, but a Renault Clio RS is £20,445, while the Subaru BRZ is over £22k.

Part of the solution is the back-to-basics formula adopted by the Mazda MX-5. By reducing the weight over every component, they've managed to get the Skyactiv roadster to top the scales at about one metric ton. That means it doesn't need as much power, so the entry-level version uses a 1.5-liter Skyactiv-G with 131 PS.

The alternative is a 2-liter with 160 PS, similar to the engines equipped to the Mazda3 and available from £20,095. In total, there are five trim levels available – SE, SE-L, SE-L Nav, Sport and Sport Nav.

All cars come with standard LED headlights, alloy wheels and a six-speed manual gearbox. The leather steering wheel, heated mirrors, electric mirrors and single CD stereo are also included. Since the Mazda2 is so cheap, we think it's a great idea to order the full-spec £23,295 car. It's the only way to get a limited slip differential and a 7-inch MZD Connect navigation features.

Jeremy Thomson, Mazda Motors UK Managing Director “The MX-5 is Mazda’s brand icon, and it embodies all that is great about our products. Its fun to drive character has strengthened the bond between Mazda and its customers for 25 years so there’s no better place to showcase the all-new MX-5 than in front the enthusiastic crowd at the Goodwood Festival of Speed."

The MX-5 is currently the most popular car in its class ever produced, but when it arrived in Britain 25 years ago, it had a lot to prove. In 1990, the Mk1 MX-5 cost £14,249 (equal to £31,687 in today’s money), yet only delivered 115 PS. Who said all cars are becoming more expensive?
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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