Mazda MX-5 Mk4 2.0 - pictures

The Mazda MX-5, now in its fourth incarnation, is available with two engines; a 1.5-litre and a 2.0-litre with an extra 29bhp. This is the 2.0-litre tested here.

<span>That extra 29bhp may not sound like much, but it cuts the car’s 0-62mph sprint time by a second to 7.3 seconds</span>

<span>The 1.5-litre is viewed by Mazda as the purer car and closer to the original MX-5’s ethos.</span>

<span>Top-spec Sport and Sport Nav models get stiffer Bilstein dampers to keep the car more taut through corners.</span>

<span>In conjunction with its extra power, the 2.0-litre also benefits from a front strut brace, bigger brakes and a limited-slip-differential.</span>

<span>The door tops inside the MX-5 are coloured to match the exterior paint, adding a flash of colour to the cabin.</span>

<span>Small cubbies between the seats and on the centre console are useful for your phone or small change, but there’s no glovebox.</span>

<span>The 2.0-litre version provides a third more torque over the 1.5-litre, delivering better mid-range pick up, and reaching peak power 1,000rpm sooner,.</span>

<span>On high-spec models the dash is dominated by an iPad-like screen, controlled by a rotary dial on the centre console.</span>

<span>The deep boot on the MX-5 can easily swallow two or more large weekend bags.&nbsp;</span>

<span>Slim LED headlights and a gaping front grille give the MX-5 a slightly aggressive character.</span>

<span>Mazda’s designers have reduced the&nbsp;overhangs by 45mm at each end of the MX-5, giving it a more squat stance on the road.</span>

A removable fabric roof stows manually behind the driver and passenger rollover hoops&nbsp;to save boot space&nbsp;on the MX-5.<span> </span>