• This is a very compact car
• Smaller boot and cabin than previous generation
• Limited storage space could prove frustrating

How much space is there?

With only two seats, no traditional glovebox or door pockets, and a boot that’s 20 litres smaller than the previous generation, practicality isn’t one of the Mazda MX-5’s primary selling points. The cabin is also more compact than ever before and you feel it.

If it wasn’t for the high transmission tunnel dividing you, you might even feel rather too close to your passenger. Certainly a careless grasp for the gear lever will see you rubbing knuckles against their knee. Taller occupants may struggle for headroom with the roof up, too.

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Boot space and storage

The MX-5’s boot capacity is a tiny 130 litres. But it’s surprisingly usable because of its shape and access. You can shove quite a lot in if you’re clever with how you pack. But you will need to think about it, rather than simply chuck stuff in as you might with a bigger vehicle. It’s all part of the charm of living with an MX-5.

The only large storage cubby inside the car is a locker located on the bulkhead between the seats – not the easiest of places to access while on the move, but surprisingly spacious. There’s also a small space under the central arm rest and a compact cubbyhole beneath the ventilation controls. There are two cupholders mounted just ahead of the storage locker; the passenger one can be moved further forward towards the footwell, right beside the gear lever (pictured in our gallery of images).

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The roof, however, is a work of genius. Despite having no electric operation, the lightweight fabric structure can be lowered and raised in seconds with genuine ease from the comfort of the driver’s seat. It also makes no difference to the boot space whether it is up or down.

Is it easy to park?

The MX-5 is very small. Visibility out the front is good as you look down the length of the bonnet, but some might struggle when the roof is up as it not only feels dark and cramped, visibility is restricted as well.

Thankfully, rear parking sensors are fitted to Sport models and above to assist, and a rear-view camera helpfully provides additional assistance on the top two models. So it should prove easy to park and manoeuvre.

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Safety

• Four stars from Euro NCAP
• Impressive rating for a lightweight convertible
• Contemporary safety tech on board 

When crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2015, the Mazda MX-5 was rated as the roadster with the highest safety score observed by the expert body. The test has been made tougher since, but for a car of its size and type, the MX-5 will do its best to look after you.

Front and side airbags are standard, and they are specially designed to protect the occupant’s heads even when the fabric roof is lowered. The passenger seat comes with Isofix mountings for a child seat. Pedestrians are also well looked after thanks to sensors that raise the bonnet in a collision to provide more space between the sheet metal and engine’s harder points.

There’s also a lot of active safety technology available. Examples include front and rear autonomous emergency braking, added to the roster in late 2018, while the new stability control system adopted in 2022 is designed to make the car more stable during extreme cornering by actively braking the inside rear wheel to reduce body roll.

Other available safety kit includes blindspot monitors, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic alert – though what you get varies with trim level, so do check everything you’re keen on is fitted to the version you intend to buy. Similarly LED headlights are standard, but only higher-spec cars get the adaptive version.

WATCH: Mazda MX-5 Euro NCAP crash test video