• Very fuel efficient when driven sensibly
• Bog standard three-year warranty
• Annual service intervals

What are the running costs?

The good news for cost-conscious buyers is that the Mazda MX-5 is almost certainly going to be cheaper to run than any rival – and quite a lot of other cars as well. It’s so light and the engines so efficient that the 1.5-litre model returns 44.8mpg according to the official WLTP figures, and the 2.0-litre isn’t far behind at 40.9mpg.

Better yet, we’ve actually beaten these figures in our testing. Take the engine to the redline with every gearshift and you’ll use a lot more fuel, but when simply pottering about the MX-5 is very economical.

Despite being a sports car, the MX-5 shouldn’t prove too costly to insure, either. And the car’s relatively small wheels equate to cheaper tyre replacement costs. Keep an eye on the rears, especially if you’re an enthusiastic driver.

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Servicing and warranty

From September 2025, all Mazdas come with a six-year 100,000-mile warranty that requires the car to be serviced within manufacturer prescribed maintenance programme, mileage and time parameters – 12,500-miles or 12-months, the new Mazda warranty will benefit fleet users with longer term periods and high mileage usage. Mazda’s servicing charges aren’t the cheapest, but maintaining an MX-5 won’t break the bank.

Reliability

• Owners love these popular roadsters
• Many tried and trusted components
• Mechanically simple but well-engineered

The MX-5 is a relatively simple car and there’s not much to go wrong with it. The roof seals can be problematic, but the engines are proving generally robust. Which isn’t necessarily the case with the gearbox. We’ve heard reports of failures, warranty replacements and design revisions. Overall, though, owning an MX-5 is a real pleasure, as our owner reviews show.

There have been four recalls issued since this generation of MX-5 was launched, all of which affect cars built before 2020. And one of them relates to the automatic gearbox that’s only available in the MX-5 RF. You can find the full details on the government’s vehicle recall check website. Rectification work should have been carried out by now but check the service history and/or contact a dealer to find out if that’s the case with any used MX-5 you’re interested in. Outstanding recalls are also listed on a car’s MOT certificate.

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Something else to keep an eye on with used MX-5s – or if you’re planning on keeping one for a long time – is rust. Mazda has a history of failing to adequately protect its cars and that’s why Mazdas more than 15 years old are quite rare. Having your car properly rustproofed could pay dividends in the long run.