Mazda MX-5 RF running costs and reliability
Miles per pound (mpp) ⓘ
| Petrol engines | 5.5 - 6.7 mpp |
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Fuel economy ⓘ
| Petrol engines | 37.2 - 45.6 mpg |
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- Thirstier 2.0-litre engine still reasonably cheap to run
- Smaller 1.5-litre car remains the most economical
- Relatively low power output means reasonable insurance costs
What are the running costs?
The most economical Mazda MX-5 RF belongs to the 1.5-litre engine, with a claimed 44.8mpg. The 2.0-litre still manages to hover about 40mpg, with a figure of 40.9mpg, although the automatic gearbox sees this dip down to 37.2.mpg.
Stop-start is standard on all engines, while fuel tank capacity is 45 litres, so you should see towards 400 miles between fill-ups.
If you’re looking to minimise your carbon footprint then the cheaper 1.5-litre MX-5 is the one to go for, emitting just 142g/km of CO2.
Emissions for the 2.0-litre manual rises up to 155g/km of CO2, although if you spec the automatic gearbox, this jumps up further to 171g/km.
Servicing and warranty
The MX-5 is covered by a three-year / 60,000-mile warranty, which is on par with most of its rivals. However, it looks a bit stingy compared with the Toyota GR86, which offers up to 10 years of cover. Service intervals are every 12,500 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
Reliability
- Simple but well-engineered
- No official recalls for MX-5
- Hard-top roof worth keeping an eye on
The MX-5 RF’s reliability should be very similar to that of its soft-top sibling, a car that possesses very few major safety recalls or major faults.
However, there’s no denying that the RF is more complicated than the famously simple MX-5 soft top, with an electric folding hardtop roof and automatic gearbox option. Models with the latter fitted were subject to a recall in 2018 for a software update, as the automatic gearbox could unexpectedly downshift into a lower gear.
Make sure you treat both with care in order to get the best out of your MX-5 RF, regularly getting the vehicle serviced and not attempting to lower the roof in unsuitable conditions.
Our Owners’ Reviews section suggests MX-5 customers are highly satisfied with their cars and rarely report any serious problems.
Ongoing running costs
| Road tax | £195 - £315 |
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| Insurance group | 24 - 33 |
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