Mazda MX-5 RF review

Whether you like the British seasons or not, there are four of them, each distinct, and they keep spinning around relentlessly. And as they do, the same things happen: we moan that it’s too cold or too hot, and regardless we carry on buying open-topped cars by the bucketload.

The Mazda MX-5 RF is here for those who enjoy the indulgent thrill of open-topped motoring, but appreciate the common sense of a hard-top roof. Those initials stand for Retractable Fastback; it's just like the regular soft-top MX-5, but has an electrically operated retractable hard-top and extra sound insulation that are claimed to boost refinement and make it more of an everyday proposition.

There’s the same choice of 1.5- or 2.0-litre engines, each with a couple of trim levels to pick from. Of course, no generation of MX-5 would be complete without a regular supply of limited edition models coming and going as the years progress. Oddly, although you can’t get an automatic gearbox in a soft-top MX-5, it’s available on the RF.

Although you might consider a Fiat 500C, Mini Convertible or even a Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet, the RF is a proper sports car that can also count the Toyota GT86 as a rival. It’s also usefully cheaper than other two-seat open-topped sports cars like the BMW Z4 and Porsche Boxster. However, it’s pricier than the soft-top MX-5, so is it worth the extra? Read on over the next few pages to find out. 

And if the idea of saving money on your next car appeals to you, and you like it when things are easy, our New Car Buying service is right up your street, with savings on the MX-5 RF and loads of other cars.