The folding hardtop isn’t a necessity. Not only does it add weight, but it also ramps up the price of a roadster that could very well live on as a ragtop. But there are a few good reasons why a handful of auto manufacturers are keeping the folding hardtop alive on life support.
Mazda is one of those automakers and, as expected, the fourth-generation MX-5 is available with a retractable hardtop. Baptized 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF, with RF standing for “Retractable Fastback,” this pocket-sized sports car is like a semi-skimmed take on the Porsche 911 Targa.
One area where the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF overshadows the soft top Mazda MX-5 Miata is the way it looks. This particular model doesn’t have the afterthought quality of the third-gen MX-5 Roadster Coupe. Not only is the roof mechanism is different, but a closer look at the MX-5 RF reveals flying buttresses. With the motor-driven roof up, it’s a serene coupe. With it down, the MX-5 RF is a freewheeling targa. It’s the best of both worlds, so to speak.
The 2-in-1 motif happens to be the most appealing thing about the MX-5 RF. Many people in the market for a convertible end up choosing a hardtop instead for very obvious reasons. Given the circumstances, a retractable hardtop has universal appeal. The philosophy Mazda used for the MX-5 RF, then, is to make open-top driving more accessible to a wider demographic.
But giving a more universal character to the MX-5 isn’t without faults, though. Who among us is, really? Whereas the front fascia and most of the rear end are virtually similar to those of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, the side profile reveals two quarter windows. The thing is, that’s not black tinted quarter glass. It is, in fact, two trim pieces painted black.
When all is said and done, the faux quarter windows of the Mazda MX-5 RF are two imperfections integrated into an otherwise good-looking body shell. The truth of the matter is, it is imperfection that makes someone or something worthwhile to behold, not clean-cut perfection.
For the interior of the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF, it’s fair to say that this is business as usual for the Japanese manufacturer. Nearly identical to the roadster version, the cabin design is centered around the driver.
What’s more, the clean center stack alternates quite nicely with the touchscreen multimedia system on top of the dashboard. The MX-5 RF gives the driver and passenger alike the impression the car is connected to them, chiefly because the body panels extend into the door trim. Just like in the MX-5 Miata, occupants in the MX-5 RF are likely to rub shoulders against each other due to the limited space.
Similarly limited is the cargo capacity. The upshot, however, is that the roof’s compartment doesn’t interfere with the trunk. As such, the MX-5 RF boasts 4.59 cubic feet (130 liters). Not nearly enough for a weekend’s worth away from the urban jungle, but not too bad either.
If you focus a lot on finding differences between the interiors of the MX-5 Miata and MX-5 RF, you’ll notice two of those. First of all, the MX-5 RF adds a 4.6-inch information display to the three-meter instrument cluster. One of the purposes of this screen is to show an animation of the targa roof when it’s opening or closing. Speaking of which, the roof-opening process is doable at speeds of up to 6 mph (10 km/h) in 12 seconds.
The other difference is, of course, a button positioned right below the temperature knob of the HVAC unit. There’s nothing written on it, but two minimalist drawing of the MX-5 RF with the roof up and down. A further dissimilarity between the MX-5 RF and the MX-5 Miata comes in the form of improved better ride quietness. Auburn Nappa leather seats also help with heightening the feeling of coziness inside the car.
Regarding toys, this representative of the storied model line can be equipped with all the bells and whistles most of us could wish for in this type of vehicle. Air conditioning? Check. Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile phone and for streaming your favorite music? Yet another check. Heated seats? You can have those as well. Then again, the apogee is the Mazda MZD Connect infotainment system.
What the manufacturer dubs MZD Connect is, when all is said and done, intuitive tech pulled from a book titled BMW iDrive. Located on the center console, the so-called “Multimedia Commander” is an effortless solution to operation the infotainment system. If, however, the control dial isn’t to your liking, voice commands allow the driver to go through the radio stations, zoom in on the map, call Mary, the lot.
What the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF and Mazda MX-5 Miata don’t have, however, is a head-up display. You can have it in the Mazda3, the Mazda6, even the Mazda2. In the most purist sports car available right now and its comfort-oriented half-brother, you can’t.
In the United States of America, the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF will be offered with 2.0-liter SkyActiv-G four-cylinder engine. The freely aspirated powerplant delivers the goodies at 6,000 rpm (155 HP) and 4,600 rpm (148 lb-ft), respectively. Faithful to the MX-5’s trademark virtues, the MX-5 RF comes as standard with a slick six-speed stick shift that sends drive to the rear wheels. An automatic tranny is available as well, six forward gears and all.
In places like Europe, the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF can also be had with the 1.5-liter SkyActiv-G. The smaller engine needs to be revved just an idea harder than the 2.0-liter to get the best out of it. The entry-level four-banger is good for 131 PS (129 HP) at 7,000 rpm and 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) at 4,800 rpm.
Regardless of engine choice, Mazda claims that the MX-5 RF “is built for pure driving pleasure, with its 50:50 weight distribution.” What’s more, the SkyActiv tech onboard “delivers outstanding fuel efficiency and minimal emissions.” But like any other sports car, fuel economy ultimately depends on how hard the car is driven.
A monocoque unibody with backbone frame construction is how the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF rolls. Essential safety features that come as standard are dual front airbags, seat-mounted side impact airbags, and side impact door beams The list continues with available bits and pieces, goodies such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, as well as adaptive headlights.
High Beam Control is another highlight of the safety front. As the label reads, this feature helps the driver see better at night by automatically turning on the high beams. This happens when the system detects no oncoming traffic or vehicle ahead. Combining ultra-high-tensile and high-tensile steel with aluminum panels, the 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF also happens to be a pretty tough little fellow, just like the MX-5 Miata.
The 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF is a well-rounded package that interweaves the qualities of a comfortable cruiser with the rawness of a sports car. It’s a different experience from the Miata due to the different construction of the roof, but the MX-5 genes are still there.
Sure, it may be heavier than its brother in arms, but that misses the point of the Retractable Fastback. The credo behind the MX-5 RF consists of all the thrills the MX-5 Miata has to offer, save for most of the spills of an open-top sports car. Simply put, it embodies fun.
On that note, the MX-5 RF is much more than just the sum of its parts. On one hand, this is probably the most affordable targa-roofed sports car money can buy. On the other hand, Mazda broke the bounds of this vehicle segment, simply because people expect an MX-5 to be hard to live with. With the MX-5 RF, it’s not that hard.
This, then, isn’t a case of “the only way to move forward is to stop looking back” because the MX-5 RF doesn’t try to be a thoroughbred sports car like the MX-5 Miata. It is a more comfortable take on the MX-5, complete with a personality all its own.
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