2025 Mazda MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition Review

In the Malaysian two-door sports car market, the Mazda MX-5 has always been a representative of balancing driving pleasure and daily practicality. The newly launched 2025 35th Anniversary Edition not only continues the "Jinba Ittai" handling philosophy but also adds exclusive commemorative elements and enhanced features. As a limited-edition model, its core selling points lie in the inheritance of classic design, precise dynamic tuning, and safety and intelligent configurations that are rare among sports cars in its price range. This test drive will focus on verifying its uniqueness as a commemorative edition, the actual driving experience, and whether it is worth the premium for sports car enthusiasts.

In terms of appearance, the 2025 MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition features an exclusive “Soul Red Crystal” metallic paintwork, paired with a black soft-top convertible for a look that is both retro and dynamic. The front end continues the family-style shield-shaped grille design, enhanced with black honeycomb pattern trim inside. The sharp LED headlights stretch to connect with the chrome trim along the grille, adding visual width. The body features sleek lines, and the two-door two-seat layout coupled with 17-inch polished alloy wheels emphasizes the compact stance of the car. The slightly flared wheel arches, combined with the low-slung body, enhance its sense of power. At the rear, the LED taillights adopt a circular design, offering high recognition when lit at night. The minimalist diffuser design at the lower part of the rear bumper, complemented by the dual-exhaust layout, further accentuates its sporty character. Notably, the car features “35th Anniversary” exclusive badges at various locations on the body, from the hood to interior details, highlighting the unique identity of this commemorative edition.

Inside the cabin, the interior is predominantly black, accented with red stitching to echo the sporty exterior design. The dashboard layout is minimalist, with an 8.8-inch floating center touchscreen in the middle that supports Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone mirroring with a user-friendly interface. Beneath the screen, physical buttons are retained for easy use during driving. Regarding materials, the steering wheel and seats are wrapped in leather with a delicate touch; the inner side of the door panels features soft-touch materials, improving the interior quality. In terms of features, the standard Bose® 9-speaker sound system delivers clear audio quality, maintaining good acoustics even with the top down. The 4.6-inch color TFT instrument panel displays information such as RPM, speed, and fuel consumption in an intuitive manner. The seats are manually adjustable but offer excellent support, with good lumbar and thigh bolsters to meet the needs of spirited driving. The central armrest storage is not large, but the cup holders and door storage compartments can hold small daily items, meeting the basic storage needs for two passengers during travel.

Regarding space, being a two-door two-seat sports car, its positioning naturally does not prioritize space. However, in actual experience, a 175 cm passenger sitting in the front finds adequate space, with about a fist’s distance for headroom and legroom, ensuring no sense of confinement. Once the convertible top is open, headroom becomes completely unrestricted, offering expansive views and making it suitable for enjoying driving pleasure in good weather. The trunk has a capacity of 130 liters, enough to fit two carry-on suitcases or one golf bag, which is sufficient for short trips.

In terms of power, it is equipped with a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine with a maximum power of 184PS and a maximum torque of 205N·m, paired with a 6AT transmission. During daily driving, the car starts smoothly, and the throttle response is linear. When the RPM rises to 4000rpm, the torque reaches its peak, and the sense of acceleration is significantly enhanced. You just need to press the accelerator deeply during overtaking, and the transmission will downshift quickly, delivering direct power output. When switched to Sport mode, the throttle sensitivity is further improved, the shifting timing is delayed to over 5000rpm, the engine’s roar becomes clearer, and the driving passion is fully aroused. The transmission is smooth, and during daily cruising, shifting jolts are almost unnoticeable.

Driving dynamics are the core advantage of the MX-5, with its 1143kg lightweight body combined with a front double-wishbone suspension and rear multi-link independent suspension, making its performance agile in corners. The steering wheel is precise, with minimal slack, and provides clear feedback on road conditions when turned. During cornering, the body roll is well-controlled, and the suspension offers strong support. Even when cornering at relatively high speeds, the car maintains a stable posture. On bumpy roads, the suspension filters out most of the small vibrations while retaining some road feel, balancing handling and comfort. The braking system is reliable, with the front ventilated disc brakes providing linear braking force and a short braking distance, giving the driver ample confidence.

Regarding fuel consumption, the combined urban and highway road test shows an average fuel consumption of about 7.2L per 100km. With a fuel tank capacity of 45L, the full tank driving range can exceed 600km, reducing the need for frequent refueling for daily commutes or short trips. In terms of noise control, with the convertible top closed, wind and tire noise at high speeds are effectively isolated; when the top is open, wind noise gradually increases with speed but remains within an acceptable range at speeds below 100km/h.

Overall, the core highlights of the 2025 Mazda MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition include its exclusive commemorative design, precise driving dynamics, and relatively rich features for a sports car in the same price range—such as standard blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and ACC adaptive cruise control, which are often optional in competing models like the Toyota GR86 or Subaru BRZ. Its advantage lies in balancing driving pleasure and daily practicality, making it suitable for weekend mountain driving or everyday commuting.

This car is most suitable for two groups of people: the first is sports car enthusiasts who seek pure driving enjoyment. The combination of a lightweight body and a naturally aspirated engine offers the most authentic driving feedback. The second group is young consumers who love convertible models. The exclusive commemorative design and agile handling meet their needs for individuality and sportiness. If you’re looking for a two-door sports car that balances everyday use and driving passion, this is a great choice.

In summary, the 2025 Mazda MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition is not just a tribute to a classic but also a “fun-to-drive and practical” sports car. It does not boast exaggerated power figures, but with precise tuning, it makes every drive full of enjoyment. The exclusive elements of the anniversary edition give it additional collectible value. For those who truly understand cars, its charm does not lie in the numbers but in the “Jinba Ittai” driving experience.