2025 Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 MT Review

Malaysia's sports car market has always been a niche but hardcore player gathering ground, and the Mazda MX-5, as the world's best-selling two-door convertible sports car, manages to captivate enthusiasts with every update. The 2025 MX-5 RF 2.0 MT continues the classic formula of "lightweight + naturally aspirated engine + rear-wheel drive." This facelift introduces adjustments in configuration and details, and our test drive aims to verify whether it can still maintain the pure essence of being the "driver's car" while balancing everyday practicality.

At first sight of the 2025 MX-5 RF, the most immediate impression is that it retains the compact and refined sports car stance. The body dimensions are 3915mm×1735mm×1235mm, with a wheelbase of just 2310mm, and the short wheelbase design makes it look agile and dynamic. The front features a moderately sized shield-shaped grille with a black honeycomb pattern inside. On both sides, the sharp-shaped LED headlights connect seamlessly to the chrome strip along the upper edge of the grille, enhancing the overall cohesion. The side profile is sleek, with a muscle-defined waistline extending from the A-pillar to the rear. The RF version’s hardtop retractable roof, when closed, forms a fastback coupe silhouette, making it appear more composed compared to the soft-top version. At the rear, the LED taillights feature a circular design, and the internal light bands provide high recognizability when lit. Below, a dual exhaust layout hints at its performance orientation. The overall paint quality is commendable, especially the Soul Red finish of the test model, which exhibits a fine gloss under sunlight.

Inside, the MX-5 RF's interior design revolves around the driver, with the dashboard tilted about 7 degrees towards the driver for easy access to all controls. The interior materials primarily consist of soft plastics and leather coverings. Though it doesn't exude the luxury of high-end cars, the build quality is solid with even seams. The 8.8-inch floating display on the dashboard is appropriately sized and equipped with the Mazda Connect system, supporting Bluetooth, CarPlay, and Android Auto. Its operations follow a clear logic, although it isn’t touch-enabled and must be controlled via a rotary knob located behind the gear lever. The instrument cluster features a 4.6-inch color TFT display, capable of showing information like RPM, speed, and fuel consumption, with backlighting that adjusts based on the driving mode. The seats are manually adjustable sports seats with good cushioning and adequate support during cornering. The padding is moderately firm, ensuring comfort even during long drives. Notably, the Bose® sound system impresses with its 9-speaker setup, delivering robust bass and clear treble that perform well even under convertible conditions.

As a two-door, two-seater sports car, the space in the MX-5 RF is entirely driver-focused. The front headroom stands at 1235mm, which leaves about a fist's worth of space above the head for a 180cm tall occupant. Thanks to the short wheelbase, legroom, while not spacious, is sufficient for daily use. In terms of storage space, the door pockets can accommodate a bottle of water, the central armrest box can hold a smartphone and some small items, and the trunk, with a capacity of 130 liters, can fit two carry-on suitcases without any issue. As for features, keyless entry, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and electrically folding side mirrors are all provided, meeting daily usage needs. In terms of safety, beyond standard ABS, ESP, and four airbags, the car comes with lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control as standard, making these features relatively generous for sports cars in the same class.

Open the engine hood, and the parameters of the 2.0L naturally aspirated engine are 184PS/7000rpm and 205N·m/4000rpm, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. This powertrain responds very directly. Stepping on the clutch, shifting into 1st gear, and gently releasing the clutch while maintaining an engine speed of around 2000rpm, the car smoothly starts moving. Pressing the accelerator deeply, the engine speed rapidly climbs, and you can feel an obvious torque burst at 4000rpm. Although the push-back feeling is not very strong, it is light and sufficient. The gear positions of the transmission are clear, the shift travel is moderate, and the shifting has a strong sense of engagement, giving a pleasurable mechanical feedback with each shift. As for the chassis, the front double wishbone and rear multi-link suspension setup is tuned on the stiffer side, offering clear road feedback. When cornering, the body roll is minimal, and the suspension provides adequate support. The steering system uses electric power assistance, offering precise steering, minimal dead zones, and clear transmission of road surface information.

In dynamic driving, the MX-5 RF’s performance is impressive. On mountain roads, its short wheelbase and rear-wheel-drive layout bring its agility to the fullest, with stable body posture during cornering, precise steering, and the ability to easily handle successive bends. The suspension system, while stiff, handles bumps well, filtering out most of the fine vibrations, ensuring passengers remain comfortable. The braking system performs excellently, with sufficient braking force provided by the front ventilated disc and rear disc brakes. The brake pedal stroke is moderate, feedback is linear, and it instills sufficient confidence. As for fuel consumption, we traveled 50km each on city roads and highways, achieving an average fuel consumption of 7.8L/100km, which is a decent result for a 2.0L naturally aspirated sports car.

In terms of comfort, the MX-5 RF performs beyond expectations. When the hardtop is closed, the cabin’s sound insulation is quite good. At a speed of 120km/h, wind and tire noise remain within an acceptable range. If the top is open, wind noise becomes more noticeable, but the excellent performance of the Bose sound system can still overpower most of the noise. The seat comfort is also commendable; although they are sports seats, the padding is adequately soft, making long drives fatigue-free. While the manually adjustable seats are not as convenient as electric adjustments, the range of adjustments is sufficient to find a comfortable driving position.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2025 Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 MT lie in its pure driving pleasure, agile handling, and balanced configuration. Compared to its competitors in the same class, its price of RM293,000 is slightly higher than the manual version of the Toyota GR86 2.4L (RM285,000), but it offers richer features. It is also slightly more expensive than the manual version of the Subaru BRZ 2.4L (RM289,000), but it has an advantage with its Bose sound system and safety features. It is suitable for buyers who pursue driving pleasure, value handling, and need a car for everyday use.

If you are passionate about driving, enjoy manual transmissions, and seek a pure driving experience, then the MX-5 RF is undoubtedly your top choice. It not only fulfills your desire for driving pleasure but also provides ample comfort and features, ensuring convenience in daily use. Overall, the 2025 Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 MT is a sports car that balances driving fun and practicality, allowing you to experience pure joy every time you drive.