Latest news with #MazdaMX5
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
The 10 cheapest most reliable used cars listed 'and some more than 10 years old'
More than 60,000 motorists responded to a survey highlighting the second hand vehicles which are cheap - and don't go wrong Trying to grab a bargain when looking at second hand cars is never as easy as it seems. Purchasing a car is fraught with pitfalls, with so many things to consider - not least how likely it is to last without breaking down. But the latest findings from the Which? car survey indicate that the most reliable cars all have one thing in common. A carefully chosen used car can offer high reliability at a fraction of the cost of a new vehicle, which may actually be more prone to issues. The voters spoke loud and clear when answering the survey - don't be afraid to look at cars that are more than a decade old. Voters listed three vehicles over 10 years old that, according to their owners, didn't suffer a single breakdown in the year covered by the most recent Which? car survey. Buying second-hand is a savvy way to save money, but as a car ages, its treatment by previous owners becomes increasingly vital to its longevity. Regular servicing, topping up fluids, and careful driving all contribute to a car's long-term reliability, but without a list of known reliable cars, it's hard to know where to start, reports the Express. Using data from the Which? car survey, the consumer group has put together a list of the most reliable 10-15 year old cars currently on the market. What are the most reliable second hand cars? Leading the pack for five-star reliability in the 10-15-year category is the Lexus CT. A full hybrid hatchback first introduced in 2011 and discontinued in 2020, the CT offers value for money in a range of ways. According to the survey respondents, models of this car over 10 years old experienced zero breakdowns in the preceding 12 months, and only 13% of owners reported any type of fault. When problems did occur, these cars spent just over a day off the road for repairs on average, significantly less than the average of 4.5 days for cars of this age. The Lexus CT can be snapped up second-hand for a price range of £5,000 to £10,000. Despite some complaints about limited rear legroom and our review highlighting issues with the boot and infotainment system, the overall feedback from owners was overwhelmingly positive. A third of owners specifically commended the car's reliability, while another third were enthusiastic about its comfort. Not far behind is the convertible Mazda MX5 – available from 2005 to 2015 – which also had zero reported breakdowns, followed by the Lexus RX Hybrid. Other older models that have shown reliability include the Honda Jazz (2008-15), Skoda CitiGo (2012-19) and, surprisingly considering its usual performance in the Which? survey, a BMW in the form of the X1 (2009-15). To read the full report click here. Which? top 10 reliable cars based on owner fault reports LEXUS CT HATCHBACK HYBRID (2011 to 2020) MAZDA MX-5 CONVERTIBLE (2005 to 2015) LEXUS RX HYBRID (2009 to 2015) HONDA JAZZ HATCHBACK (2008 to 2015) SKODA CITIGO HATCHBACK (2012 to 2019) BMW X1 (2009 to 2015) SUZUKI SWIFT HATCHBACK (2010 to 2016) TOYOTA YARIS HATCHBACK (2011 to 2020) SUZUKI ALTO HATCHBACK (2009 to 2014) TOYOTA AURIS HATCHBACK (2012 to 2019) Table notes: Breakdowns, time off road and faults (weighted for severity of each fault) all impact the overall reliability rating for each car. Data based on an online survey of 60,448 drivers who told us about the 71,002 cars they owned, conducted April 2024 to June 2024.
Auto Express
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New all-electric Mazda MX-5 previewed in this week's Auto Express
In this week's special issue of Auto Express we have a scoop on the new all-electric Mazda MX-5, with exclusive images previewing how the reinvented roadster could look. We also reveal the best car kit money can buy as we name the winners of our 2025 Product Awards. Plus, we get the lowdown on the latest Skoda Enyaq vRS and have official pictures of the new Volvo XC70. Advertisement - Article continues below In the drives section we get behind the wheel of the stunning Aston Martin Vantage Roadster to see if it's as good to drive as it is to look at, try out the seven-seat Volkswagen Tayron and hit UK roads in the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Estate. If that wasn't enough we have a campervan mega test as the new Citroen Holidays goes up against the Volkswagen California and Mercedes Marco Polo. This week's issue of Auto Express is on sale now and there's a whole range of ways to get your hands on it! Find out more below. The best value available to our readers is an Auto Express subscription. You can try your first 6 issues for just £1, plus all new subscribers will receive a free welcome gift when they join. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below We deliver free, straight to an address of your choosing so you can be sure that you'll never miss an issue. If you wish to continue your subscription after your trial ends you save a massive 45 per cent on the shop price, paying just £32.99 every 3 months. Our money back guarantee means that should you need to cancel at any point we will refund any unmailed issues, you can't beat that value! Click here to visit our secure online shop and subscribe to Auto Express... If you prefer to read Auto Express on your desktop, tablet or phone, you can get the digital edition through our online partner Zinio. Single issues are available from £2.99 or a subscription for an entire year is just £90.99. Click here to download Auto Express digital edition from Zinio... If you don't want to get your next 6 Auto Express issues for £1 by subscribing (RRP £28), then you can still buy single issues in shops or online. This week's issue of Auto Express is on sale now for just £4.99. You can find shops near you that stock the magazine by clicking here. If you can't make it to the shops or are unable to find it somewhere convenient, you can buy individual print issues of Auto Express to be delivered directly to your door. Click here to buy single issues of Auto Express Find a car with the experts Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change The number of MoT failures caused by worn tyres is on the rise, and experts are calling for mandatory follow-ups on advisories Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future The next Mazda MX-5 roadster is set to be offered as a pure EV, and our exclusive images preview how it could look Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it's a 'monster' Confirmed: New VW Golf GTI will be electric – and it's a 'monster' VW is taking the iconic hot hatchback brand into the electric era with the new Golf GTI EV already in development…
Auto Car
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Track nights, drifting and lots of screenwash: 2000 miles in an MX-5
Close Culmination is one of those words that can be used in subtly different ways. We will ignore its archaic use (the reaching of the meridian by a celestial body) and delve straight into its two most popular meanings today. One definition is the highest point of something, especially as attained after a long time. The other is the point at which something ends, having developed until it reaches this point. Subtle differences, then. It can mean best, it can mean last and it can mean a mixture of the two, as in the example we're considering here. Next year, this version of the Mazda MX-5 (the 'ND' for Mazda aficionados) will have been on sale for a decade. Ten whole years for one model. During its lifetime, it has gone through subtle changes and upgrades before culminating in this Homura-spec car. It's basically all the bells and whistles, and what I think on paper is the best model. Up front, it gets the 181bhp 2.0-litre engine. Round the back is the simple, lightweight canvas roof – not the heavy and complex metal one you get on the MX-5 RF. It also has 17in BBS wheels, Recaro seats, a Bose sound system (with speakers in the headrests), Bilstein dampers, a limited-slip differential, Brembo brake calipers and a track mode. That's the first meaning of culmination well and truly done. The second alludes to it being the last. Which looks like the case, at least in the pure form we know and love the MX-5. Mazda's next sports car is set to be a 370bhp hybrid, equipped with a rotary engine that generates power for the electric motors driving the wheels. Back in 2023, Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro said: 'We love the MX-5 and the world loves the MX-5. We are determined in the age of electrification to keep the joy of driving which the MX-5 represents alive.' 'Represents' is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. Mazda's next sports car will not be awfully like an MX-5 to me. And it will most likely not wear the MX-5 badge. Anyway, enough semantics. The reason I have this MX-5 is to see if I can conceivably run one through winter as my only car. The hardier among you might consider me to be a soft southerner after reading that sentence. But a few colleagues (admittedly soft southerners themselves) have told me they wouldn't fancy running something so small, impractical and rear-wheel drive during the winter months. What do I have planned? On these pages, you will read tales of track driving at night, a few comparison tests with pretty abstract rivals and, importantly, the rather less glamorous nitty-gritty of daily use. Initial thoughts? I'm not a fan of the optional matt grey paint. When Audi started doing matte paint way back in 2013, it was clever in a kind of ironic way. 'Look at me, spending all this money to make it look like I've got primer.' But since then the concept has grown tired. Winter is doing the car a huge favour so far. It 's constantly caked in mud, which hides the paint well. I love filthy cars and will fill these pages in the coming months with the dirtiest MX-5 you may ever see. Other notes? This car is small. Really small. Shorter than the Mk1 MX-5 even. The first few times I parallel-parked it on my street, I actually had to try again, such was my brain's inability to measure quite how petite it was. The boot is pretty deep and useful for a car of this size, but the interior space is virtually non-existent. I recently took it to see my parents and my wife had to stash a lot of our cargo (presents, bags etc) in the front with her. I think she took it remarkably well. So far I've been on only a few other trips in the MX-5, most of them on the motorway. And I've been truly dumbfounded by how at home it has felt there. An easy 40-plus MPG in the fast lane for one thing. Sixth gear is pretty long and it 's only really pulling around 3000rpm. This is especially important to me, as my last long-termer, an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, averaged 23.5mpg. It's the comfort that has surprised me most, though. It really is a pleasant place to be. When you read Bilstein dampers on the spec sheet, you think lowered and racy. But there's a proper amount of squidge I wasn't expecting, especially on such thin rubber. It's not a quiet car at speed, mind you. With the Bose stereo cranked up to a volume where you can actually hear it, your passenger is fully drowned out. Is this the culmination of 36 years of MX-5 production? If it comes anywhere close, I'm in for a treat – even during the depths of winter. Update 2 I was invited along by Mazda to the world's first 'night-time track day' in Anglesey. Yep, North Wales, in the winter. At night. The drop-top Mazda was perfect for the task; I couldn't think of anything better to do it in. It waltzed me effortlessly from London to Wales in comfort and with surprisingly good 40mpg-plus fuel economy. And then on track it was an absolute peach, flattering my driving and generally just being extremely good fun, communicative and everything you'd want in a track-day car that you also intend to drive home. Read the full feature here Update 3 Before I knew it, another invite arrived. This time it was from the electro-modders at Electrogenic, wanting to know if I'd like to drive their new battery-powered Electrogenic Mk1 MX-5. Yes, please. And it was great: proper fun, with big, laugh-inducing skids, and all wrapped up in the unmistakable first-gen shell. Read the full feature here Update 4 In the office I tend to sit next to our staff writer Charlie Martin and behind Classic & Sports Car's associate editor, Lizzie Pope. Since getting my long-term MX-5 they have both bought NDs. Coincidence? Absolutely not. I should be on commission. In this line of work we're blessed with driving some of the best cars around. This section of the mag is full of interesting metal week in, week out – and the MX-5 is no exception. I've had a great selection of long-termers in this job. But the MX-5's mixture of low-speed fun and dependable reliability has made it my favourite. It's a car that makes the everyday more enjoyable. Some things about my MX-5 I loved immediately. The seating position and the weighting of the manual gearbox and pedals, for me, are the best in the business. There were other aspects that I grew to love. I thought the steering was a touch light at first, but after a few weeks, and with the benefit of driving a couple of palate cleanser regular cars in between, I realised that light doesn't have to mean uncommunicative. It just means easy. Cons are harder to find. I'm not nitpicking here when I write that the infotainment short-circuits my millennial brain: it doesn't allow me to use the touchscreen while the car is moving (there's a rotary controller for that). By the time the neurons in my brain (eventually) engage and the neurotransmitters trigger thoughts about not touching the screen, my greasy little digits are already prodding away. I have been conditioned by 20 years of touchscreen phones, and I suspect many others have. Admittedly I probably am nitpicking, though, when I complain that the windscreen washer bottle is a touch small at 1.2 litres. Not ideal for hacking around in winter. Finally, we'll get round to the question we posed at the start: how easy is it to run a convertible as your only car in the depths of a British winter? Easy. For me. And I'd go as far as saying it would be easy for most childless readers who don't regularly need to transport anything particularly large. Bonus question: is this the spec to go for? At the office, we regularly talk specs. And, as you might imagine, we often disagree. A few of us think all electric cars should basically be the least powerful spec possible; others say we're missing out on all the huge torque. Some of us insist there's still room for diesel; others remind us that modern petrol hybrids can offer basically the same economy. But for the MX-5 top-rung Homura spec just makes sense. Recaro seats? Spot on. Even comfy on long journeys. Track mode? Simple, easy to use, flatters your driving and you can make use of it all the time. BBS wheels? Amazing – nothing else to note. Yes, it's £35k – which sounds a lot for an MX-5. But a Mini Cooper convertible is £28,000, or £30k-plus if you actually want anything inside it. A Honda Civic Type R is £50k. At the beginning of this test, I posited that the latest ND was the culmination of 36 years of MX-5 expertise. And it is. The next generation of Mazda sports car is promised to keep the atmospheric engine/rear-drive formula. But even so, I don't envy the engineers tasked with besting this ND. Mazda MX-5 Homura specification Mileage: At start 6086 At end 8028 Prices: List price new £34,835 Price as tested £35,435 Options: Aero grey paint £600 Fuel consumption and range: Claimed economy 41.5mpg Fuel tank 45 litres Test average 39.1mpg Test best 42.5mpg Test worst 25.8mpg Real-world range 387 miles Tech highlights: 0-62mph 6.5sec Top speed 136mph Engine 4 cyls in line, 1998cc, petrol Max power 181bhp Max torque 151lb ft Transmission 6-spd manual, RWD Boot capacity 130 litres Service and running costs: Service costs None Other costs None Fuel costs £306.63 Running costs inc fuel £318.61 Cost per mile 16 pence Faults None
Motor 1
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Mazda Miata Owners Barely Drive Their Cars: Study
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the everyman's sports car. It's reliable and practical, and designed to be used every day without huge compromise. Yet, according to the latest study by , Miata owners barely drive their cars. The study analyzed odometer readings from over 1 million three-year-old used cars sold between November 2024 and April 2025, finding that, on average, owners drove 12,307 miles per year. The MX-5 Miata emerged as the least-driven car of the vehicles analyzed, averaging just 5,073 miles per year—less than half the average. The GMC Hummer EV came in second place, averaging 5,205 miles per year. And in third place was the MX-5 Miata RF —the retractable fastback body style—at 5,375 miles per year. Here's the full list of the top 10 least-driven cars, according to Model Avg. Miles Driven Per Year Compared to Avg. Mazda MX-5 Miata 5,073 0.41x GMC Hummer EV 5,205 0.42x Mazda MX-5 Miata RF 5,375 0.44x Mini Hardtop (2 Door EV) 6,726 0.55x Mazda MX-30 EV 6,755 0.55x Mini Convertible 6,929 0.56x Jeep Grand Cherokee (PHEV) 7,039 0.57x Ford Mustang 7,142 0.58x Mini Hardtop (2 Door) 7,781 0.63x Ford F-150 Lightning 7,877 0.64x Though the Miata can make for a perfectly acceptable daily driver, we're not surprised to see it at the top. Most people use it as a second or third car, meant only for nice weekend jaunts. That means less seat time throughout the year, when it's cold or rainy. Had iSeeCars analyzed rare or exotic car mileage, we bet this list would be nothing but Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Koenigseggs. There are also a healthy number of electric cars among the least-driven vehicles in America. That's due to their limited range, according to iSeeCars. "It's telling that vehicles like the GMC Hummer EV, Mazda MX-30 EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Volkswagen ID.4 are among the least driven models," said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. "These are all utility vehicles that should be seeing a lot of use, but their electric drivetrains appear to limit their annual miles." The list of the most-driven cars in America is exactly what you'd expect: Mostly utilitarian workhorses designed to haul people or cargo. Model Avg. Miles Driven Per Year Compared to Avg. Chrysler Pacifica 20,882 1.70x Chrysler Voyager 19,948 1.62x Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 19,575 1.59x Chevrolet Malibu 18,762 1.52x Chevrolet Suburban 18,317 1.49x Nissan Armada 17,885 1.45x Ford Mustang Convertible 17,660 1.43x Ford Expedition Max 17,051 1.39x GMC Yukon XL 16,926 1.38x Kia Carnival 16,884 1.37x Though most of these vehicles are vans and SUVs, cars like the Chevy Malibu and the Mustang convertible can be explained by huge rental usage. "All of these sedans see a certain amount of rental fleet use, which is likely pulling up their annual mileage numbers," says Brauer. More Weird Studies Study: Used EV Prices Are Cratering The Most Reliable Cars for the Money: Study Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Scoop
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Day To Fly Family Flag In Toyota 86 Trophy Series
Fifteen year old Matt is the racing son of long-time New Zealand motorsport supporters Deborah – the current MSNZ President - and Martin Day and is well known amongst the rank and file who make the sport happen over countless weekends during the year. 'Most people in the sport will be aware I've been in motorsport since before I could crawl, primarily volunteering for The MotorSport Club as a marshall and more recently venturing into competing, where I have really enjoyed the time in the BMW I have raced,' he explained. Having cut his teeth in a Mazda MX5 as his first circuit car three years ago, Day performed well in the BMW series last season having won its Scholarship competition. He finished in the top five overall and runner up in the rookie points for 2024-2025. He's also an accomplished sim racer, having started - like so many of the current young talents in New Zealand - during the Covid pandemic period. The Western Springs College Year 11 student has his focus firmly fixed on improvement over the forthcoming four round series. 'At this point in my racing career seat time is the priority, so learning and improving during the four rounds will be the goal. 'Even before the prize pool came out offering the chance to race in the GR86 Championship next season, the Trophy Series was appealing because there will be lots of young drivers in it like me who are all looking to establish themselves and improve and that's a great environment to learn in. 'I'm lucky as I have done plenty of test days in the car although not on the tyre we will be racing on. It's an amazing car for a young driver and does everything you ask of it.' Matt will race the ex-Christina Orr-West Toyota TR86 which will, of course, run in the now iconic yellow of Dayle ITM and under the wing of the Dayle ITM Racing team. 2025 Toyota 86 Trophy Series Rd1 9-10 May 2025 Hampton Downs - NZIGP Finale Rd2 21-22 June 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series Rd3 5-6 July 2025 Manfeild – Circuit Chris Amon - Manfeild Winter Series Rd4 26-27 July 2025 Taupo Int. Motorsport Park - Taupo Winter Series
