Mazda MX-5: Is this the world’s toughest roadster?

With colder weather arriving, most people will be putting their convertibles away to hibernate for winter. We went to Iceland in a Mazda MX-5 to find out why they shouldn’t. Does the Miata work here, and is it tough enough to handle the harsh environment? Paul Bond drives a whole 828-mile lap of the island in search of some answers…

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[crimsontiger]

I took my NA MX-5 off-road. Just looking for twisty roads and before I knew it I was in a state forest on logging tracks. It was weekend so I just kept following my nose and eventually ended up on really rough logging tracks. MX-5 was a hoot in the dirt. No damage to car because I took it easy. Eventually I lost the track so had to do a u-turn and find my way back out. I did pass a few guys on trail bikes (they were stopped near their 4x4 getting their riding gear on), should have seen their faces lol.

[georgelinares]

Toughest roadster ever! I was recently in a t-bone. Someone hit me with their Prius. hit the driver side and my car took a beating. The Prius was a total loss. Airbags popped out of her car and front end was totalled. My 2016 MX-5 Club had no frame damage!! It was unbelievable.

[askanracing]

We have raced an MX-5 NA with stock 1.8 131hp engine for 3 years, always revving it out to 7300rpm or more and it has never leaked, done wierd noises or lost power, even tho its remapped for racing and recently was benched to 138 hp in the engine.

[johnwells]

Well my wife's mx5 is really reliable, she's owned it now for fifteen years, bought it new and hasn't even had to change a light bulb!! Unbelievable Geoff.

[malice_wonderland]

The Top Gear article was awesome, I'm happy to see some video to connect with the words. Beautiful.

[aviatorskool]

Nice of ya'll to choose Iceland for putting this automotive icon through its paces to see what its really made of, with some spectacular backdrops and scenery to go with of course. Way to go. Stunning Cinematography.. However, its not the first time that a convertible was tested here was it. Long a go the Top Gear trio had the TT Roadster, the Chrysler crossfire and the 350z convertible group test in Iceland..Nostalgic

[andyvaid]

I got an 89 NA mx5 with zero zero problems ever

[samjapanese]

The concept of this car is the perfect harmony between the driver and the car. I would like to recommend it to women who ride sports cars for the first time.

Straightforward handling.
Pleasant shift change.
Lightweight and nimble driving.
An exterior that you can love forever.

You can see everything on the scenic winding road in the best weather.

I'm using Google Translate, so I'm sorry for strange sentences.

[shadymike]

This has to be one of my all time favorite car reviews of all time!! and i have seen hundreds of them!! :)
congratulations to the Auto Trader team for such a fantastic job! :) keep up the great work.
this also game me some great ideas on how to tour Iceland and other places henceforth! ;)

[rivolinho]

It was hardly a tough test. moderate temps at the moment, good asphalt surface... that was no worse than autumn in rural UK or Ireland.

[stephanoya]

THAT WAS AMAZING. So informative and what a great idea testing it's durability. Hopefully Icelanders will buy more MX5s

[samconduct]

Took it on the North Coast 500 last year, it performed perfectly.

[Lee-ish]

I have this model but in the Grey mica it’s a super car to own and drive.

[thraxman]

I love my ND MX-5, it's ridiculously light (US sport trim w/155hp motor weighs in at 2, 277lbs), it is very reliable (got 10k miles on mine now and not so much as a hiccup), and with the redesign for the ND model it is the best looking Miata (IMO), but even I wouldn't say it is THE toughest roadster even though I think it is probably the cheapest to buy, fix, and own (seemingly in a whole 'nother league of affordability compared to Mercedes, BMW, Lotus, Porsche, or Jaguar).

[AdamMcCulloughMerlin]

Oh man, you just added a new entry to my bucket list. That looked *glorious*.

[-DC-]

new car manages 800 miles with no problems, wow groundbreaking research.

[mr.y.mysterious.video]

I have the grey version of this icon . Fine with the roof down in cold as the hot air can blow warmer than you'd want

[agnotwot]

I just got my 2017 MX-5 RF out here in the mountains of western Montana. 45F on a warm day so far in April and I've been driving around with the top down, the rest of the locals think I'm nuts.

[ChristianSachaNovak]

Guaranteed unbiased opinion as normal. Don’t trust any of these crappy channels.

[veefource]

Mechanically tough yes, but if they salt the roads out there then I doubt it would fair well long term without some major undersealing first