2024 Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Review

Over time, the MX-5 has weaved its way into the hearts of automotive enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike, with its fun-loving nature charming anyone who gets behind the wheel.

In the past, though, the only choice buyers had to make while shopping around for an MX-5 was what colour to get.

Fast-forward to 2024 and buyers have a wide range of options within the MX-5 stables, with everything from an accessible base model, a more premium GT version and a sportier RS variant at the top of the pile.

This, the MX-5 Roadster GT is billed as the Goldilocks variant for buyers in need of some more luxurious features - but is it worth the steep premium over the base model?

To find out, we got behind the wheel of the 2024 MX-5 Roadster GT automatic and we’ll be putting it under the microscope to find out if it’s the best in the MX-5 range, or one to avoid.

Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Competition

How Much Does the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Cost?

The MX-5 Roadster GT you’re looking at comes with the pricier option of an automatic transmission and is priced at $50,140 before on-road costs are applied.

With a manual transmission, prices for the MY24 MX-5 Roadster GT stand at $48,640.

Prices for the rest of the 2024 MX-5 range, including the hard-top RF can be found below.

• MX-5 Roadster Manual: $41,520

• MX-5 RF Manual: $46,250

• MX-5 Roadster GT Manual: $48,640

• MX-5 Roadster GT Automatic: $50,140 (tested)

• MX-5 Roadster GT RS Manual: $51,640

• MX-5 RF GT Manual: $53,140

• MX-5 RF GT Automatic: $54,640

• MX-5 RF GT RS Manual: $56,140

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Mazda MX-5 G20 Roadster GT Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the MX-5 Roadster GT Have?

The MX-5 Roadster GT picks up several premium features over the base model that help to give it a more refined nature inside the cabin.

Headlining the list of upgrades over the base model is a set of machined 17-inch alloys, adaptive LED headlights, black leather upholstery and heated seats, body-coloured side mirrors, keyless entry & start as well as an upgraded BOSE sound system.

It also picks up features you’ll find on the base Roadster like LED daytime running lamps, cruise control, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, climate control and an upgraded safety equipment suite we’ll cover later in this review.

Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Connectivity & Infotainment Features

One of the major upgrades for the MY24 MX-5 range has been an overhaul of its technology suite, headlined by a new and larger infotainment display.

Gone is the previous 7.0-inch unit in favour of a crisp, high-definition 8.8-inch display that can be controlled via touch inputs and Mazda’s rotary control dial.

It’s a significant technological leap for the MX-5 and certainly makes the MX-5 more competitive in this respect, especially with the latest iteration of Mazda’s operating system underneath.

Navigating through menus is a quick and simple experience, with a user-friendly layout and easy access to smartphone mirroring from the home screen via a touch of the rotary dial.

Mazda’s infotainment system offers AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, as well as satellite navigation and Bluetooth audio, as well as Mazda’s latest connected services system.

This offers features like vehicle diagnostics, remote locking and climate inputs, a vehicle locator, geofencing and even parental controls to make sure your teenage kids aren’t going on a joyride while you’re out of town.

Another benefit of upgrading to the MX-5 GT range is the significant HIFI upgrade, with a six-speaker unit making way for a nine-speaker Bose sound system with a 203-watt amplifier providing a tonne of power.

Does the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

Another key upgrade for the MY24 MX-5 range has been the addition of both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, offering a hands-free connection for both ecosystems.

This will come as welcome news for potential buyers looking for the convenience of a wireless connection to their smartphone, with Mazda’s updated operating system offering a simple paring process and quick connection to your iPhone or Android device once you step inside the cabin.

In our time behind the wheel, we didn’t experience a single drop-out in the connection with our iPhones, and while we can’t speak for Android Auto connectivity, we expect it to offer the same, stable connectivity.  

Is the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Comfortable to Drive Daily?

For all its performance credentials, the MX-5 remains a reasonably well-mannered, albeit slightly stiff daily driver, but one that transforms a mundane commute into a barrel of laughs.

Ticking the automatic transmission box likely means you’re planning on driving the MX-5 on a more regular basis and, in this respect, it’s a great option.

Commuting in a manual can be a pain, while Mazda’s six-speed automatic transmission takes care of the left-foot pain from consistent clutch inputs while suffering in stop-start traffic.

Acceleration off the line is spirited, with smooth shifts on offer from the automatic transmission and great braking performance when you’re approaching a set of lights.

The MX-5 is more than up for the task of weaving around town, with its sharp handling, tight turning circle and light steering making for a surprisingly perfect little city runaround.

The sports suspension does mean you’re prone to crashing over some larger bumps on the road, though overall, it’s a reasonably comfortable ride - so long as the road conditions provide.

Another feather in the cap for the MX-5 as a daily is the short wheelbase platform, which means you can park it virtually anywhere.

Visibility isn’t great with the soft-top roof deployed, though, which makes the addition of some active safety gear even more important for the MY24 MX-5 range.

All things considered, the MX-5 is both a fun and viable option for daily driving, though you’ll want to keep it on smooth, metropolitan roads to keep things comfortable inside the cabin.

Is the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Still a Great Sports Coupe?

It absolutely is - though the automatic transmission does detract from the overall driving experience if you’re a bit of a traditionalist.

For all its intuitiveness around town, opting for the MX-5 with a six-speed automatic may not be the ideal pick for a driving purist.

That said, it’s a great transmission, offering snappy shifts from the wheel-mounted paddles and benefits from a sports mode that holds gears for longer and adds more aggressive downshifts as you hit the anchors.

The driving experience on offer in the MX-5 Roadster is simply divine - a celebration of the core values of driving that have made the MX-5 or ‘Miata’ as it’s known in other markets an automotive icon.

With a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol throwing 135kW of power and 205Nm of torque to the rear wheels, the MX-5 is a rear-wheel drive fun machine.

Couple that with its lightweight platform and incredibly low-slung centre of gravity and the MX-5 welcomes a challenge on the open road, darting between corners and offering tonnes of feedback to the driver.

Better yet, it’s an approachable sports car that offers fun at street-legal speeds and really does have you questioning the need for a six-figure sports car.

The front end takes a lot of punishment before it gets loose, the rear feels lively and maintains great levels of grip, while a touch of throttle helps you feel the car pivot around the corner from the rear in a particularly addictive manner.

With relatively narrow tyres, the MX-5 can also be pushed past the limit without the need for a heart attack, though the short wheelbase platform can prove unforgiving if you push too hard.

All up, the MX-5 remains just as smile-inducing inducing as the original, with Mazda sticking to its original design philosophy that offers a pure, engaging and remarkably accommodating sports car package that will infect anyone who gets behind the wheel.

Is the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Fuel Efficient?

A key advantage of the lightweight platform and the relatively compact engine is that the MX-5 range is pretty responsible when it comes to sipping fuel.

If you behave yourself, you’ll match Mazda’s official fuel economy claims between 6.8 and 7L per 100km, though the MX-5’s cheeky personality does mean it’s easy to have a heavy right foot.

Fuel efficiency is slightly better in the Roadster manual range than in the automatic, but there’s not much in it.

In our time behind the wheel, we averaged 7.8L per 100km on a mix of highway, town and country driving. In all honesty, though, we didn’t exactly opt for the most fuel-conscious driving style and we don’t doubt Mazda’s official claims.

• MX-5 Roadster: 6.8 - 7.0L per 100km

• MX-5 RF Manual (Claimed) 6.9L per 100km

• MX-5 Roadster GT (Tested) 7.8L per 100km

• MX-5 RF GT Automatic (Claimed) 7.2L per 100km

• MX-5 GT RS Manual (Claimed) 7.2L per 100km

How Much Fuel Does the MX-5 Roadster GT Use Around Town?

• MX-5 Roadster GT Automatic: 9.7L per 100km

• MX-5 Roadster GT Manual: 9.1L per 100km

How Much Fuel Does the MX-5 Roadster GT Use on the Highway?

• MX-5 Roadster GT Automatic: 5.4L per 100km

• MX-5 Roadster GT Manual: 5.5L per 100km

Is the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Practical?

Obviously, a pint-sized, two-seater sports coupe isn’t going to be a heavy hitter when it comes to interior practicality.

Specifically for the more premium MX-5 GT grade, though, things look and feel great inside the cabin.

Let’s address the elephant in the room directly - headroom for anyone taller than 180cm is tight, and if you’re pushing north of that mark, your hair is likely to pick up a static charge from the soft-top roof. 

That said, there is enough legroom on offer for taller drivers and a fully adjustable steering wheel to find your preferred driving position.

Folding the roof down is a particularly simple exercise, with Mazda sticking by a design true to the original Roadster.

With a flick of a hinge, you can fold down the roof for infinite headroom and really begin to enjoy the virtues of the MX-5’s open-top nature.

While it’s not the most inconspicuous means of travelling from A to B, driving the MX-5 with the roof down is a rite of passage in the automotive world.

Turning back to the cabin, the MX-5 in GT form is a lovely place to sit.

There’s leather upholstery with heated seats that certainly come in handy on a cold winter’s morning, while silver contrasts and body-coloured door panels help to add some excitement into the mix.

Mazda is very much at the top of the pile when it comes to interior designs, with the company keeping things simple while adding premium touches to GT variants that are likely to make it feel like money well spent for buyers looking for some lashings of luxury.

Storage options inside the MX-5 Roadster GT aren’t plentiful, but Mazda has the fundamentals covered.

There’s a pair of cupholders that can be moved to either side of the centre console, a small stash spot for smartphones at the base of the dash as well as a folding key stash beside the handbrake.

You’ll also find a trio of storage bins sitting behind your shoulders, as well as a pair hiding behind the seatbacks which is a nifty spot to keep valuables out of sight.

All up, the MX-5 isn’t what you’d call a practical vehicle, though Mazda has done well to offer up enough essentials in a sublime-looking package that makes its shortcomings forgivable.

How Big is the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT’s Boot?

There’s certainly no mistaking the MX-5’s boot for a midsize SUV, but it can still swallow up a few small bags.

Because it doesn’t have to accommodate a bulkier, metal folding roof, the MX-5 Roadster offers slightly more boot space than the RF hard-top range.

There’s 130L of boot space on offer in the soft-top MX-5 Roadster, which is an ever-so-slight premium over the 127L of boot space available in the MX-5 RF hard-top range.

It’s certainly not the best option for a large family, though the MX-5’s boot does serve a purpose with a few backpacks thrown into the rear.

Is the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Safe?

The 2024 Mazda MX-5 range has picked up some significant safety upgrades that make it far more a competitive and safer package overall.

As standard, the MX-5 RF GT picks up forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking with front pedestrian detection, as well as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts.

You’ll also receive a hill-start assist system, lane-departure alerts, driver attention alerts, tyre pressure monitoring, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, traffic sign recognition and four airbags inside the cabin.

Does the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The MX-5 Roadster GT’s previous five-star ANCAP safety rating expired in the early stages of 2024.

The current MX-5 range is currently unrated by ANCAP, though the previous model secured a five-star safety rating after scoring 35.20 out of a potential 37 back in 2016.

What Warranty Does the Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Come With?

Mazda packages the MX-5 Roadster GT with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, as well as five years' worth of roadside assistance.

The company also offers five capped-price services for the MX-5 range which total $2,721 for the MX-5 Manual range, dropping slightly to $2,566 in the case of the MX-5 Automatic range.

This means you’ll have an extra $155 in your back pocket while opting for the MX-5 Roadster GT automatic for five services.

Service intervals for the MX-5 stand at 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever elapses first.

Our Verdict: Is the MX-5 Roadster GT Worth it?

The Mazda MX-5 is a fantastic little sports car that offers a heap of fun for new and experienced drivers alike.

There’s simply no faulting Mazda’s combination of lightweight, rear-wheel drive simplicity - while the novelty of dropping the roof for a view of the sky simply doesn’t grow old… unless it’s raining.

Is the MX-5 Roadster GT the pick of the bunch? It depends on how many luxuries you’re looking for.

With no mechanical changes, the driving experience is the same as the base model, which in our mind remains the pick of the bunch for enthusiasts - particularly with the six-speed manual.

Premium touches like leather upholstery, heated seats and an upgraded sound system certainly help to sweeten the deal and will be welcomed by some buyers, but they come at a significant cost.

That said, the MX-5 Roadster GT offers a tonne of fun for the money, even with the luxuries factored into the equation, making it well worth a spot on any sports car shortlist.

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find your dream car at the best possible price.

Five Mazda MX-5 Roadster GT Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with roadside assist & capped-price servicing

2. 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine throws 135kW/205Nm to the rear wheels

3. Six-speed manual & automatic transmissions available

4. 6.8 - 7.2L per 100km combined cycle fuel economy

5. Roadster’s 130L boot space drops to 127L in RF variants