Skip advert
Advertisement
Long term tests

Mazda MX-5 2.0i Sport Tech

A surging at low speed was unwelcome, but a factory software upgrade soon sorted things and smoothness was restored

Mazda MX-5 2.0i

It’s funny how you can think you’re imagining things. When we first got the latest-shape MX-5 I was sure I could feel it surging slightly when I had it on a steady throttle, but I discounted the problem as a figment of my imagination. However,  John Barker, having driven the Mazda at Car of the Year last month, declared that my noggin wasn’t playing tricks on me – there was almost certainly an engine management issue.

Advertisement - Article continues below

I phoned a Mazda dealer to book the MX-5 in and was warned that finding the cause of a problem like this could take longer than a day. But when I dropped the car off the next morning I was told that there was now a recall on all new MX-5s (that’s what I call quick work!) for a software upgrade because of engine surging. A-ha!

When I picked the car up later that day it had been cleaned (nice touch) and the surging problem hasn’t re‑occurred since. Perfect.

Running Costs

Date acquiredAugust 2009
Total mileage9180
Costs this month£0
Mileage this month961
MPG this month31.7
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Lotus wants to save its Norfolk factory by developing and building other company's sports cars
Lotus factory
Features

Lotus wants to save its Norfolk factory by developing and building other company's sports cars

The Emira will live on and there's an Esprit supercar on the way, but Lotus has another plan to keep Hethel active
18 Aug 2026
McLaren McL 6GT is a new manual supercar and a complete reset
McLaren McL 6GT
News

McLaren McL 6GT is a new manual supercar and a complete reset

Unbelievably, the design of this new McLaren is more surprising than the reintroduction of a manual transmission…
14 Aug 2026
Ford Focus RS (Mk3, 2016 - 2018) review – the last proper fast Ford?
Ford Focus RS
In-depth reviews

Ford Focus RS (Mk3, 2016 - 2018) review – the last proper fast Ford?

The Mk3 Focus RS looks like it’ll be Ford’s last RS, certainly with petrol-only power, for a while if not ever. Did the legendary badge go out on a hi…
18 Aug 2026