Most powerful Mazda MX-5 safe in Australia despite overseas axings

Mazda’s long-serving ‘ND’ MX-5 is slowly being wound down, after the 2.0-litre version of the popular roadster was dropped from the UK this week.

As first reported by Autocar, the 2.0-litre MX-5 will soon no longer be available in the UK, with only the 1.5-litre model to be imported there, though stock of the larger, more powerful four-cylinder engine will carry through until early next year.

“The 2.0-litre was dropped from the European markets in 2024 due to changing emissions regulations,” a Mazda UK spokesperson told Autocar. 

“However, due to different derogation timings in the UK, we were able to continue with an extended sales period. This period has now ended and we will cease sales of the 2.0-litre Mazda MX-5 in the UK once the existing stock has been sold.”

The axing of the 2.0-litre to stick with the 1.5-litre is the inverse of what occurred in Australia in late 2021, when an update to the MX-5 saw the 1.5-litre engine dropped from the lineup, leaving the punchier 2.0-litre as the only available option.

That decision was based on sales, with the 1.5-litre understood to account for less than 10 per cent of deliveries, as it produced 97kW and 152Nm, down on the more popular 2.0-litre’s 135kW and 205Nm outputs.

While the axing of the 2.0-litre engine from Europe and now the UK could be seen as a threat to its Australian future, given the UK is also a right-hand drive market, Torquecafe understands the MX-5 is under no immediate threat.

Mazda launched the current ND-generation MX-5 in 2015, with the popular convertible about to enter its 12th year on sale.

ND MX-5 deliveries in Australia peaked in 2016 with 1577 examples, and though they bottomed out at 442 in 2019, 2025 was a recent high with 821 deliveries, the most since 2018 (835).

Last year, the Mazda MX-5 was one of Australia’s most popular sports cars with 821 deliveries, outsold only by the Ford Mustang (4052 deliveries), BMW 2 Series (1175 deliveries), and Mercedes-Benz CLE (934 deliveries).

Though it is still popular, the MX-5 is due for a replacement in the not too distant future, with the new ‘NE’ generation understood to be in development.

Last month, Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro, told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport that the MX-5’s next generation could offer electric power.

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Torquecafe.comJordan Mulach

“The successor must also be ready for a scenario without a combustion engine,” Moro said.

“The challenge for us is to make the basic structure lighter without using exotic materials like carbon fibre.”

While petrol power would remain at the forefront of the MX-5 lineup, Moro said Mazda’s engineers are likely to be able to get the EV version under 1200kg, keeping with the ethos of the current model.

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The next-generation Mazda MX-5 could well be the sports car icon’s last iteration with petrol power, something the carmaker is very aware of.

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“The target weight for the developers is between just under 1000 and 1200 kilograms, Moro added.

“And I believe we can achieve that. That would mean that a future electric MX-5 would be no heavier than today's combustion engine models.”

It’s expected the next MX-5 with petrol power will feature Mazda’s upcoming 2.5-litre four-cylinder Skyactiv-Z engine.