Mazda will stop selling the 181bhp 2.0-litre Mazda MX-5 in the UK once existing stock is gone, leaving the 130bhp 1.5-litre version as the only engine choice. Mazda UK said the extended sales period for the larger-engined car has ended.
It has enough 2.0-litre stock to meet anticipated customer demand until around January 2027. For buyers who want the MX-5 in the UK, that sets a clear window for the stronger engine before the range narrows to the 1.5-litre car alone.
Mazda UK and the UK market
Mazda UK said the 2.0-litre model was dropped from Europe in 2024 because emissions rules changed. It added that different derogation timings in the UK allowed sales to continue here for longer.
The 2.0-litre version emits 153g/km, while the 1.5-litre car emits 140g/km. Mazda said the current-generation MX-5 was originally developed around the 1.5-litre engine, which is why that version remains at the centre of the range.
Charlie and the MX-5
Charlie, an Autocar contributor who joined in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with What Car?, noted the change after the 2.0-litre MX-5 had been given a five-star rating this year. He also has a Mk4 Mazda MX-5.
Mazda said the 1.5-litre engine lets customers keep the lightweight, engaging and fun-to-drive experience that has defined the Mazda MX-5 for more than 35 years. The company also said the Japanese-market 1.5-litre update to 134bhp and 114lb ft is expected to reach the UK in due course.
MX-5 sales and stock
UK sales of the Mazda MX-5 were around 4000 in 2019 and fell to roughly 1500 in the years after that. With the 2.0-litre car ending once stock runs out, buyers who want the more powerful version will need to act before supplies are exhausted.
The practical result is a smaller UK MX-5 range and a longer run-out period for the 181bhp car than Mazda had in Europe, but no return to a two-engine lineup after stock is gone.
