Track Attack: Mazda MX-5 RF vs Toyota 86 (Incl. Drag Race)

Join us as we take a look at the new Mazda MX-5 RF with its retractable, targa-style roof. We push it around the track to see if the additional weight has hurt the performance and handling of the dynamic MX-5, or if the increased rigidity has helped beef-up the road holding. We happen to like the styling, quite a lot in fact, but the RF does have a few shortcomings that are hard to ignore. We look at what these are and question Mazda's sanity at the same time.

Now that it has a hard top, it competes with the existing Toyota 86, the 2.0-liter, flat-four powered, rear-wheel drive coupe that has held a monopoly in the compact RWD coupe arena. For 2017, the Toyota 86 has received a bit of a facelift, with new headlights, indicators, badging, front and rear bumper as well as the addition of a subtle wing. The power remains the same, but there's now some new toys that make the most of the engine and drivetrain. Lawrence takes us through these changes as we compare what the two have to offer.

A track duel wouldn't be complete without the obligatory drag race, so we lined them up and were quite surprised at the outcome. While on paper the Mazda only makes 118kW and the 86 a considerably higher 147kW, this race yielded some surprising results.

At the time of testing, the Mazda MX-5 RF was priced at R532 800 and the Toyota 86 High at R494 900.