Mazda marks 35 years of the MX-5 with a limited-production anniversary edition
The 2025 35th Anniversary Edition features Artisan Red paint, a beige soft top, and matching interior
Canadian pricing starts at $44,050

With the first units of the 2025 Mazda MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition arriving at dealerships across the country, we got early access to this special model. Here’s our complete review of this exclusive celebration of one of the most iconic roadsters ever built.

2025 Mazda MX-5 35th Anniversary | Photo: Germain Goyer

Unit No. 0466

Mazda officially unveiled the 35th Anniversary Edition at this year’s 24 Hours of Daytona back in January. The car wears a new Artisan Red colour, borrowed from the CX-90’s palette, which injects some much-needed freshness into the MX-5’s usually modest paint options. Apart from the vibrant Soul Red Crystal, most MX-5 colours have been relatively tame, so this deep red paired with a beige soft top and matching interior is a breath of fresh air. Fingers crossed, let’s hope we’ll soon see bold greens, blues, or yellows added to the mix.

Exclusive to the 2025 Anniversary Edition are 17-inch bright-finish wheels, commemorative floor mats, unique headrest embossing, and a serialized badge on the driver-side rear quarter panel. Our tester was unit No. 466. Mazda will produce just 230 examples for Canada and 300 for the U.S., meaning Canadian buyers get a slightly larger share of this collector-worthy run.

It’s worth noting that this edition is available only as a soft top. That means no retractable hardtop (RF) version. It also only comes with the 6-speed manual transmission. No automatic is offered. That’s music to the ears of die-hard enthusiasts and driving purists.

Same Powertrain, Same Fun

Mechanically, nothing changes under the hood. Like other 2025 MX-5 variants, this special edition is powered by a 2.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that delivers 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. The numbers are modest, but the lightweight platform and sharp handling make it a joy to drive. The MX-5 loves to rev, but that said, we’d be lying if we said we hadn’t hoped for a version with a turbocharger to push things beyond the 200-hp mark…

Our road trip behind the wheel of the 35th Anniversary Edition was the perfect chance to reconnect with the MX-5 and enjoy the simplicity of its one-handed soft top, a reminder that sometimes, old-school is still the best school.

More Classic than Sporty

While it retains the sporty gear found on the GS-P trim—like the asymmetrical limited-slip differential (LSD), DSC-TRACK mode, and Bilstein dampers—it forgoes the more aggressive touches included in the optional Sport Package. That package adds forged 17-inch BBS wheels, red-painted callipers, front Brembo brakes, and Recaro sport seats. Without those extras, the 35th Anniversary Edition leans more “classic” and might appeal to traditionalists rather than hardcore performance fans.

A Themed Road Trip

To put the 2025 MX-5 35th Anniversary Edition to the test, we took it on a themed road trip from Montreal to Bowmanville to catch the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series racing at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Rounds 9 and 10 of the one-make series were held there, bringing together some of the most passionate MX-5 drivers in North America.

Over the 1,594 km journey, the MX-5 returned a commendable average fuel consumption of 7.5 L/100 km. Once again, it proves that you can have tons of fun in a convertible sports car without breaking the bank at the pump.

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A Few Gripes

Mazda’s 8.8-inch infotainment screen is only partially touchscreen-capable. Some functions still require the use of the rotary knob on the centre console. A fully touchscreen system would be more intuitive—something we hope Mazda addresses with the next complete redesign. Speaking of which, that redesign is long overdue…

Would We Buy One?

That’s the big question we kept coming back to all week. As self-proclaimed MX-5 purists, we lean toward the GS-P trim for its lower price and extra sporty gear. Still, the collector in us is drawn to the special nature of the 35th Anniversary Edition. It has presence, charm, and a unique personality that’s hard to ignore.

If we were shopping last year or next year, we’d go with the GS-P. But for 2025? This commemorative edition is just too tempting.