When did the ND become 180bhp?

[Dave.]

Thinking of "upgrading" from an NB to an ND (dictated by my chassis rails mainly ).

When did the 2 litre get the bump in bhp to 180odd?

I think it was 2017/18, but I've seen some ads state 184 in the title, but in the stats below it says 153.

Is there an easily identifiable telltale, in the vin perhaps?

[Catflap66]

The 2.0 ND was upgraded to 185bhp in late 2018. I'd take a 1.5 ND over the 160 bhp 2.0, but the 185bhp 2.0 over anything else. There is no badging to indicate engine or power.

[Mezzanine]

Catflap66 said:

The 2.0 ND was upgraded to 185bhp in late 2018. I'd take a 1.5 ND over the 160 bhp 2.0, but the 185bhp 2.0 over anything else. There is no badging to indicate engine or power.

Any particular reason for this order preference? I am in the market for an ND but the 185bhp model (the one I wanted) seemingly about my price bracket annoyingly.

[Nickp82]

Didn’t the trim levels all get a plus on the end? That’s how you tell (Sport nav + , SE-L Nav + etc )

[Catflap66]

I don't know if the "+" indicates engine, but either way there is no badge on the car to suggest engine or power.

My reasoning was simple enough. My engine of choice was the 185bhp 2.0. The lower powered 2.0 wouldn't have been a huge step up over the 1.5. Though I've not driven the 1.5, I'm sure I'd like it. The general consensus is that they are both good cars, just different. I wanted (not needed) more power, and I liked the revisions to the more powerful 2.0 car along with the suspension upgrades.

I've only been driving it a few days, but am hugely impressed, and in every single way a significant improvement over the 1.8 NC it replaced... and I loved that car!

[SunsetZed]

Mezzanine said:

Catflap66 said:

The 2.0 ND was upgraded to 185bhp in late 2018. I'd take a 1.5 ND over the 160 bhp 2.0, but the 185bhp 2.0 over anything else. There is no badging to indicate engine or power.

Any particular reason for this order preference? I am in the market for an ND but the 185bhp model (the one I wanted) seemingly about my price bracket annoyingly.

By all accounts (including my own experience!) the 160 2.0 is not a great engine, try driving it back to back with either the 1,5 or the 185 2.0 and you'll see the difference.

The 2.0 185 or 1.5 is more of a personal preference thing as to how much power / speed you want. Both are great engines and provide enjoyable drives.

[Mezzanine]

SunsetZed said:

Mezzanine said:

Catflap66 said:

The 2.0 ND was upgraded to 185bhp in late 2018. I'd take a 1.5 ND over the 160 bhp 2.0, but the 185bhp 2.0 over anything else. There is no badging to indicate engine or power.

Any particular reason for this order preference? I am in the market for an ND but the 185bhp model (the one I wanted) seemingly about my price bracket annoyingly.

By all accounts (including my own experience!) the 160 2.0 is not a great engine, try driving it back to back with either the 1,5 or the 185 2.0 and you'll see the difference.

The 2.0 185 or 1.5 is more of a personal preference thing as to how much power / speed you want. Both are great engines and provide enjoyable drives.

The 2.0 185 is out of reach so I’ll try the 1.5 as I had previously dismissed it as being too low on power (not that these are about power anyway…)

[SunsetZed]

Mezzanine said:

SunsetZed said:

Mezzanine said:

Catflap66 said:

The 2.0 ND was upgraded to 185bhp in late 2018. I'd take a 1.5 ND over the 160 bhp 2.0, but the 185bhp 2.0 over anything else. There is no badging to indicate engine or power.

Any particular reason for this order preference? I am in the market for an ND but the 185bhp model (the one I wanted) seemingly about my price bracket annoyingly.

By all accounts (including my own experience!) the 160 2.0 is not a great engine, try driving it back to back with either the 1,5 or the 185 2.0 and you'll see the difference.

The 2.0 185 or 1.5 is more of a personal preference thing as to how much power / speed you want. Both are great engines and provide enjoyable drives.

The 2.0 185 is out of reach so I’ll try the 1.5 as I had previously dismissed it as being too low on power (not that these are about power anyway…)

I've got a 1.5, I figured exactly the same as you in that it's not about power and more about carrying speed. I never find the lack of power an issue, just an enjoyable trait of the car.

[WannaCerb]

Catflap66 said:

The 2.0 ND was upgraded to 185bhp in late 2018. I'd take a 1.5 ND over the 160 bhp 2.0, but the 185bhp 2.0 over anything else. There is no badging to indicate engine or power.

I have a feeling its 181bhp
Often quoted as 184ps.

[monsieurblack]

I do hear a lot of people praising the 1.5 over the 2.0.

Could I ask if all the ND 1.5s come with the LSD that I understand the 2.0s come with?

[coppice]

I've run a remapped ND1 (ie 156BHP originally) for several years. With mild modification (map , exhaust manifold) I have ND2 power, and rather more torque and 40plus mpg . So if the budget won't stretch to ND2 , buy an ND 1 , speak to Roddison Motorsport and you are sorted .

[Superhoop]

monsieurblack said:

I do hear a lot of people praising the 1.5 over the 2.0.

Could I ask if all the ND 1.5s come with the LSD that I understand the 2.0s come with?

In the UK, all 2.0 models (with the exception of the automatic) are fitted with an LSD.

There are no UK specification 1.5's that were supplied from factory with an LSD.

[monsieurblack]

Ah OK thanks for confirming, appreciate that

[ben5575]

Superhoop said:

monsieurblack said:

I do hear a lot of people praising the 1.5 over the 2.0.

Could I ask if all the ND 1.5s come with the LSD that I understand the 2.0s come with?

In the UK, all 2.0 models (with the exception of the automatic) are fitted with an LSD.

There are no UK specification 1.5's that were supplied from factory with an LSD.

Just a quick correction. As you say, no 1.5 come with the LSD. The 2.0 SE+ did not come with the LSD either. The S-EL Nav+ upwards did.

You can tell the revised models as they (both 1.5 & 2.0) come with telescopic steering wheel adjustment, which was new for the refresh.

Re engine hierarchy, the MX5 was designed to be 1.5 and the rev'ing nature of the engine and gearbox were matched. However Mazda got cold feet that the US would demand a bigger engine, hence they introduced the 2.0 from another model last minute. This engine wasn't properly sorted for the MX5.

This is why the preference on ND1 is the 1.5 over the 2.0. The 2.0 was completely reengineered for the ND2 to match the rest of the car, hence it being the engine of choice

[bmv6197]

Ultimately it’s a personal preference / choice, so while I think the general consensus is that the 1.5 is better than the ND1’s 160bhp 2.0, there’s no substitute for trying them out yourself. So get behind the wheel of one of each on the same day, and make your decision on which one works for you.

I got to drive both when Mazda ran their launch days back in late 2015. Loved both but the 1.5 was just so much more easy revving (and needed to be revved), and you felt like you could throw it around far more easily. But that was just a better fit to my driving. The 2.0 then was more effortless in its performance so would be easier to daily if you just wanted to cruise along. So it depends on your priorities. Also, as has already been said, if spec levels are important, like wheel size, LSD, etc, that has to be factored into your choice too.

Haven’t driven the ND2 2.0, but I’m looking at adding an ND to my garage so I’ll definitely test drive one of those before I make a final choice.