Mazda MX-5 roadster

Drive

The MX-5 has incredibly accurate steering and it's very nimble on the road. The 1.8 and 2.0-litre engines have 124bhp and 158bhp respectively, which is just enough to make the Mazda into a speedy little sports car. The 1.8 has a five-speed gearbox, while the 2.0-litre has a six-speed 'box and both have a short, accurate action that makes it easy to find the right gear. The optional Sport Tech semi-automatic gearbox with wheel-mounted paddles is best avoided, as it's not as effective as the manual variant.

Comfort

The Mazda MX-5 is more comfortable than you'd expect. The Mazda travels over rough surfaces well and there's little in the way of vibration - as is often the case in a convertible. Sport models are less comfortable than the standard version due to their bigger wheels, but for the most part, the MX-5 is about as relaxing and comfortable as a cabriolet gets. The tall seat backs offer protection from the elements and help keep wind noise to a minimum when the roof is down. There's not much racket with the roof up, either, although the soft-top version is slightly noisier than the folding hard-top Roadster Coupe.

Reliability

The entry-level 1.8-litre model doesn't come with stability control, which means it's more likely to catch unwary drivers out in slippery conditions. All other versions come with it as standard though, as well as side, driver and passenger airbags. A reinforced windscreen frame and roll over hoops are also standard. The earliest MX-5s are still very reliable cars, and the car has been hailed for its superb durability ever since, so you can buy with confidence. Owners agree, and the MX-5 finished in 10th place for reliability in Driver Power 2010.

Practicality

You don't buy a Mazda MX-5 for space, but for its size, the 150-litre boot is just about big enough for a couple of soft bags for a weekend away. The car's fabric hood is extremely easy to fold down - just release a couple of clips and drop it back -  and it doesn’t eat into the boot space. The folding hard-top Roadster Coupe model is more secure, but the cumbersome top is electrically powered and takes up more room, so the boot is smaller. There are a number of useful storage compartments throughout the cabin and four cup holders – which is more than enough for a two-seater car.

Value for money

The entry-level 1.8-litre SE model misses out on a few bits of equipment like air-conditioning, so we’d recommend the entry-level 2.0-litre version with additional standard equipment. The MX-5 is well priced, though, and you won’t find a convertible that offers so much fun for a similar price. Resale values are reasonable - the MX-5 is incredibly popular with second-hand buyers.

Running costs

The most frugal MX-5 is the 1.8 SE, which returns 40.4mpg and emits 167g/km of CO2, so Road Tax costs £180 per year. The 2.0-litre SE and Sport offer 38.2mpg and 37.2mpg respectively, along with 177g/km and 181g/km, which means a £200 annual Road Tax bill. The Sport Tech semi-automatic version doesn’t perform quite as well at 35.8mpg and 188g/km, so the Road Tax disc costs £235.