Mazda MX-5 (05 on) - Review

The driving position is best described as cosy. Taller drivers may find it a little cramped, plus there's no reach adjustment in the steering - but the seats offer good support. With the fabric roof up, the cabin is well insulated from wind and road noise - lower it and it's still possible to have a civilised conversation with buffeting kept to a minimum up to motorway speeds. The folding hard top improves refinement further and as you'd expect makes the cabin even quieter on the move. The RC also comes with a reprofiled wind deflector so it's less turbulent with the roof down. Revised RC models from April 2009 have better cabin insulation, reducing road noise on the move.

Mazda has incorporated numerous little stowage compartments in the cabin, and four drinks holders, but the boot is small (although it's eight litres larger than previously). However it will cope with a weekends worth of bags while a luggage rack can be added too. The RC model has a roof that folds in 12 seconds once you release a central lever and hit the button. Otherwise the fabric hood has to folded manually, but this is a straightforward and quick process.

The well finished interior may not be the most stylish around but it's neatly laid out with easy to use controls. There are no soft touch plastics and it feels functional rather than inviting, however it's clear that quality is good. The attractive steering wheel houses inbuilt controls for the stereo while the high-mounted gear lever adds to the sporty feel. You'll soon come to appreciate how low down you are when other traffic towers over you, but otherwise the view out is very good and the MX-5 is easy to manoeuvre.