The world's favourite sports car

A no-frills honest driver’s car that never fails to score 10 out of 10 in the fun department.

Over the years it's had a few dabs of new make-up and a little bit of cosmetic surgery here and there but nothing drastic enough to change it original successful formula.

The engine has grown from the original 1,6-litre of the '80s to a 2,0-litre with a deeper growl but the set-up remains the same - engine up front, gear-box in the middle, power to the rear wheels.

And this translates into almost ideal balance and the sort of handling one would expect from much more expensive German and Italian brands.

Not very PC - and that means it's fun!

OK, so the engine is not blow-your-hair away powerful and with only 188Nm and 118kW on tap the revs need to be in the 7000rpm range for maximum oomph.

But to me that's part of the fun. So many hot hatches produce a lot more power from as low down as 1600rpm and they do it smoothly and as quiet as possible to be boringly politically correct.

Not the MX-5: it snarls and growls all the way into the red and it feels and sounds like a sports car should.

In fact, so much of this MX-5 Roadster Coupe reminds me of the special magic of the older British sports cars - the tight confines of the "fall-in" cabin, the lovely low driving position with the driver's bum just a couple of inches off the road, the simplicity and functionality of the dash board lay-out, the chubby gear lever and the transmission and engine noises that serve as a constant reminder that the power train is within touching distance.

The sexy hard-top not only adds to the appealing simple lines of the car but is also the fastest, smoothest operator in the business, taking only 13 seconds to fold away.

The gear changes through the six-speed manual are not silky smooth and moving rapidly between gears, particularly down-changing, takes some getting used to...but that, too, is part of the nostalgic driving experience that adds to the Mazda's charisma.

Although the MX-5 won't leave too many rubber scars on the tar the engine is cocky enough to trot from 0-100km/h in about 7.6 seconds.

It will also happily gallop on up to about 215 km/h before running out of steam and it's a fun trip all the way, particularly if the journey is across quiet, winding country roads.

Bring out the devil in it

For although the MX-5 is not blistering fast it really loves to grow horns when you show it the whip and demand that it shows you how well it can cling to the tarmac.

For most of its life the MX-5 sported a classic canvas folding top which looked quite nifty in a cool retro sort of way but was draughty and leaky and not well insulated against wind, road and engine noises.

Now the two-seater Mazda brags with a sexy hard-top which not only adds to the appealing simple lines of the car but is also the fastest, smoothest operator in the business, taking only 13 seconds to fold away out of sight.

Sports cars should be fun to drive and shouldn't frustrate the hell out of their owners with unnecessarily complicated and fiddly knobs, dials and switches like so many modern cars with sporty aspirations do.

Thank goodness it's not in the nature of this little beast. The MX-5's interior lay-out is straight forward: radio, aircon, air vents, indicator toggle, windscreen wiper stalk, a button for each of the two power windows, a short gear lever and a hand brake mounted on the central console. That's it.

Great lines.

Oops, nearly forgot. There is one sop to modern al fresco driving comfort - the seats have built-in heaters to warm backs and bums through those chilly mountain passes.

Safety net features include stability control, front and side airbags and ABS brakes with EBD and EBA.

Over and above good aircon and a brilliant BOSE sound system a particularly appealing luxury feature in the living quarters are the well contoured leather seats.

It's in the GBWR for all the right reasons

If I was a white coat in Mazda's R& D department the only one major improvement I would make to this Mazda's cabin is to make the steering wheel fully adjustable.

All the power goes to the rear wheels.

Granted, the boot is small but ample enough to accommodate the luggage of two adults intending to have a weekend of indoor fun rather than trundle around with golf clubs.

Our test car came in an attractive shade of burgundy attractively enhanced by a set of sporty alloys. "Quite snazzy", Her Majesty described its classic roadster looks.

More enthusiastic drivers would probably prefer more turbo-fed kick under the bonnet but for most drivers the MX-5 will provide all the fun of a stylish, zippy sports car and the practicality of a comfortable daily commuter without the pain of a hefty price tag.

The selling price of R344 720 includes a four-year/120 000 km fully comprehensive manufacturer warranty, a four-year/60 000km service plan and a three-year roadside assistance plan.

Footnote: The MX-5 is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling two-seater sports car with sales currently totalling more than 850 000 units. It has won 178 major automotive awards, including 58 for the current third generation.

Specifications

Top Gear review - racing the greyhound

Fifth Gear's MX5 shootout

Car Wars - the BBC 1 MX5 pursuit