Mazda MX-5 car review

The MX-5’s Japanese roots are immediately obvious when you look at its interior – but things are none the worse for that. Clearly laid out and well screwed together, there’s a lot of black in evidence, with just the right amount of alloy (actually silver plastic) highlights to make things interesting, without looking over-designed.

What’s really impressive is the ease with which the roof can be raised and stowed. There’s no power assistance; you simply release a catch and flip the boot back. It then latches into place on its own, with the top of the roof also doubling as a tonneau cover. When you want protection from the elements, you simply press another button and the roof is easily raised and clipped back into place. All convertible roofs should be this simple.