Mazda MX-5 review

The Mazda MX-5's driving seat is mounted fairly high and, while you can tilt the base, you can’t adjust the height, so you might feel a little perched behind the wheel. Even so, you sit with your legs straight out forwards as if you were in a go-kart, with your posterior close to the road. Many will undoubtedly like this, but getting in and out can be an inelegant procedure. 

The steering wheel adjusts for reach and rake, but taller drivers might wish it came towards them a little more. It's also worth mentioning that the pedals are slightly offset to the right. All but the tallest drivers will be able to get comfortable in the snug seat, so long journeys won't be a chore – although the Audi TT Roadster is better for long-distance comfort.

A rear-view camera is standard on Sport Tech and GT Sport Tech models, and all trims get LED headlights. If you want auto lights and wipers, you’ll need second-rung Sport trim or higher. That also gets you an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Every MX-5 gets a smart 7.0in touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat-nav, DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. There’s also a single CD player, which is something of a novelty in today’s cars.

The system is easy to control using the rotary dial and shortcut buttons behind the gearlever. The only irritation is that you can’t turn off voice guidance on the sat-nav. You can mute it, but the system still turns your music down when there would have been an announcement.