Well executed and beautifully...

Well executed and beautifully detailed, the soft-top offers everything you need and nothing you don"t.

Roadsters appear to have one of the most straightforward briefs in the motoring kingdom - all these two-seater soft-tops are required to do is to make their owners smile.

Yet in reality, that"s easier said than done. Especially on a cold February morning, when filling up with fuel on a freezing forecourt or visiting the dealer for a check-up. Luckily, no matter how bad the weather or mundane the task, nothing takes the shine off life with the latest-generation MX-5.

Given the excellence of the previous two models, Mazda would have needed to take its eye off the ball completely for the third to be anything less than excellent. And the Japanese marque doesn"t disappoint with its latest convertible creation. Instead, it has surpassed expectations and become even more focused on giving roadster buyers exactly what they want.

Pin-sharp handling, responsive steering and a real zest for life can be taken for granted in the MX-5, but Mazda"s achievements don"t stop there. The roof mechanism has been improved and now stows so neatly on the back deck a tonneau is no longer required. There"s more space around the driving position, interior design and quality are much improved, plus there are new engines to choose from. Well executed and beautifully detailed, the soft-top offers everything you need and nothing you don"t. Value for money, reliability and low running costs mean that few categories were as easy to judge.