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ON THE ROAD Light weight, fine handling and revvy engine make the MX-5 lots of fun and a best seller

The Mazda MX-5 is Britain’s best-selling two-seater roadster, and although the Mk4 car has moved the game on further still (it’s our best new roadster), you can get almost all of the thrills for a fraction of the bill with a facelifted version of the previous car.

Called the NC, this third-generation MX-5 is still a peach and remains true to the car’s original concept. It’s light, compact and is powered by a naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine; we think the 2.0i Sport Tech model is the one to go for.

early Mk3 MX-5S are incredibly affordable now, with prices starting from as low as £3,295, but we’d go for something a bit fresher. We found a post-facelift 2012 car with 47,000 miles for less than £8,000, which is a bargain thanks to its updated styling and extra kit compared with the pre-facelift model.

The MX-5 is so great to drive thanks to its light weight. The sweet steering, its wonderful manual gearshift and revvy 158bhp 2.0-litre engine make it a car you can enjoy at sensible speeds on public roads, revelling in its balance and poise. Yet it’s a driver’s car you can use every day. Refinement is okay and although it’s cramped inside, comfort isn’t too bad.

That’s helped by the kit on offer in Sport Tech trim, including heated leather seats, a Bose stereo system and cruise control. heated seats in particular are great for those sunny winter days where you just have to get the roof down, which brings us to the MX-5’S USP.

It was available with a soft or hard-top. While the hard roof adds extra refinement and security, the softtop is cheaper and just as weatherproof, The manual canvas hood folds down quickly, too, which means you can spend more time enjoying open-top motoring.