• Cabin is small but nicely laid out
• Well-made but plastics are firmly unyielding
• Infotainment very easy to use

How is the quality and layout?

The Mazda MX-5’s cabin is divided in two by the high transmission tunnel, the stubby little gear lever just a hand span away from the steering wheel. Our testers thought the slick, mechanical-feeling shift action has a strong connection to how robust and well-made the car feels. The sense of direct control is enhanced by the conventional manual handbrake that’s in easy reach.

The instrument binnacle’s symmetry gives the MX-5 a focused, single-minded vibe. The central rev-counter keeps you focused too; the speedo – offset to the right of the binnacle – is quite small, but the white-on-black graphics are clean, crisp and easy to read.

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Material quality is impressive. The Japanese generally use strong, durable plastics that are solid rather than soft-touch, and so it is here. For the most part the design is neat enough that you won’t notice, but you certainly will notice the door cards when cornering enthusiastically. Our testers noted that their right knee would bang into the door while cornering, sometimes so hard it hurt.

The combination of click wheel-controlled infotainment system and assorted knobs and buttons works well for us. Again, we come back to that theme of simplicity and ease of use.

Infotainment and tech

All MX-5 models have a prominent 8.8-inch screen (7.0-inches in older cars) which displays Mazda’s MZD Connect infotainment system. It’s operates like a simplified version of BMW’s iDrive; it’s easily controlled by twisting and pushing a knob next to the gear lever. It’s a straightforward, intuitive system, and we think it works well. Good news, since Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity can be patchy in our experience.

An auto-dimming rear view mirror is fitted to higher-specification models. This may not seem like a big deal in other cars, but we found that most car headlights beam directly onto it – the MX-5 is a very low-slung car. It’s certainly worthwhile if you do a lot of night driving.

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Comfort

• Not spacious but the seats are good
• Later cars have more adjustable steering wheel
• Refinement impressive for a small sports car

The Mk.4 MX-5 has the most compact cabin of any generation yet, and that means it can feel rather snug – especially if you’re tall or broad. However, the car’s engineers worked hard to make it usable, with perfectly aligned pedals and a steering wheel that’s positioned straight ahead of the driver.

Initially, the wheel only had rake adjustment, which sometimes made it difficult to find the ideal seating position – reach adjustment was omitted to save weight. Customer (and press) feedback soon told Mazda that was a mistake. It was added for 2019 and makes it much easier to find a driving position that suits you.

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The basic seats are comfortable but the only height adjustment is via the angled rails, which raise the seat slightly as you move it closer to the steering wheel. This can make it difficult to find the ideal driving position and not all of our testers could.

Fabric and leather seat upholstery are available (depending on trim level), all of them heated. The heater is pretty powerful too, indeed the MX-5’s interior can feel pleasantly warm and cosy on a cold day.

High-spec models have speakers in the headrest as part of a nine-speaker Bose sound system, which makes listening to music much easier when the top is down. The sound quality is excellent, too.

Some limited edition models have sporty, supportive Recaro seats. They’re heavily bolstered to better hold you in place during spirited driving, and they’re even more comfortable than the standard seats.

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With the roof up, sound suppression is pretty good for a convertible. Just don’t expect it to be whisper quiet inside when making the most of the MX-5’s high-revving engines. This is a sports car, after all, and prominent engine noise is part of the experience, as long as it sounds good. Which the MX-5 largely does. There’s impressively little buffeting when the roof is folded down, even at motorway speeds. The MX-5 is a very cleverly and thoroughly engineered little car.