Road test: Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 Sport Nav

There was never any doubt that the hard-top version of Mazda’s MX-5 two-seater would be good.

Starting from such an accomplished base, it couldn’t fail to be a fine-handling and enjoyable car. But how well does the RF (Retractable Fastback) work?

Well, it folds up like origami in 13 seconds and at speeds of up to six mph, and at low speeds with the roof down, all is fine.

But stray near motorway speeds and you will be buffeted around as if you were in a spin dryer. This is because instead of folding away, the rear window stays in place and the rear hoop gathers up air like a wind sock.

The cost of ruining the MX-5’s aerodynamics is an extra £2,000 over the ordinary soft top, but the upside is that with the roof up or down, the car looks terrific.

Engines are the same 1.5-litre 131PS or 2-litre 160PS units as before. Priced from £22,195 to £28,995, in terms of bangs per buck, it remains one of the best-value cars around. For low-speed open-top motoring, the RF is fine, and you have the extra security of a rigid hard top. But if you wanted to zip across Europe with the wind in your hair, you would be deaf before you got to Dover.

Mazda MX-5 RF 2.0 Sport Nav
Top speed: 134mph;
C02: 161g/km;
Combined mpg: 40.9;
Price: £25,695