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Best Convertible

Mazda MX-5 RC

Commended: BMW 3-Series Convertible, Volkswagen Eos

Mazda MX-5 RC

Sometimes it’s the simplest ideas that are the best – as the Mazda MX-5 has shown countless times. Occasionally, however, you need to move with the times and embrace new technology – and that’s exactly what Mazda has done with the MX-5 RC.

The big news is, of course, the availability of a new folding hard-top roof, which we reckon gives the two-seater Mazda an even greater edge over its competitors. In an area of the market that has seen some big players pack up and go home, the Japanese firm has continued to sell cars as fast as it can make them.

However, the new RC version is more than just a stock MX-5 with a folding hard-top – it’s also a smart piece of engineering. Considering that much bigger cars struggle with the packaging problems that come with a metal lid, Mazda has done an excellent job of squeezing not only the roof panels, but all the associated hydraulics and motors, into such a small space.

And when you consider that the roof-up boot volume is unchanged over the canvas version, and that the weight penalty is only 37kg, you begin to realise what a special roadster this is.

But impressive though the new roof system is, it’s merely the icing on an already fine cake. That’s because the MX-5 remains the most entertaining car to drive in the sector. Indeed, we reckon you need to spend nearly twice the Mazda’s asking price to get anything close to the sense of fun it provides.