It is hard now to imagine how the MX-5 was so different from other cars when it launched back in 1989. It sparked a mild revolution, turning on its head the received wisdom of what people wanted out of their cars and reinventing the idea of the two-seat British sports car for a new audience.
Gone was the prospect of spending all week underneath your convertible getting oily and taking it out for an hour on a Sunday; the MX-5 was a stylish little car that could be used every day. At the same time it provided cheap access to a singularly excellent driving experience that few cars at any price have been able to match before or since.
We're onto the third generation car by now, and whilst it remains recognisably an MX-5 you can see that Mazda has moved the game on considerably. The styling is much more modern and in keeping with the rest of the Mazda range, you'd dare say there's something a bit more masculine about the car too.
There's a more grown-up, premium feel in the cabin of the MX-5 - there still isn't bags of room inside the small roadster, but people who have owned previous generations of the car will appreciate the space. The boot is as pokey as ever, but there are nooks and cubbies you can stash things into if you need them.
There's limited adjustability to the steering wheel, but the default driving position is pretty brilliant anyway - the steering wheel and gearstick fall nicely to hand and the cabin feels like a place conducive to fun driving. The car feels solidly put together and all of the controls feel weighty and credible.
On the move, the experience is like practically nothing else you've driven. The benign handling encourages you to push as hard you dare, rewarding skilful drivers whilst keeping an eye out for less skilled ones. The steering is wonderfully communicative and the ride keeps you informed of what's happening on the road without getting too harsh and irritating.
There are two engines available, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol units. They are both capable motors, but people will probably gravitate naturally towards the 2.0-litre engine just because more power is more fun.
Mazda could have tinkered too far with the MX-5 or tried to do too much, but it has kept a successful formula on track and created another extraordinary car.