For a roadster to become one of a mainstream manufacturer's best-selling models is pretty damn impressive - and that's exactly what the MX-5 has done for Mazda. A quick search reveals nearly 1,200 used MX-5s currently advertised online in the UK alone - that's only 18 per cent fewer than Mazda's top-selling model, the Mazda 6. And with 115,600 MX-5s sold to UK customers, few sports cars have made such an indelible mark on the British motoring landscape.
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, Mazda's masterful contemporary twist on the classic roadster has sold over 1,000,000 examples worldwide, and in its latest Mk4 form is still delivering the goods 28 years after it first hit the streets.
Like all truly great models the manufacturer produced a successful formula, which it has had the foresight to stick with through successive generations. And the Mk4 MX-5 still exemplifies the values that Mazda's original Mk1 espoused. Mechanical reliability, refreshing simplicity, affordability and an engaging purity of driving experience are all still attributes that the MX-5 possesses in abundance.
Choose one of the many MX-5 editions packing a rear limited-slip diff and a sports suspension and the driving experience is spot on. And if you like eking that little bit extra out of your sports cars then the MX-5 tuning scene is as mature as it gets. Durable engines, a spacious engine bay and dependable transmissions have made the MX-5 a popular starting point for modifications and many see track day action every weekend.
But which of Mazda's four MX-5 manifestations makes the best buy? To some degree the answer will depend on your budget, your appetite for tuning and your opinion of each car's aesthetics, but we've scoured the market and spoken to the experts to bring you the definitive view.