Our intrepid road tester takes the world’s best-selling sports car for some late autumn top-down motoring in Scotland.

Mazda MX-5 2.0 Homura

List price (BiK): £31,710 (36%)   CO2: 153g/km   Economy: 41.5mpg   Test efficiency: 37.9mpg

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Monday

Despite the fact the mercury is dropping as quickly as I can turn up the central heating, the sight of a convertible outside always makes me smile. In this case, it’s a Mazda MX-5 in its purer convertible form. Much as I love an MX-5, I’ve never been that keen on the RF version. Contrary, I know, but the simplicity of the folding fabric roof just does it for me for both style and practicality.

Tuesday

Never let it be said your correspondent doesn’t put in the effort to test cars to their full. Late autumnr sunshine is tinged with a bit of frost this morning as I set off in the MX-5 complete with roof down. It takes around five seconds to drop the hood, and not much longer for the thermonuclear warmth of the heated seats to start taking the chill off. The Mazda’s heater is pretty darned effective, too, at toasting feet and hands.

Wednesday

Mazda has updated the infotainment in the MX-5, adding a new 8.8-inch screen. The old one wasn’t bad to use, but this latest version is quicker, simpler and clearer, and it’s still operated by the rotary controller to the aft of the gear lever. It does beg the question why other car makers don’t just use this set-up when it’s so simple and intuitive to work.

Thursday

Another area that Mazda has updated with this MX-5 is to add in the latest mandated safety kit. Yup, the MX5, that bastion of enthusiast driving pleasure, has now succumbed to bings warning you of speed creep and lane markings. Blessedly, it’s all easy to turn off, reverting this roadster back to its usual joyous self to be exploited on windy roads whenever you’re in the mood.

Friday

Talking of windy roads, this morning’s outing was on just an assortment of these roads. With no frost overnight, the surface was dry, clear and ideal for a perfect dash to my destination. Again, the roof was down and the drive was one that left me wondering why more convertible car owners don’t lower the roof on their cars. Why save it just for those odd days of summer sunshine?

Saturday

A small but persistent irritation with the MX-5 is the position of its cupholders. They are placed behind the driver’s left elbow, so ideally positioned to be nudged and knocked when there’s a bottle in there. With no passenger in the car, I usually let my water bottle sit in the passenger seat and use the belt to keep it from sliding about. That option disappears when someone else is in the car.

Sunday

As a sports car, the MX-5 delivers pitch perfect performance to my mind. Not as quick as a Porsche Boxster, it offers all you need and nothing you don’t, so it’s quick enough for overtaking and having fun, but not so much you worry about speeding. The handling, too, is still right on the money almost a decade on from this generation’s launch. Little wonder this car makes me smile.