I drove Mazda’s MX-5 Miata and totally get why it’s the world’s best-selling roadster

The second thing to know about the Mazda is that it’s close to the ground. Very close. Getting into the Miata involves an act of contortion that will not please some (although I did belatedly realize that a side-saddle maneuver was far easier — if you have enough space to open the door fully.)

Once you’re in, the driving position is reasonably comfortable, and the tachometer dominates the instrument panel, perhaps somewhat fitting for a sports car — though I never got it anywhere close to the red zone that started at 7,000 RPM.

My review car came in “Exclusive” trim (the middle of three options and called “Club” in the US), which starts at about £30,000 in the UK or $32,500 in the US.

It boasts leather seats, a Bose sound system, and many clever features most drivers will probably never use, but it’s nice to know they’re there.

Driving with the roof down is a lot of fun, and with the windows up, the cabin was not blustery at all. The heating and heated seats should make having the roof down for much of the year an option if you’re of hardy stock.

Of course, the compromise with a convertible is a slightly noisier cabin, even with the roof up. And with it down on the freeway, either be prepared to crank the sound system up or just turn it off.

The other compromise is space. Given the roof housing, there is zero room behind the seats. The glove compartment comes in the form of a small box between the seats, and the trunk can take a couple of carry-on bags but not a lot more.

Then again, if you’re buying a sports car, luggage capacity is probably not too high on your list of priorities. Many Miata buyers will consider it a “fun” car rather than a practical means of transport. It may also cost a bomb for some drivers to insure.

Next to its more premium competitors, the Miata is a steal, starting at less than $30,000. By comparison, the BMW Z4 starts at about $54,000, and the Porsche Boxster 718 is about $75,000 and up.

Mazda may only have a sliver of the US auto market (3.1% in the first quarter of the year), but it’s models such as the Miata that make it kind of quirky and cool.