THROWBACKS to the motoring world of yesteryear are few and far between in strait-laced 2026 thanks to ever-tighter rules and restrictions - manufacturers are seemingly on a hiding to nothing when it comes to making simple cars like they used to.

Every car - from humble hot hatches to six-figure supercars - have been diluted with semi-autos, hybrid systems or turbocharging - but one’s stayed true to its roots and it’s one of the best-value on sale, too.

That’s the Mazda MX-5; a true beacon of simplicity, hope and brilliance in troubled times. What it stands for appeals not only to people like me, who love driving simple, nonsense-free cars, but also those who want to own a cheap-to-run, easy-on-the-eye roadster that won’t break the bank with its initial cost or maintenance.

The MX-5 actually made its debut in 1989 - a year before I was born - and the four generations since have followed the same tried-and-tested recipe and it’s pretty similar nowadays. All rear-wheel-drive, Mazda held back from following other manufacturers who have opted to bloat proportions, boost power via turbocharging and generally lose the plot in their quest to appeal to more people.

Looks are a subjective topic but I think previous generations - namely the second and third - were disappointing after the pop-up-headlights original. This one, which has been around for a decade, should look and feel dated now but because of its clean, simple and timeless design, it just doesn’t. It still looks great, its interior is fuss-free and it’s why it’s stood the test of time.

Sure, there’s still plastic inside, but it’s not the scratchy stuff that blighted the third-generation model. It’s actually a rather nice place to sit, if a little claustrophobic with its cloth roof on, but acres of open air is seconds away. Given its dinky proportions, you’ll always be thumbing the windscreen when you acknowledge a kind road user for giving way, but it’s refreshing to sit in something so pure and untainted. However, if you breach the six-foot barrier, you may struggle.

In its latest guise, the little MX-5 is today what it was 30-odd years ago - it’s tiny, it’s revvy and it has an unerring knack of putting a smile on its driver’s face no matter what the occasion is - just what two-seater sports cars are all about.

This car is the no-frills version and comes with a 1.5-litre petrol engine. It boasts a modest 130bhp and while the Top Trumps generation will scoff at such a figure, I found it to be sweeter than the 180bhp 2.0-litre that’s also on offer.

As soon as you’re up and running, it doesn’t take long to notice just how well this car is set up for the UK’s roads. Its steering has a good balance of weight - it’s lighter at slow speeds and heavier when you want it to be - and the damping is phenomenal.

One thing I took some getting used to was its pedal box’s positioning, as the clutch is extremely close to the transmission tunnel, which juts out somewhat into the footwell, however it’s a momentary annoyance in an otherwise brilliant first few miles.

I find the best cars show their magic very quickly and the MX-5 is no different - you marvel at its short-throw gearbox and its sheer tenacity at hunting down corners. The manual’s a peach - short in throw and ultra-snappy - and although the 130bhp on offer won’t set the road alight, it’s a pleasing, old-school engine which does its best work when it’s worked harder.

The road straightens out and the engine rewards the longer you hold onto a gear - its peak power is delivered at 7,000rpm and that tells you all you need to know about how it goes about its business.

It’s a simple motoring pleasure - a rapidly reducing pastime - and it deserves to be celebrated accordingly. It coaxes you into taking the longer, more scenic route home from work and you arrive home in a better mood, smiling because of it.

It’s a wonderful thing, the MX-5, and Mazda should be lauded for sticking to its traditional guns.