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Rating

Verdict Great value; ideal for the follically challenged

The Mazda RX-8 is hugely amusing, partly because of the rear doors, which open backwards, and partly because it is so much fun talking about its Wankel rotary engine. You’ve no need to explain how this works, because after you’ve said the name people are usually too busy laughing to be listening.

In essence, though, you get a sort of triangular shaped “piston” that spins round in a vaguely circular cylinder. The upside is uncanny smoothness, but the downsides have always been thirst and unreliability.

Mazda says it has addressed all those problems in the latest car, and that’s good, because the upsides are better than ever.

It delivers an astonishing 231bhp and just gets better and better as the revs begin to climb.

It has brilliant rear-wheel-drive handling, too; you sit in the middle wondering why all cars don’t feel this way. So balanced, so right and omigod I’ve just gone past 7000rpm again and it’s all gone blurry.

The best bit of this car, though, is the price: £22,000 is remarkable value for money. As a practical proposition: well, it’s not a people carrier, but you do get a decent boot and two smallish seats in the back. And with those doors, even the fattest children in the world can get in.

Current price £23,000

Price when tested (Sep 2003) £22,000

Engine 1308cc, rotary

Power 231bhp @ 8200rpm

Torque 155 lb ft @ 5500rpm

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel/ 24.8mpg (combined) / n/a

0-62mph 6.4sec

Top speed 146mph