About 18 months ago I drove the latest and greatest version of Mazda’s ubiquitous MX-5. At that time it was only available with a retractable fabric roof.

The absence of a folding hard-top version at launch is made all the more mysterious when you factor in that only 20 per cent of the previous generation MX-5’s sold were soft-tops.

In March the Japanese firm remedied that when the RF – it stands for Retractable Fastback – arrived on these shores. Unlike the previous generation when the two versions were indistinguishable with the roof stowed away the RF embraces its differences.

Instead of a flush rear deck there are flying buttresses that evoke comparisons with cars from a certain Italian stable. I wasn’t overly enamoured with the styling of the latest generation MX-5, while it is certainly sharper and more aggressive, I don’t think it’s as pretty as the previous generation.

However, the tin-top, with its classic coupe-like looks – long bonnet, rearward biased cabin and short overhangs – has converted me.

The roof can be raised or lowered via a button just below the air con controls. There are four parts to the mechanism – the fins are lifted out of the way, the two roof segments fold away with the rear window, and then the fins are moved back into position – and it takes just 12 seconds but it will only operate at speeds up to 6mph.

Up or down, however, there’s still room in the boot for your weekend luggage.

With the roof stowed away the targa-like design affords a significantly greater amount of protection from the elements than a traditional soft-top. That is until you start approaching motorway speeds and then things start to get decidedly blustery behind your right ear when the high-speed air circulates around the flying buttresses.

Matters improve with the roof in place but, even then, there is a degree of wind noise where the roof meets the side windows. It is a smidgeon less invasive but not enough to make the roof up or down choice an easy one.

When a manufacturer chops the roof off a car to create a convertible – and yes, I have simplified the process hugely – they are left with the almost impossible task of restoring the structural rigidity surrendered during the process.

The RF presented Mazda with the opposite problem. Adding the roof increased chassis stiffness – something that would usually be welcome – but there was a marked change in the handling balance as a result so Mazda’s engineers weakened an underbody cross-member to compensate.

There’s more weight to haul around – as much as 45kg with the 2.0-litre petrol under the bonnet – so the RF is equipped with a beefier front anti-roll bar and the damper settings have been adjusted. The goal was simple: To imbue the RF with identical driving dynamics as its sibling.

And they’ve done exactly that. The RF is agile, nimble and responsive. It’s a tenth slower to 62mph but you will neither notice nor care. The naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre engine copes admirably with the additional mass. It’s willingness to work hard a raspy exhaust note when it does is enough to curl the corners of your mouth into a smile alone, but there’s more to come.

The RF is available with a six-speed automatic gearbox but then you’d miss out on the sweet, swift precise manual shifter. The steering is a sharp as a razor, and reacts swiftly and accurately to every input. The ride is soft, compliant but never loose, keeping the RF composed through corners even as the road is doing its utmost to upset it.

The MX-5 doesn’t have too many rivals for its affections, so the only question that potential buyers are faced with is, which MX-5. Dynamically there’s barely a discernible difference between the siblings and for buyers seeking greater refinement the hard-top isn’t necessarily the answer.

In this case, looks are going to matter, because there’s so little to separate the two models otherwise. On that score, and that score alone, the RF gets my vote.

Mazda MX-5 RF Sport Nav

Price: £25,995

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Max power: 160PS

Max torque: 200Nm @ 4,600rpm

Max speed: 134mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 7.4sec

Urban: 30.1mpg

Extra urban: 51.4mpg

Combined: 40.9mpg

Emissions (CO2): 161g/km

For more information visit www.mazda.co.uk