Simplicity governs the layout and design of the 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata’s controls, with few exceptions. Check out the four recessed rocker switches under the main stereo display. Those look like they’ll fill with grit that only a Q-Tip can remove, an odd design for a car with a top that should be down unless it’s raining or the temperature has dropped below 50 degrees. We also found it awkward to use the power mirror and power door lock switches on the door panel, and while driving we kept shutting off the power to the audio system when reaching for a radio station pre-set button.

Except for those minor complaints, the Mazda MX-5 Miata’s cabin is easy to use, even if some controls are small and closely grouped because of real estate constraints. Perhaps most impressive is that the LCD readout for the stereo is visible even when the sun is shining directly on it. Our MX-5 Sport test model had the standard stereo setup, not the optional Bose system, but it was capable of overcoming wind roar and traffic whoosh on L.A.’s notorious multi-lane freeways. It features special modes for better listening with the top down, and the climate control system includes unique al fresco ventilation modes, too.