Mazda have got the special edition down to a fine art form with the MX-5 as the prefered medium. We've seen so many value-added versions of the ubiquitious little roadster over the years that you'd almost expect them to outnumber the standard cars out on the roads. As a marketing ploy, it makes all kinds of sense. Individuality and affordability are key MX-5 strengths that are enhanced when the car is given a package of styling accessories, a snazzy title and a lower price. The ZSport is the latest MX-5 to drop off the end of Mazda's special edition production line and the 400 cars being offered in the UK are unlikely to clog up the showrooms for long.

The key question with all special editions is a simple one. What's the deal? The MX-5 ZSport is based on the Range-topping 2.0-litre Sport model which means it has everything that car's got plus a little bit more. As well as the Sport's remote central locking, heated electric door mirrors, CD Stereo, six-speed gearbox, front fog lights, upgraded suspension and heated leather seats, the ZSport chips in with 17" BBS alloy wheels, a chrome grille, a brushed aluminium dashboard panel, climate control air-conditioning and alloy pedals. The car comes with Radiant Ebony Mica paintwork - a fetching shade of black to those unfamiliar with the vagaries of the Mazda colour pallet - stone-coloured leather upholstery and ZSport badging dotted about its person. Because it's a 2.0-litre MX-5, you also get a limited slip differential, dynamic stability control (DSC), traction control and side airbags to go with the twin front airbags.

Mazda have totted up the additions made to the ZSport and they tell us that they amount to £2,250 worth but here's the rub. The MX-5 ZSport costs just £19,995 - that's £1,045 more than the standard Sport model. You're getting the extra specification on the ZSport at a saving of over a grand. You've got to want your MX-5 in black with stone coloured leather seats but it's a far from offensive combination and you'll be looking at a big saving on a £20,000 car.

"You're getting the extra specification on the ZSport at a saving of over a grand"

The 2.0-litre MX-5 on which the ZSport is biased is, predictably, quicker than the entry-level 1.8-litre option. It can hit 60mph from standstill in 7.9s while the 1.8 trails home with a 9.4s time but straight-line speed has never really been the point of MX-5 ownership. This is a car with the thrill of driving as its key constituent part: it's all about delivering poise, balance and sharpness without at any stage becoming hard-edged or threatening. This is what has made the MX-5 the success that it is and the 1.8-litre model comes up with the goods almost as well as the 2.0 in many respects. There's more flexibility in the 2.0-litre engine which has 188Nm at 5,000rpm compared to 167Nm at 4,500rpm in the 1.8. The difference can be felt when accelerating up hills or overtaking but it isn't massive. The 2.0-litre power option turns in a 36.7mpg average economy figure which means that you'll only get two miles further on a gallon of unleaded in the 1.8.

Drop the top and the wind blocker mounted between the seats does a great job of keeping elaborate hairstyles intact. There are even special modes on the ventilation system designed specifically for open-topped driving. The whole process of folding and deploying the roof is remarkably simple. Mazda claim you can detach and fold the canopy back in six seconds but that's a highly conservative estimate. Unclip a catch, fling the roof over your shoulder and you're there. Putting it back up when the heavens open is similarly straightforward and only requires a little more effort.

The driving position in the MX-5 is low and comfortable with a good degree of adjustment to accommodate drivers of various proportions. The seat slides fore and aft a surprising distance given the comparatively limited space and the steering column adjusts for height. The gearbox with its short, stubby lever is a real pleasure to use delivering a punchy feel. One drawback is that the top section of the shifter had a tendency to twist round in your hand on our test model.

The steering is key to the whole MX-5 experience and, true to form, it's keen and accurate. You can point the car into corners with confidence and small adjustments provoke an almost instant response. This MX-5 is no less than 47 per cent stiffer than its predecessor, which helps reduce the flexing and shuddering often evident in roofless cars. Over the bumps and through the corners, the MX-5 never feels less than solid but the damping is well resolved and the MX-5 remains very comfortable when cruising at low or motorway speeds.

Today's MX-5 is only 10kg heavier than the old model thanks to what Mazda call their 'gram strategy'. Essentially, if it was possible to shave as little as a gram from the weight of a component, they did it. This strict diet regime has obvious benefits with regard to handling, performance and fuel economy but it's been brought in with no apparent shortcuts taken in terms of build quality. The interior is well put together along simple design themes. The interlocking aluminium rings of the instruments are a standout feature and the clearly laid-out centre console controls are easy to fathom.

The ZSport model follows the classic MX-5 special edition formula that's worked before and seems certain to work again. These day's, there's no direct mainstream rival to the MX-5 roadster but that doesn't mean that Mazda have dropped their guard. The latest model is a great little car and with the ZSport and its special edition ilk honing the value proposition further, it'll be a brave challenger that dips a toe into MX-5 territory.