Photos: 2007 Mazda MX-5 PRHT

The 2007 Mazda MX-5 PRHT drives well and looks great. It doesn't come with much cabin gadgetry, and what is there disappoints, but its customer base is more likely to value RPMs over MP3s.

The 2007 MX-5 Miata PRHT (the suffix stands for "power-retractable hardtop") is a stylish roadster that looks good both with the roof down...

...and, more significantly,...

...with the roof up.

Even with its complex three-piece hardtop stowed away, the Miata PRHT still has an accessible trunk with more than 5 cubic feet of cargo room.

Using the buttons at the top of the central column, the hardtop can be raised or lowered in less than 12 seconds.

While the optional Sirius Satellite radio looks like a mitigating factor, in practice, it is maddeningly frustrating to use. The Miata's single-line monochrome LCD head unit display does not appear to show any text information for Sirius stations, leaving drivers to select music by ear.

The Miata comes standard with a six-speed manual gearbox with short-throw shifter. While we enjoyed the snappy gear changes that this box allowed, we noticed a degree of notchiness in the shifter, which appeared reluctant to slot into the gates at times, especially in low gears.

The Miata PRHT borrows its pronounced fenders and angry, slanted headlights from the larger Mazda RX-8.