Aston Martin Vantage Roadster review

There are more practical convertibles. There are more efficient convertibles. And my oh my, are there cheaper convertibles. This is a heart-over-head choice whichever way you cut it, but keep your driving sensible and mpg in the mid-to-high 20s is possible. Aston claims 24.4mpg and 262g/km of CO2 emissions in the latest, really quite realistic WLTP tests. A 73-litre fuel tank should keep fuel stops handily far apart however you’re behaving, though.

Heated and ventilated seats are a £995 option worth ticking, while you might want the £1,495 premium stereo to punch through the air if you’re doing long stints roof ajar. It’ll be scarily simple to pile on considerably more on the configurator, too: Spirit Silver, pictured in the car above, is a ‘Q Exclusive’ colour and costs five grand, the contrasting red roof a further £1,195.

Delve beneath the skin, though, and Mercedes tech lurks behind Aston switchgear, so it ought to be easier to use every day than Vantages past. And we do hope owners use these things daily. The automatic gearbox is smooooth and with the drivetrain in its base Sport mode, you’ll mooch around quietly and effortlessly (save for that fiddly handbrake switch). Pack sensibly and it should swallow most bits you’ll need on a long trip, too.