Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 78%

There's no shortage of great roadsters on the market; in fact there's something for everyone. At the hardcore end of the market, sits the Honda S2000; a two seat drop top which regularly tops customer satisfaction surveys.

Petrolheads love its ability to rev to 9,000rpm, when many of its rivals run out of puff at 7,000rpm – the point where the Honda S2000 begins to get into its stride.

And drivers seeking a reliable car are equally well served.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

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1. Looks
The Honda S2000 has a strange blend of head-turning ability, while still having reasonably conservative looks. Its long, low bonnet is the starting point for the car's sleek looks, and there's some real design flair with its boiled sweet-coloured rear light cluster held in a smoked glass unit. The S2000 comes equipped with a set of 17-inch alloys and a pair of oversized tailpipes poking out from under the rear bumper. Bold S2000 badging along the front wings emphasises the car's branding further.

9/10

2. Looks inside
The cabin is well built, but uninspiring. Honda has created a driver-focussed feel to the interior, and most of the audio and heater controls can be operated without the driver having to take their hands off the steering wheel. The stereo is among the most cheap looking fitted to any car currently on sale, but is only on view once a silver blanking plate is flipped down. That's not to say the Honda S2000 is completely without flair. Its digital speedo is a refreshing change and the rev counter, which is a horizontal series of bars which read all the way to 9,000rpm. A big start button is a nice feature too.

6/10

3. Practicality
The S2000's cabin is best described as snug, although it does make the driver feel an essential part of the car. There's not a great deal of storage space in the cabin, and the boot is small. The roof is tricky to operate, with two clips either side of the windscreen which have to be released, moved and replaced before the roof can fold electrically.

6/10

4. Ride and Handling
The engine might grab the headlines, but it’s the chassis that really sparkles. With its engine mounted at the front, driving the rear wheels, it's perfectly balanced which gives the driver confidence in throwing the car into bends. The steering lacks a little feedback, but it is easy to control the car on a twisty road. The ride is on the harsh side of firm, but it's still perfectly acceptable on a car like this.

10/10

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5. Performance
The on-paper performance of the Honda S2000 is impressive – 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 150mph. But accessing that pace requires a change in driving style. The S2000 is a quick – but not fast – car below 7,500rpm, where most cars run out of revs. Wind the engine up past this figure to the 9,000rpm redline, and it turns into a real screamer. While some drivers love this 'top-end' power, others bemoan the lack of pulling power lower in the rev range where it's more accessible; in fact maximum pulling power is just 153lb/ft – less than a Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi. The engine is loud at moderate to high speeds too.

8/10

6. Running Costs
Heavy. Insurance is group 20, CO2 emissions of 236g/km means it falls into the highest tax band which currently costs £400 a year and it'll officially cover an average of just 28.2mpg (but the likelihood is it'll be a lot less, especially if the highly strung engine is worked hard). Its used values are strong however, with a cared-for example retaining 49 per cent of its new value after three years/36,000 miles.

It's worth remembering that online retailers are offering new examples for around £7,000 below list price.

6/10

7. Reliability
While the day-to-day running costs might be severe, the Honda S2000 is often rated at the top of customer satisfaction surveys on account of its impeccable reliability and friendly dealers.

10/10

8. Safety
The Honda S2000 scored four out of five stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests, which is competitive for a small roadster which debuted in 1999. It features driver and passenger airbags as standard, although side airbags aren't available. Stability control is available as a £300 option.

8/10

9. Equipment
The Honda S2000 counts 17-inch alloy wheels, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, electric windows, bright High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights, leather seats, air-con, single-slot CD player and electric roof as standard.

7/10

10. X-Factor
For many, the Honda S2000 is all about that incredible engine. It revs – and roars – like a motorbike and is totally unlike any other roadster available today.

8/10

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