Morgan 4/4 1.6 Sport 2dr Car Review - February 2012

The Morgan’s 1.6 litre 4-cylinder 16v petrol engine produces 110 bhp at 6000 rpm with a torque figure of 96 lb-ft at 5900 rpm. This translates to a top speed of 117 mph, and a 0-62 mph time of just 8.0 seconds. Fuel economy is also very good for a car of this type with the Morgan achieving 44.1 mpg on the combined cycle.

The steering is unassisted and very physical and there are no electronic aids to guide you - but this is all part of the car's charm. Its thin tyres lack grip and, combined with the Morgan's lack of ABS, braking in wet conditions will require you to brush up on your driving technique.

In terms of refinement, the 1.6 litre engine and five speed manual gearbox operate smoothly and efficiently. However, the leaf-sprung solid rear axle makes the ride firm and bumps are easily felt. Wind and road noise are present but visibility is good.

The Morgan’s beautiful exterior design was first seen in 1936 and still looks stunning today.

Morgan’s are hand-built, and that attention to detail involved in this process is evident. Inside the cabin the materials are of a high quality and are built to last. The car comes with leather seats, a tawny ash dashboard and wood rimmed steering wheel as standard.

If you are desperate to add a couple of mod-cons to your Morgan then you need to be prepared to pay for it. A CD player and MP3 connectivity are joint optional extras at £342 and help inject a bit of modern luxury.

Practicality is not a word that applies to this car but then it probably not high on the list of priorities for most Morgan buyers anyway. The Morgan has very little boot space, whilst the only storage space in the cabin is provided by the glove compartment. The driver’s seat does not adjust for height and the steering does not adjust for reach, so some drivers may find it difficult to get comfortable as well. The roof takes ages to install so you're likely to get drenched in the heavens open unexpectedly.

Safety isn’t a strong point for the Morgan either. The car does not feature airbags, stability or traction control, or an alarm. However, the Morgan should prove endlessly reliable as its Ford engine has been around for years.

The car comes with a two-year warranty which covers unlimited mileage.

Running costs are fairly low considering its class with road tax falling under price band F. It has excellent fuel economy and outstanding green credentials for a car of this calibre, with a Euro 5 emissions rating and a carbon footprint of just 143g/km.

The 4/4 is not cheap at £30,895 and for a similar price you could get a Lotus Elise or a well-equipped Mazda MX5.

It would not be fair to make comparisons with modern cars however and its true rival is the Lotus 7-based Caterham, which is cheaper and more powerful. If you want something faster, Morgan provides the 3.0 litre Roadster but it costs over £9,000 more than the 4/4 and is in a more expensive road tax band.

This particular model is the most affordable of the range and is a good choice for those who are looking for a convertible car that offers a unique classic car appearance coupled with the reliability of a modern car.