Morgan Plus Four review

The interior is largely shared with the Plus Six. So there's a digital speedo right in front of you (so you don’t have to glance at the analogue dial inexplicably positioned in front of your passenger), more leg and elbow room despite a similar footprint to its 70-year old predecessor, and its only mildly fiddly manual roof and removeable window/weather shields.

The joy is in its simplicity, I bet.

Correct. With none of BMW’s complicated electronic nannies, the dash doesn’t require much: some dials for your heating controls, a button for your hazard lights and a netted void in the dash to store for your bits and bobs. On the centre console there’s a conventional handbrake instead of the old fly-off one, a robust manual gearstick (or BMW auto selector) and a Sport+ button to sharpen the throttle if you really must and drip some pops and bangs into the soundtrack if you've invested two grand in the optional sports exhaust.

What about roominess?

You swing open the slim, well-padded door, drop into a leathery embrace - that's moderately supportive in an MY21 Plus Four, or very supportive in an MY22 - and automatically rest your elbow on the door sill, peer down the long cheese-grater vents on the bonnet and exhale loudly. It’s a unique, life-affirming experience, before you’ve even turned the key.

It’s worth bearing in mind that while the Plus Four’s touring capabilities have improved immeasurably, its luggage space hasn’t. There’s a slim space behind the seats, but beyond that you’ll need to be lashing your luggage to the optional (from £510) rear luggage rack if you’re planning a proper getaway. At least there's lockable storage inside now, though.

Dare I mention 'tech'?

Oh, it's got some. Air conditioning and a Bluetooth stereo are options worth having. The former feels surprisingly necessary on a really warm day, stopping your knees and torso from cooking when the sun above and leather below are combining to par-boil the driver in between.

There's no screen for the stereo, instead you wirelessly connect your phone then play your podcasts or music through that. Which does mean pulling over (or trusting a co-driver) any time you fancy a change in mood. The speakers have to work pretty hard to fight the general commotion of driving, especially above 60mph or so. Oddly enough you've a better chance of hearing your audio selection with the roof down, owing to the vagaries of a Morgan soft top when it's in place. Choose what you listen to wisely - all eyes will be on you in traffic. Pedestrians love a Morgan, especially little ones.