Park an old Mazda6 alongside the new one and the design DNA is obvious. But get behind the wheel and the differences quickly become clear. Purists might argue that steering response on turn-in in the old model is a tad sharper. But that’s about the only argument that could hold water. The new Mazda6 sedan and wagon is much improved all-round. Weight-saving measures – including an increase in the use of high-tensile steel – mean the latest model is lighter than many of its rivals. It is also stronger, better insulated and more rigid, in turn improving body control, handling, ride quality, and overall refinement. Inside … well, it’s a mix of precision and pedestrian. Much of the architecture is borrowed from the Mazda CX-5 SUV and shoehorned into the slimmer Mazda6 cabin. It doesn’t quite work. But despite that, there are many nice conveniences. The seats are fine, the controls spot-on, driver and passenger have a wider field of vision now that the windscreen pillars have been pulled back, and there is ample space front and rear. But much of the quality touches and comprehensive equipment levels are lost in the predominantly black-on-black cabin. The CX-5 SUV suffers the same fate. Boot space in the sedan is 483 litres. That rises to 506 litres in the wagon, or a substantial 1632 litres with the rear seats folded down. The new Mazda6 range of four sedans and five wagons gets Mazda’s all-new SkyActiv drivetrain and chassis technology, in essence a package of petrol and diesel engines designed to improve fuel use. The best drivertrain is the 2.2-litre diesel coupled to a smart six-speed automatic gearbox.

Good features
Roomy interior, fuel economy, ride and handling among best in class.
Not so good
Dull interior in an otherwise functional cabin

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