Mazda’s engineers must have taken a deep breath before embarking on the Mazda 6 project. Nothing in their history, least of all its numbingly dull predecessor, the 626, could have prepared them for what was required not just to compete with the Mondeos and Vectras of this world, but also to lift the entire Mazda marque from the mire of mediocrity, MX-5 excepted, in which it had languished for so long.
Perhaps that’s why they tried so hard – and successfully – to give it a modern and well-proportioned shape and graft such an attractive face onto it. Beneath the surface there is expensive double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear end, four petrol engines if you include the new 250bhp MPS, and two diesels.
It also now benefits from a recent and extremely thorough mid-life update involving the modification or change of an astonishing 785 components. Visually the interior has been smarted up further still while outside there’s a new grille, lights and badge but the most important change is to the very structure of the car, which has been substantially stiffened to the benefit of its ride, handling and refinement