ITS INTERIOR IS SUPERIOR

VALUE

Buy before the end of June and the top-spec Mazda6 Atenza is $46,990 on the road. That’s well under the list price of $47,690 and should entice prospective buyers into showrooms for a test drive. The front end has been tidied up with the deletion of the fog lamps (they’re now housed in the headlamp cluster) and a smarter grille but it is inside where the Mazda6 really tries to go mainstream premium with quilted leather stitching, wood inlays and attention to detail throughout the cabin. The three year/ unlimited km warranty is fast looking lacklustre and servicing occurs every year or 10,000km. The first four capped-price visits are $1306.

COMFORT

Mazda is working hard to address its reputation for having noisy interiors and it shows when the 6 is driven on coarse-chip roads. There’s some tyre roar but few cars can avoid it when rolling on 19-inch wheels with low-profile rubber. On highways, gravel roads and around town it is a major improvement, if not class-leading. There’s no shortage of space but taller types may brush against the roof-lining when in the back seat.

SAFETY

Despite the major mid-life overhaul, the Mazda6 is still technically the same car as the one that earned a five-star ANCAP rating in 2013. In Atenza specification it boasts a surround-view camera, autonomous emergency braking up to 80km/h, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist and traffic sign recognition.

DRIVING

The Mazda6 is more about the gloss than the go-fast. Driven at anything less than manic pace, the steering is well-weighted and accurate, the new turbo engine is hugely responsive and the active driving aids don’t intervene unnecessarily. Go harder and there’s some torque steer out of the turns and you’ll discover the well-tuned suspension still favours comfort over flat cornering.

ALTERNATIVES FORD MONDEO TITANIUM, $48,400-$49,500 D/A

There’s a lot to like about Ford’s Euro-sourced passenger car, from the five-year warranty to a Mazda-rivalling ride, though the interior layout and quality isn’t quite there.

SKODA OCTAVIA RS 245 DSG , $48,990 D/A

The top-of-the-tree Octavia packs in all the safety and convenience features, huge cargo space and a five-year warranty

TOYOTA CAMRY V6 SL, $48,100-$49,200 D/A

The V6 delivers decent performance but fuel use is higher than the rivals. Features and interior quality are a huge step up over previous models.

VERDICT

Interior to match the Europeans, competitive pricing and a willing turbo should put the latest iteration of the Mazda6 on the test-drive shortlist. It won’t disappoint.