Mazda has always been a brand that shouts sensibility. If you discount the sporty MX-5 roadster, the rest of the line-up tends to be thought of as practical rather than passionate. Yet since the arrival of the Mazda6, that's been changing. This car set Mazda on its new 'zoom-zoom' path and its replacement aims to continue that momentum. Where the old Mazda6 was becoming a little forgettable, this is a car that will catch the eye, both in the driveway and on its way down the high street. It's unashamedly sporty, not only in its looks but in terms of ride and performance. If you don't like that, then you won't like this car. Fortunately, I did.

This car reminded me of the old Xedos 6 that Mazda made a few years ago, but that car flattered to deceive. It looked sporty but didn't drive that way. The outside looked classy but the interior was lifted straight from the 626 - all dull black plastic. This time, Mazda has done the job properly. Take a seat behind the wheel and there's a high quality ambience relayed by the nice quality console surfacing. Mindful that rivals were getting larger, Mazda's designers knew they needed a larger cabin, yet the shape needed to retain the sharp sportiness of the original version. By and large, they've succeeded. The windscreen is deeper and higher, creating a feeling of spaciousness actually delivered by a slightly wider body that offers occupants greater shoulder room. Thanks to the longer wheelbase, knee room for the rear passengers is also increased - by 13mm. A comfortable driving position is easily found in the supportive seats with their pronounced side bolsters and the steering column is adjustable for rake and reach. The same could be said for the exterior. A key design criteria on the second generation Mazda6 was the 'it should still look fresh in ten years time'. That might be stretching things a bit but the stylists have certainly created a good looking and slippery shape with a drag coefficient of Cd 0.26 for the 4735mm long hatchback and saloon versions and 0.28 for the 4765mm long estate.

The Mazda6 continues to offer a polished driving experience but criticisms levelled at the old model for its fidgety ride are less valid in the current car. The suspension is supple and you're less conscious of imperfections in the road surface, although the ride remains firmer than most in the sector. The cabin is a more serene place to be generally now with beefed-up sound insulation and upgraded body rigidity cutting back on vibrations. That extra rigidity also helps the handling with the 6's trademark sharp turn-in still in evidence and the cornering stability now inspiring even greater confidence. The 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines have been carried over with small changes from the old model that have led to 10% improvements in fuel economy and emissions. The 140PS MZR-CD 2.0 turbo diesel that many owners will choose is also broadly unchanged. Slightly disappointingly, the only thing that actually new in this respect is the engine that fewest customers will buy - the flagship 170PS 2.5-litre petrol unit. Even this is merely an evolutionary development of the old 2.3-litre powerplant. Like the 2.3, this is a four rather than six cylinder engine but at least the 2.5 now feels like the larger lump it would really like to be courtesy of torque levels improved by 10%. Mazda tell me that they identified several key requirements in the development of the Mazda6, one of which was to exceed the quietness and refinement of the best Japanese midsized vehicles. In that respect, it's hard to give an unqualified thumbs up based on the diesel version I tried, since this is one of those engines you can definitely hear at speed. Having said that, it's a nice, sporty note that will please those who like their driving. If you really don't like engine noise, then the unit to go for is the flagship 2.5-litre four-cylinder, which does a passable imitation of a lazy V6.

With this car, Mazda has made another step forward. I would never have considered a medium range model from this marque before trying the Mazda6: now it's a car that would be higher up on my shopping list.