Mazda 6

Priced from £13,495, the 6 will arrive in showrooms in July. The range will initially include saloon and hatchback models, and an estate edition will be launched late in the year.

At first, only three petrol engines will be available - 1.8, 2.0 and 2.3-litre units - while two new diesels are currently being developed. On first sight, the 2.3-litre Sport saloon driven here certainly looks impressive. Finished in a striking metallic blue, the car's chrome-trimmed grille and delicate lights instantly catch your eye. Inside, the quality of the cabin finish proves equally good, coming close to matching that of top-class European cars.

The electrically adjustable driving position can be altered to suit almost everyone, and there is lots of room front and rear. Our saloon offered a massive 500 litres of boot space, but those with luggage to carry would be well advised to look at the hatch. The five-door not only has a vast cargo area, but also an innovative rear seat system, Karakuri, which folds flat to the floor. Yet the amount of space on offer is not the only nod to luxury made by the new family car. There's a Bose stereo system fitted as standard, while you can also choose a DVD-based sat-nav system as a £1,500 option.

Fire the engine, and it becomes clear that the firm's development technicians have been just as busy as the designers! The refined 161bhp 2.3-litre powerplant proves responsive to the throttle, revving quickly and cleanly.

Head out on to the open road, and the unit's 207Nm of torque soon makes itself felt, propelling the 6 effortlessly towards cruising speed. Driven quickly, Mazda claims the car will sprint from 0-60mph in 8.9 seconds, and reach a top speed of 133mph.

On the motorway, wind and road noise is low, thanks to the generous levels of soundproofing, although the four-cylinder engine can be clearly heard at cruising speeds.

The saloon's pace is undoubtedly helped by the Mazda's slick-shifting five-speed gearbox, which strikes a balance between sprinting ability and cruising comfort. On twisty lanes, the 6 is quite a performer - there's plenty of grip and steering is precise.

The supple wishbone suspension at the front works well with the rear axle, offering both comfort and impressive body control on uneven roads. But the steering feel could be improved. Although the electro-hydraulic system is reassuringly weighty, there's little feedback, particularly when compared to rivals such as the Mondeo. Our other bugbear is the brakes - they're incredibly powerful, but offer the driver little sense of involvement.

Much more impressive is the new traction control system, which is spurred into action on slippery roads by a series of wheel-mounted sensors. The set-up reacts smoothly and quickly to bring the car under control, its intervention going almost unnoticed.

Safety concerns are evident inside, too, and airbags have been fitted to protect front and rear seat passengers. The motor's all-new chassis also now has improved impact absorption, and company bosses are confident of a high Euro NCAP score.

Mazda has worked hard to ensure the 6 is a well rounded performer, and its clear that the firm has done a great job. This is the best new Mazda since the introduction of the MX-5, and is poised to cause a real stir when it goes on sale later this year. It looks like the competitive family car class could be in for a shock...