IN A FEW short years, Mazda’s mid-size offerings have gone from being modest to marvelous. The Japanese company’s old 626 did the job, but its first generation Mazda 6 did it better - and in style.

This is also true of the current second-generation car. Bigger, with bolder looks and a more upmarket cabin ambience and boasting a competitive engine range, it has sold well in the UK and has become a firm favourite with company fleet operators as well as traditional retail buyers.

In the time-honoured tradition of incremental improvement, Mazda has taken stock of customer feedback and also added its own changes as part of a subtle but effective mid-life revision plan.

You’ll be forgiven for having to look twice at the car to spot the exterior changes. A distinctive design from the outset, it’s good to see that the Mazda 6’s bold looks have remained largely untouched. However, at the front the car’s grille now better mirrors that of the other more recent additions to the Mazda family, and its headlights and have been tweaked along with the taillights.

Inside the overall cabin ambience has been ratcheted up a notch or two. The better quality plastics and upholstery are obvious, as is the extra chrome trim for the ventilation controls. Those with a keen eye will spot the new, more sporty-looking steering wheel plus changes to the main instrument dials.

Of all the 400 detailed changes, most are ones you can’t see. As with the introduction of the Mazda 3 hatchback, the 6 has undergone a weight-saving programme. Lighter alloy wheels are one such result, with the overall outcome being a welcome improvement in engine fuel economy and emissions.

There have also been changes to the car’s suspension and steering, which has done much to improve responsiveness and overall refinement. Always an enjoyable and engaging car to drive, Mazda engineers have cleverly balanced the demands of the keen driver against the desire to boost comfort.

A large part of the Mazda 6’s ability to please the keen driver is down to the aforementioned engine range. Right from the start, Mazda offered the car with a modest but competent range of petrol and diesel motors.

And like the car, the engines have been on the receiving end of some subtle tweaks to boost drivability and economy. Maintaining the company car theme for a moment, improvements to the 2.2-litre diesel units now see CO2 figures of 138g/km for the entry-level 129 horsepower engine and 142g/km for the 163 and 180 horsepower pairing.

Mazda has even gone as far as reducing the size of the turbocharger on its flagship diesel to boost responsiveness, yet it will still return an impressive 52.3mpg. Incidentally, the least powerful diesel posts an equally creditable 54.3mpg.

Those seeking petrol power have a more powerful 2.0-litre unit at their disposal along with an entry-level 1.8 unit. Up six horsepower and emitting 159g/km CO2 in manual transmission form, it stays under the important fleet-friendly 160g/km CO2 threshold. For anyone seeking a more relaxed motoring experience, a new five-speed auto for the petrol engine has been added to the line-up.

As before, buyers can choose from hatchback, estate and saloon, with the five-door model again expected to take the biggest share of the market followed by the load-lugger. Style-wise the estate is an elegant-looking machine, and it boasts a flat load bay and carrying capacity that shades most rivals.

On the road there’s little to choose from as all the variants performance well above average. The car’s retuned steering and more sophisticated ride are immediately noticeable, while the slick manual gearshift, diesel engine refinement and overall high levels of cabin comfort do much to illustrate why the Mazda 6 has become a popular choice for both fleet and private buyers.

Easy on the eye and, crucially, easy on the wallet thanks to sensible pricing, efficient engines and generous levels of standard equipment, the Mazda 6 delivers a rounded ownership experience without any hint of a compromise.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Model: Mazda 6 2.2D 163 TS2 hatchback, from £20,945 on the road
Engine: 2.2-litre turbo diesel unit developing 163bhp
Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission as standard, driving the front wheels
Performance: Maximum speed 132mph, 0-62mph 9.2 seconds
Economy: 52.3mpg
CO2 Rating: 142g/km