Plenty of comfort, space and choice in new Mazda6

There's no shying away from the fact that a potential buyer of the new Mazda6 is thoroughly spoiled for choice.

While it's an initial choice of either sedan or wagon variants, there's an extensive tier of model options beyond those two body formats.

And with such an array of models, prices cover a similar wide span.

The entry level GLX is offered with the 2.2 diesel engine only in the sedan but this variant also comes in wagon guise up with either that diesel or a 2-litre petrol engine.

The GSX sedan and wagon are available with either 2.5-litre petrol or 2.2-litre diesel engines. And the range-topping Limited series comes as either sedan or wagon but is restricted to the 2.2 litre diesel engine.

We've been driving the $49,795 petrol-engined GSX sedan and have to say there is a lot on offer with this car.

The Limited, as we found in the wagon we drove, is replete with oodles of specification, so much so that it elevates the price accordingly. How the market will react to that is to be established.

But the GSX sedan reefs in the pricing considerably yet it still provides plenty.

This has to rate as one of the most spacious Mazda sedans yet. The interior doesn't crimp or cut corners and the boot space is vast.

The cabin is also comfortable and quiet and long journeys are effortless rather than tedious. It rides on 17-inch alloys and a suspension set-up offers very good feedback to the driver's seat.

Mazda flaunts its smart technology in the form of the i-ELOOP brake energy generation system. It grabs energy created when you brake and then stores it. From there this energy is directed to power on board electrics such as the air conditioning, audio system, the headlights and the engine management system.

And helping in this regard is the i-STOP function, which will shut the engine down when you're parked at an intersection.

The 2.5-litre in-line four cylinder petrol engine gives the GSX some solid backbone and makes a happy union with the six-speed auto transmission. That changer can also be slipped into a manual mode that extracts a tad more from that four-potter.

The exterior lines of the new Mazda6 reflect that same geometry first seen with the CX5, with its blunted nose. It does take a little getting used to but even a small thing like the fog lamps help to soften that rather abrupt front end.

But beyond that, the silhouette of the new sedan is certainly appealing. It's probably that undulation that starts at the front wheel arches and gradually slides upwards to the C pillar and high rise of the rear end. It all tends to visually stretch the sedan even further.

There's no shortcomings in the cabin either. Dual zone climate air conditioning, high-grade cloth on the seats, a bit of leather around the steering wheel and gear shift lever, the Tom Tom sat-nav system, "smart start" keyless ignition and audio centre that is MP3 compatible are standard gear on the GSX.

Safety features lock in ABS, dynamic stability control (DSC), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist (EBA) and traction control (TCS).

The ride and handling of this newcomer is a definite step ahead of its predecessor.

And through it all the ambience in the cabin remains just as serene. And this is probably one of the real appeals of Mazda6. Not only have the made marked improvements in performance, how it's delivered and how it handles, there's a calmness and serenity about the car.

You'll be impressed.