THE new Mazda6 is a head-turner in either saloon or estate form but perhaps it's the latter which stands out most.

It features a much better road presence than its predecessor which it has to have as the manufacturer's UK flagship and because it operates in a highly competitive market sector against such opponents as BMW, Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia.

The Tourer is attracting much attention as sports estates are now the buzz - even Jaguar, which cocked a snoot at estates for years, has one.

Built to feel like an extension of its driver, the all-new Mazda6 brings together the most advanced impression yet of Mazda's Zoom-Zoom driving and ‘KODO - Soul of Motion' styling.

It is hard to believe that this car is now in its third generation and it is all out to gain sway in the economy stakes.

Mazda's range of high-efficiency SKYACTIV powertrains includes two petrol engines and two diesels paired to six-speed automatic or manual transmissions.

SKYACTIV-G petrol engines include the 2.0-litre 145ps and the 2.0-litre 165ps both producing 210Nm at 4,000rpm. SKYACTIV-D diesel engines include the 2.2-litre 150ps producing 380Nm at 1,800rpm to 2,600rpm and the 2.2-litre 175ps producing 420Nm at 2,000rpm.

Together with SKYACTIV powertrains, the SKYACTIV-Chassis and SKYACTIV-Body make the all-new Mazda6 an engaging and rewarding drive, delivering refined, linear handling, segment-leading safety and a uniquely efficient and lightweight design.

Chassis and body structures are stiffer, benefiting from greater proportions of high and ultra-high tensile steels. The steering and suspension combine low-speed agility with high-speed stability and responsiveness to driver input - at a level of precision unparalleled in the CD-segment.

It is certainly good looking, but for the short legged who have to have the seat far forward you do have to duck your head a little due to the sharply raked windscreen pillar.

But that is a small price to pay for what is one if the most sizzlingly good looking sports estates around.