MAZDA has the premium market firmly in its sights with the release of its face-lifted Mazda6 saloon and estate line-up.

Priced from £19,795 and with five trim levels to choose from - S, SE, SE-L, SE-L Nav and Sport Nav - the freshly revamped Mazda6 comes with a new front end with a newly designed upper grille and light clusters that make the vehicle more distinctive especially at night time.

But the majority of this mid-life transformation can be discovered within the car thanks to a bold new instrument panel and enhanced equipment levels.

The centre console is more compact and the new seven-inch colour screen is simple to navigate thanks to an updated multimedia commander dial.

Materials have been upgraded especially on the range-topping Sport Nav edition and all models benefit from superior sound proofing, a revised suspension system and an all-round improvement to the on-board technology.

Other systems featured on the new Mazda6 include the likes of adaptive LED headlights, lane-keep assist, driver attention alert, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert that detects cars, pedestrians and cyclists and is a huge bonus when reversing out of a parking bay such as the local supermarket where visibility is often obstructed by other vehicles.

The 28-strong range is available with a choice of nine diesel and seven petrol Saloon variants, plus nine diesel and three petrol Tourer versions with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Mazda expects 80 per cent of buyers will choose diesel variants and about 20 per cent will opt for the Tourer design.

I put two models through their paces on lengthy road routes incorporating busy town centres, fast dual carriageways and winding country lanes and the results were pretty impressive.

First was the 2.2-litre diesel 150ps Sport Nav Tourer priced at £27,735 with £540 optional extras.

This model can reach 62mph from a standing start in 9.2 seconds, tops out at 130mph and according to official figures can deliver a combined fuel economy of 64.2mpg with carbon emissions of 116g/km.

The first thing to mention is how smart the car looks. Those subtle design tweaks have certainly increased its sharp styling and its looks sleek, athletic and dynamic from any approach.

The interior is pure class and the leather seats offer premium comfort with a host of techno treats at your fingertips.

The revised controller dial is simple to operate which makes navigating the many systems very easy and the head-up display offers useful information such as speed and sat nav directions without taking your eyes off the road ahead.

All occupants are treated to excellent levels of comfort and there is ample room for three adults in the back. The boot can accommodate 522 litres of luggage. However a lever quickly releases the split-folding rear seats when extra load space is needed.

The car featured a six-speed manual transmission and acceleration through the gears was both smooth and responsive with plenty of power on tap when required.

The road-holding was flawless and the ride very smooth although there was still quite a lot of road surface noise, especially at higher speeds. That said; the car was fitted with 19-inch wheels which clearly contributed to the volume factor.

That aside though, the car was an absolute pleasure to drive and has premium quality at an acceptable price written all over it.

The second car was the 2.0-litre petrol 145ps SE-L Nav Saloon model, priced at £22,155 including £660 for Soul Red metallic paint.

This model can reach from 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds and redlines at 129mph. It can achieve 51.4mpg on a combined run with emissions of 129g/km.

Although there were a few features missing from this model such as the leather electrically-adjustable heated seats and the head-up display, it was still richly equipped and offered outstanding value for money.

But the very first thing we noticed was how quiet the car was even when being pushed at motorway speeds. Closer inspection revealed 17-inch wheels which are the ideal size if you really want to take advantage of the car's improved sound insulating technology.

Once again the six-speed manual gearbox was beautifully smooth and there is a constant supply of power making overtaking an absolute doddle.

And the boot was still generously sized for a saloon model so luggage limitations shouldn't be an issue.

Although the executive market will account for the bulk of Mazda6 sales which is why the diesel option will be so popular, the petrol version showed similar economy. In fact, both cars ended up displaying fuel efficiency of just over 42mpg.

All in all the new Mazda6 looks great, handles exceptionally well, is packed with technology and there is a model to suit all tastes and budgets.