THE market for Mondeo-sized saloons may have been overtaken in recent times by the craze for compact SUVs but there are still some cracking options out there.

One such is the Mazda 6, especially in its powerful 175ps form.

There is an air of the sports saloon of years past about this car, aided by some of the most advanced technology around.

For a start the car is a real beauty, enhanced by some of the most desirable paint shades on the market.

Get inside and the chunky steering wheel promises a lot in terms of driving pleasure and when you look under the surface there is a tremendous amount to enhance the experience.

One feature on the car - the Mazda GVC system - takes handling to new horizons.

GVC stands for G-Vectoring Control which monitors steering input and throttle position when you enter a corner under power.

The system adjusts the amount of torque delivered to the front wheels, which allows them to turn more precisely, assisting the car's stability in bends.

Add the fact that the car is set up so well in the first place with hardly any body roll plus exceptional grip, you have a spoty saloon which punches well above its weight in the driving enjoyment department.

The 2.2 diesel on the version I drove is a four-cylinder unit encompassing Mazda's efficiency-boosting SkyActiv technologies.

With a top speed of 139mph and a 0-62mph sprint of 7.9 seconds, this car is no slouch and worth every penny of its £27,195 price.

And economy is just as formidable with a Combined mpg figure of 62.8.

The 6 sits on a platform that is an amended version of the scalable SkyActiv architecture that made its debut in the company's CX5 model. As a result, the 6 has the same MacPherson strut front, multi-link rear suspension arrangement.

The SkyActiv treatment includes the use of high-tensile steel making the 6 lighter than many of its rivals.

Inside there is plenty of head and legroom and the boot offers 522-litres of cargo space which rises to a generous 1,664-litres with the 60/40 split rear seats folded flat.

There is also a user-friendly seven-inch colour touchscreen multimedia system, incorporating digital radio.