Recent revisions to the Mazda 6 have made worthwhile improvements to what was already a very capable car.

We’ve tested the higher powered diesel estate, and it’s well suited to towing. Unsurprisingly, the 2.2-litre diesel engine is much stronger than the petrol engine in the saloon from the class below. Pulling from 30-60mph took just 11.7 seconds.

You can’t argue with the 6’s stability, either. Whether accelerating hard, cruising at the legal limit, or slowing down from high speed, the Al-Ko ATC sensors showed up no stability issues at all. Only when hit by a crosswind did any of our test drivers notice the slightest shimmy.

One small change to the latest Mazda 6 which makes a big difference is the adoption of an electronic parking brake in place of the old handbrake. We much prefer it, as there’s no need to yank hard on a lever to make sure the car stays still on a steep slope. The Mazda pulled its Swift caravan to the top of the slope without any hesitation, although there was a hot smell from the clutch after trying to reverse a short distance uphill.

Other changes have made the Mazda easier to live with whether you are towing or driving solo. The suspension has been softened slightly, making the ride a little more comfortable. It’s still a little firm on the 19-inch alloys fitted to our Sport Nav test car, though.

Our practicality judges found the electrics awkward to access, which cost the Mazda 6 Tourer a few marks. However, they were impressed by the useful reversing camera and the generous boot space.

Despite the Mazda’s strong engine, fuel bills should be affordable if the official combined economy figure of 61.4mpg is anything to go by.