Mazda's three 6s

Some say that it's easier to make a hit than to follow one up. Mazda's giving it a red hot go with the second-generation 6.

For its sophomore effort, Mazda has stuck closely to the formula of the first 6. Three body styles (sedan, hatch and wagon), all attractively styled and keenly priced. Pricing stretches from just under AU$30,000 for the entry-level sedan to about AU$47,000 for the top-of-the-line hatch.

All models are powered, for the moment, by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, up from 2.3-litres, although the diesel that's available in Europe may make it here in the future. There are two transmissions on offer: a six-speed manual and five-speed automatic.

The redesigned body is not only edgier but takes on several styling cues to link it visually with other Mazdas, including the flowing, pumped up wheel arches which remind us of the RX-8. Mazda also claims to have reduced the amount of external noise that gets into the cabin (road roar, engine noise, wind rush, etc.), a common complaint of the previous generation 6.

Check out our complete Mazda 6 photo gallery.