KEY POINTS:
Sometimes, getting more of the same isn't a bad thing. The first-generation Mazda6 was a sexy, slick-to-drive machine that successfully bridged the gap between mainstream success and a premium image.
Ditto for the second-generation model. Little has changed in concept or execution - it's still great to look at, great to drive and very desirable.
Even the status-conscious bods in Audis and BMWs sometimes look your way when you're driving a Mazda6.
That's why the Mazda works so well in upmarket Limited form, even with a price tag of $46,695.
At this level, so many mainstream cars just feel like dressed-up fleet models, but the 6 lives up to its tag as a "sport hatch".
For the same reason, I really like the Mazda6 in six-speed manual transmission form - as tested here.
Almost nobody will buy one with three pedals in this market, but I reckon people don't know what they're missing: the six-speed shifter gives the Limited a truly sporting edge.
Not to mention saving you $3000 (the cost of the five-speed auto).
This is a thoughtful evolution of a best-selling car. The new model weighs only 80kg more than the car it replaces.
And that's despite a big jump in perceived quality - the new 6 feels tighter and better built in every respect.
Cases in point: the Limited comes with leather upholstery, a thumping Bose stereo and sexy 18-inch alloys.
So it's hardly heavier, up on quality, $3000 cheaper than the car it replaces and really, really cool.
What's not to get excited about? Perhaps the new electric power steering system, which is still good but not as full of feeling as the previous model's hydraulic set-up. That's about it really.
