It's all to easy to wax lyrical about the comfort, handling and performance of a car which carries a hefty price tag.
But if it’s expensive there is no excuse for it not being good.
When you drive a car that’s up there with the best but has the sort of price that makes it affordable to a wide group of motorists, however, then it really does deserve praise.
Step forward the Mazda6 Sport Nav Diesel, a car which ticks all the right boxes and represents great value for money at £26,395.
It’s a nice blend of sporting design, generous interior space, good performance and low running costs.
This stylish sporting saloon is a big car with sleek lines and a dramatic new face - introduced last year - with a new grille, light cluster and deep front apron.
The size of the car means generous room inside for all, with rear seat passengers getting limousine-like legroom as well as more than adequate shoulder room.
The boot too is huge and capable of accommodating 480 litres of luggage even without the rear seatbacks folded down.
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This is a car which is well put together. The doors close with the gentlest of touch and everything about it feels solid.
Standard equipment levels are high too, with leather upholstery, electrically operated and heated front seats - with a memory function on the driver’s side, satellite navigation, reversing camera, keyless entry and starting and even a fighter-pilot-style head-up display which projects your speed into the windscreen.
Leather is also used to trim the door panels and dashboard giving it a very businesslike feel.
Powered by one of the quietest four-cylinder diesels on the market the 2.2-litre, 150bhp engine - a 173bhp engine is also available - it just purrs even under pressure.
It’s mated to a short throw six speed manual gearbox and the combination gives lively performance and plenty of torque.
Recent changes include the addition of an electric handbrake instead of a conventional one to free up space in the front and with this comes a hill holder system to prevent rolling back on inclines.
The sporting nature of the car is reflected in the firm ride and impressive road holding with little or no roll making it a very enjoyable car to drive.
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And despite the Mazda6’s size and sporting nature I managed to average 54 miles per gallon over a week’s motoring. Add to that the fact that its CO2 emissions are just 107g/km which means you only pay £20 per year road fund licence and it’s easy to see why this car is proving so popular.
There are a lot more expensive five-seater saloons on the market but pound for pound the Mazda6 is a cracker.
Fast Facts
Model: Mazda6 Saloon Sport Nav
Price: £26,395
Mechanical: 2191cc, 150 bhp four cylinder petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox.
Max speed: 130 mph
0-62mph: 9.1 secs
Combined mpg: 68.9
CO2 emissions: 107 g/km
Insurance: 21E
BiK: 21 %
Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles