How often does a car manufacturer wow us with a concept drawing or pre-production prototype only to leave us slightly disappointed when the actual car that goes on sale resembles little of that concept?

It's a little like in the fashion world when, more often or not, the over-the-top, outrageous outfits that are first seen on the catwalk rarely make an appearance on the high street.

Mazda, however, has done an outstanding job of bringing its Takeri concept into production. The Mazda6 is a great-looking car from every angle and has real road presence which is helped by its physical size.

It is longer, wider and lower than the Volkswagen Passat I had previously been running, which adds to the Mazda's muscular looks.

It looks great, too, in the Soul Red paintwork on our car (a £660 option – more expensive than the standard metallic palette at £520) and on 19-inch wheels.

So much so that you'd be forgiven for choosing the Mazda6 on style alone, certainly ahead of the Passat which looks bland in comparison.

Those looks, however, do come at a price. Mid-corner bumps or uneven road surfaces can unsettle the ride making the car feel a little skittish. The ride is also quite firm.