HARD on the heels of the arrival of the all-new 626 hatchback, Mazda has launched a four-door saloon version. Designed to look more sophisticated than its predecessor, the car was penned at Mazda's European design centre, with the emphasis on function, quality and solidity.

Standard equipment includes a driver's airbag, sunroof and Intelligent Air Conditioning, but unlike the wider five-door range, the saloon is available only in LXi and GXi trims with the 115bhp 2.0 engine. The LXi costs £14,610 on the road, with the higher specification GXi coming in at £15,610.