The arrival of three new cars to the upper medium market – the Vauxhall Insignia, Citroen C5 and Renault Laguna – have forced me to review my opinion of the 6’s interior.

Having spent some time in the 6’s rivals, I’ve realised there are other cabins I’d rather sit in for a long haul, and that the extra comfort outweighs the 6’s sporty credentials.

The Mazda‘s seats, dash, general ambience – everything, by comparison, just feels a bit less welcoming than it did four or five months ago, and is a sign that at only a year into its life the 6 is feeling the pace in a fast-moving segment.