NO, Mazda’s earlier than expected facelift of its two-year-old Six does not bring with it a replacement for the cracking turbocharged all-wheel drive MPS, but it does bring an all-new front-end look borrowed from the newest Mazda3, some upmarket interior tweaks, fresh wheels for most models and welcome price cuts across the board.

The latter make Australia’s top-selling privately purchased mid-size model even better value, while running costs should also come down slightly, with the revised (but still manual-only) 2.2-litre turbo-diesel now offering Camry Hybrid-beating average fuel economy of just 5.9L/100km and the consumption of manual petrol models decreasing by 0.1L/100km.

Throw in a number of small but significant chassis upgrades to improve steering feel and response and handling stability, and the 2010 Mazda6 is more than just a more affordable mid-sizer with a prettier face.