Given the pace of the motor industry, an endless flow of new cars and technology, it’s worth a look to see how current cars might still stand up a couple of years on from their introduction.

 
Tom Scanlan drives Mazda’s sporty saloon the Mazda6 SKYACTIV-G 165PS
 
Take the Mazda6. Two years ago, Mazda proudly told us that the oldest car in their range was just thirteen months old. That was when they introduced the somewhat zapped up new Mazda6.

So how is this two-year-old toddler performing in a market that has seen so many new versions from pretty well every manufacturer?
The answer is OK.

My test car was a 2-litre Petrol 165PS SportNav saloon. With just two extras: metallic paint at £550 and the £800 Safety Package, the car totalled £26,145. This places it in a highly-competitive market and I reckon it can stand up quite proudly alongside any competitor.

In performance and efficiency terms, zero to 62 mph, through a pleasant six-speed gearbox, takes 9.1 seconds; my overall consumption, the trip computer told me, was 44.8 mpg, giving a useful potential range of around 630 miles. The emissions figure is a competitive 135g/km.

So far, so good. And it carries on.