Honda Accord V6L vs Mazda 6 2.2 Atenza

The top spec Accord is a "premium package without the premium price tag'', Honda claims -- a boast as outdated as aspects of the new car. Though superbly equipped, it costs too much even with 18s, leather, sunroof, safety package, eight-inch screen with satnav. Warranty's three years and servicing's twice yearly.

To equivalently equip an Audi A6 TDI would cost close to $100,000. The top-line 6 is a fully fledged luxury sedan. It's all here from especially lush leather, 19s, keyless ignition, Bose sound, sunroof et al. Like the Honda, two annual services are demanded. Not good enough.

It requires a keen eye to detect the major departures from the previous generation. Yet it's functionally fine with excellent all-round vision. Honda also bangs on about craftmanship but some $30K cars have nicer interior plastics. And what's with the foot-operated parking brake? Come on...

The third generation 6 remains pretty to the eye, if a bit too stylised (to my eyes). The 19-inch alloys are bold. You won't mistake it for an Accord. Within, this is surely the best Mazda ever, one befitting the luxury grand tourer the 6 has become. Boot lacks a bit but you'll fit golf clubs.

The 3.5-litre V6 is yester-tech, carried over from the previous generation. And the one before that. It's also thirsty at 9.2L/100km, even with the ability to deactivate three cylinders. The VF Commodore runs almost a litre lighter. Drive goes to the front via six-speed auto. Lesser Accords get only a five-speeder.

This great 2.2 four-cylinder turbo diesel puts out a fat 129kW/420Nm for a possible 5.4L/100km. It revs to 5200rpm. There is stop-start and the brake energy regeneration system charges a capacitor the moment you take your foot off the accelerator, to help power electric components.

Class leading. The Accord has a camera in the passenger side mirror. When the indicator is tapped left it plays a video view of the blind spot on the multimedia screen. There's autonomous braking, pretensioning seat belts and lane departure warning. The spare's a full-size alloy.

Five stars from the crash safety people (the Accord is as yet untested). The package doesn't match the Accord's, despite fixtures such as radar cruise control, auto dimming mirror, bi-xenon adaptive headlights and daytime running lights. The 16-inch spare is better than a skinny.

If you're undemanding, this is a capable, if thirsty, kilometre crusher. Maximum torque turns up late but response off the mark is satisfactory. Dispense with any notion of sportiness -- the heavy nose might have been designed to in stigate understeer.

The old 6 had the dynamics of a sports sedan but not the grunt. Its remit is now more that of classy GT; diesel gives it the hammer it missed. Despite the clatter it's a beaut with emphatic acceleration and a quick-smart six-speed auto. More obviously a front-driver than before, it's still fun.