Had a go in a new 6 this morning, it was the 165 petrol Sport Tourer in Soul Red.
I was invited by Mazda to try one at my local dealer (RRG Stockport) prior to it going on sale next month.
I parked my current 59 plate Sport estate next to it and the new one is bigger, not so much in length but in width. They didn't have the diesel available yet but the petrol one is very smooth. I would need to drive a current petrol 6 to see if its any better though.
The interior is a HUGE step up in quality over the old one, its more conventional than groundbreaking but the quality of the cabin materials is a massive leap forward.
There are a few things that I think could be improved, first is the lack of a proper footrest for your right foot when you have it on cruise control and the boot light is still on the tailgate and not actually inside the boot, so you block the light when you reach into the boot at night. Small niggles but annoying nonetheless.
Fingers crossed its on my list next year when mine is up for renewal.