Well, phew! After a few weeks of driving crossover utility vehicles, it's nice to get back into a sedan again. Not that I have much against the crossover ute segment, mind you, just that after a while they all start to feel (and look) the same.

There's only so many ways a gentleman media weasel can describe the car-based ute platform, and only so many differences to note as manufacturers rush to fill the segment with big-bodied all-wheel drivers that all start to blur into one big mass after a while.

My Autonet tester this week, the redesigned- for-2009 Mazda6 washed all that generic-ness away. The newest "6" is a substantial change from the outgoing model, inside, outside and under the hood; and while I don't want to spoil the ending, the sticker price has improved as well.

The test vehicle was a top-of-the-line GT, sporting a good level of standard equipment already, topped off with Mazda's luxury package. The best feature of the package, in my view, was that it gave the vehicle keyless, push-button start. I loves me the smart-key world we live in, let me tell yez, and I am increasingly addicted to never having to remove the key from my pocket to enter and start a car.

The option package also adds an upgraded sound system to the "6", a Bose 10-speaker rig with Sirius satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity, and blind-spot monitors.

Outwardly, the Mazda6 has become sleeker in its tailoring of the sheet metal, an overall 'sportier' appearance than the sedan previously had; with a noticeably sloped roofline tapering to the trunk. This has cut into the rear seat headroom, but I think is only going to be a problem for rear seat passengers over six feet.

The "6" sports an improved curb appeal, particularly with the 18-inch rims the GT had; with pronounced wheel wells chiselled out of the body. While not as pronounced on the Mazda6 as on the manufacturer's RX-8, the flared wells give the marque a sporty look the outgoing generation lacked.

The car looks good from any angle, with the steeply canted windshield, and its chrome-tipped dual exhaust completing the view from behind.

The '09 also brings more power to the game, with more ponies under the hood in either of its engine choices. My tester, a GT with Mazda's 3.7-litre V6 possessed 272 hp, which is a big climb from the 212 the last gen's 3.0 had, and nearly equal to the diszdaspeed6's turbo-four.

To sum it up, the new six-banger provides very good acceleration, and applies the power well through its six-speed automatic transmission; the only transmission option for the GT trim.

Incidentally, the base-model four-cylinder is no slouch either -- a 2.5L inline-four with 170 hp and 167 lb.-ft. of torque that should be more than adequate for the relatively light sedan.

The interior is well done for a vehicle in this class. The GT comes with leather seating and can hold up to five people, or be configured as a 2+2 with the folding rear armrest.

While the rear will be tight on the skulls of taller passengers, headroom up front is good, as is elbow room between driver and passenger. The driver's chair is comfortable for spending a long time behind the wheel and both front positions have heated seats.

The gauge display, backlit in blue and red LED lighting is easy to read (as are stereo and climate control buttons on the center stack). One of the inclusions in the test car's option package was a three-position headlight-levelling switch, which allowed the height of the beams to be adjusted manually.

My week in the tester left almost nonstop positive impressions on me, and this new "6" should be the sedan that brings new fans to the Mazda brand. It redefines the car from its previously unremarkable family car status to one that can reasonably be called a sport-sedan, with the power and handling to make it an exciting everyday driver.

Neither does the '09 Mazda6 crush the wallet too hard; in fact it competes well against segment leaders like Camry, Accord or VW's Passat.

for myself, I might choose the smallerengined four cylinder model (with manual transmission) at a starting price of $22,495, my test model GT with V6, automatic tranny and a well-fleshed out array of features only bent the price to $35,060.

The Stamford Kiwanis Club meets each Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Best Western Cairn Croft on Lundy's Lane.

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