We review the Mazda 6 (2013) from price to economy and all its features
MAZDA are not the biggest Japanese manufacturer but they’ve always produced the sexiest cars.
Models such as the MX-5 and RX8 have a design flair that makes their rivals seem dull.
This week we tested the new Mazda 6 to see if it drives as well as it looks.
Big league ... Mazda 6
BIG family cars are the best they have ever been and the latest Mazda 6 is a great example.
Ironically and frustratingly, sales of them are falling as hard-up motorists look to downsize.
In the past decade, sales of D-segment Mazda 6-sized cars in the UK have dropped from 476,860 in 2000 to 237,664 last year.
But over 230,000 sales a year still makes the large family car big business and every mainstream manufacturer is keen to get a piece of the action.
The dramatic, sculptured styling of the new Mazda 6 puts it at the top of the style league, which is a major factor, especially for company car drivers wanting to impress the family and neighbours.
The chrome-backed grille at the front and the sleek headlights give the 6 a premium face that looks more distinctive than rivals such as the Ford Mondeo, VW Passat and Peugeot 508.
And the strong sporty side profile and neatly rounded rear mean it looks good from every angle.
For me, the Mazda 6 is more striking to look at and less predictable than upmarket models such as the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4 that now dominate the sector.
The good news continues when it comes to the driving experience where the 6 lives up to Mazda’s “Zoom, zoom” TV adverts.
I tested the predicted best-selling 2.2litre diesel version with 175bhp but there’s also a 150bhp and both offer an ideal combination of performance, refinement and economy.
For a big car, the Mazda is deceptively quick — 0-62 mph in around eight seconds — but it’s how responsive the engine feels under acceleration that impresses.
It’s also beautifully refined at speeds well above the motorway limit, and this is a car that will spend lots of time on motorways.
A creamy-smooth six-speed manual gearbox and nicely weighted and responsive steering complete the Mazda’s driving appeal for owners, many of whom will have to spend hours behind the wheel.
Drivers will also be impressed with the fuel economy of the Mazda diesel.
Drive it with a feather-light right foot and you’ll get around 65mpg, drive it hard and you’ll still get around 45mpg.
The 6 is equally impressive when it comes to CO2 emissions, which are reduced to a supermini level of 108g/km, putting it in a lower company car tax band than a Mondeo.
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Mazda achieve these class-leading economy and CO2 levels thanks to their SkyActiv technology which prioritises weight reduction in materials used in the car and the efficiency of the engines.
The 6 interior has made a significant improvement on what was a weakness in the old model.
It’s not quite up to the quality level of the Germans but it looks better.
And it’s comfortable both in the front and back, plus the boot is a sizeable 483litres.
Mazda have sold more than 300,000 6 models to UK buyers in the last decade and as the only all-new mainstream model due this year they have their best ever chance to cash in.