Mazda6The latest Mazda6 is what the company styles ‘a meticulous and extensive refresh’, and in essence that translates as small enhancements inside and out. Most notable are the restyled front and rear, now featuring Mazda’s distinctive new family face, and a rear end of both hatch and estate which feature new tail lights. Inside the cabin, Mazda’s designers have introduced new silver ringed dials and controls in the driver’s instrument binnacle, while the centre console and steering wheel spokes are finished in high-gloss piano-black trim. The dashboard also receives a softer and more tactile feel for a heightened sense of quality. Overall it’s an interesting result, and though not over-colourful the variety of grey shades is a welcome change from the standard plain grey and black that afflicts the interior of so many cars.The Mazda6’s four familiar equipment levels – S, TS, TS2 and Sport – are retained. Upgraded equipment for the new car includes ‘smart’ turn indicators and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) for all, while models further up the range get a new aerodynamic rear spoiler, front and rear parking sensors, Hill Hold Assist and active Bi-Xenon AFS front lights.There’s a choice of six engines – three petrol and three turbo-diesel – with five and six-speed manual transmissions or a five-speed auto gearbox (on the 2-litre petrol model). The petrol engine line-up runs from 1.8 to 2.5 litres, while the diesel range comprises three variants of Mazda’s 2.2-litre unit, with 129 to 180PS. And it won’t surprise you to learn that all these engines have been tuned to deliver better economy and lower emissions. Across the range, the diesel engines are now 4.1% more economical and show a 4.8% drop in average CO2 emission levels. The petrol engines are similarly enhanced, though to a slightly lower degree. The other percentage change worth mentioning is the 4.8 by which the price list has been increased.Other changes include retuning of the electrically assisted steering for greater accuracy and feedback, while the double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension layouts now feature uprated dampers and have, say Mazda, “been fine-tuned to deliver improved handling stability and ride comfort.”So has it all been worthwhile? I drove the 2.0 petrol and the highest powered diesel engine to find out.Of the two the diesel was the more impressive, which is not to say the petrol lacked quality, merely that it needed revs to be kept up if one was planning on accelerating with any urgency. Handling is superb, and though traditionalists might say the ride was firm, it certainly suited me and my passengers. The diesel is spectacularly refined; the only way you’re likely to guess it’s an oil-burner is thanks to the massive doses of torque that it dishes up from low revs.With estate and hatchback body styles of the new 6, Mazda have got the large family car market seemingly well satisfied. It’s a good looking car in either shape, and luggage capacity of the estate (which after all is why you’d be buying it) goes from 519 to 1751 litres (18 to 62 cubic feet); pretty much in line with a Mondeo despite the Mazda body being a couple of inches shorter. And loading of the boot is easy thanks to the large tailgate fitted to both estate and hatchback. Room for passengers is excellent up front, and leg room just as impressive in the rear; however passengers over six feet tall might feel uncomfortably close to the roof in the back seat. Talking of seats, those at the front are particularly well designed: comfortable and with sensible amounts of lateral support to hold one in place should the driver be exploring the car’s considerable roadholding.I really liked the new 6, but then I always have. It’s an easy-drive machine in all respects save for the vision rearwards, which is somewhat cluttered and not helped by the shallow rear window. The previous model took some stick for the quality of the cabin plastics, and revisions here, in particular the soft-touch facia, will have gone a long way to convince the critics. I certainly liked the interior, though this is of course a subjective assessment and an element about which few people can seem to agree. Dynamics of the car are excellent, and Mazda have done a sterling job here.Standard equipment includes front, side and curtain airbags, stability control, traction control, emergency brake assist, alarm, remote locking, electric mirrors, and driver’s adjustable lumbar support.Size: 4.76m x 1.80mEngines: Petrol: 1.8 litres – 120PS 2.0 litres – 155PS 2.5 litres – 170PSDiesel: 2.2 litres – 129, 163 & 180PSGearbox: 5/6-speed manual FWDBest Consumption: 129PS diesel – 54.3mpgPrice at July ’10: £16,995 to £23,445Full details of the Mazda6 range available on the manufacturer’s website: www.mazda.co.ukPeter Cracknell - July 2010
Mazda6
The latest Mazda6 is what the company styles ‘a
meticulous and extensive refresh’, and in essence
that translates as small enhancements inside and
out. Most notable are the restyled front and rear, now
featuring Mazda’s distinctive new family face, and a
rear end of both hatch and estate which feature new
tail lights. Inside the cabin, Mazda’s designers have
introduced new silver ringed dials and controls in the
driver’s instrument binnacle, while the centre console
and steering wheel spokes are finished in high-gloss
piano-black trim. The dashboard also receives a
softer and more tactile
feel for a heightened
sense of quality.
Overall it’s an
interesting result, and
though not over-
colourful the variety of
grey shades is a
welcome change from
the standard plain grey
and black that afflicts
the interior of so many
cars.
The Mazda6’s four
familiar equipment
levels – S, TS, TS2
and Sport – are
retained. Upgraded
equipment for the new
car includes ‘smart’ turn indicators and Emergency
Stop Signal (ESS) for all, while models further up the
range get a new aerodynamic rear spoiler, front and
rear parking sensors, Hill Hold Assist and active Bi-
Xenon AFS front lights.
There’s a choice of six engines – three petrol and
three turbo-diesel – with five and six-speed manual
transmissions or a five-speed auto gearbox (on the
2-litre petrol model). The petrol engine line-up runs
from 1.8 to 2.5 litres, while the diesel range
comprises three variants of Mazda’s 2.2-litre unit,
with 129 to 180PS. And it won’t surprise you to learn
that all these engines have been tuned to deliver
better economy and lower emissions. Across the
range, the diesel engines are now 4.1% more
economical and show a 4.8% drop in average CO2
emission levels. The petrol engines are similarly
enhanced, though to a slightly lower degree. The
other percentage change worth mentioning is the 4.8
by which the price list has been increased.
Other changes include retuning of the electrically
assisted steering for greater accuracy and feedback,
while the double wishbone front and multi-link rear
suspension layouts now feature uprated dampers
and have, say Mazda, “been fine-tuned to deliver
improved handling stability and ride comfort.”
So has it all been worthwhile? I drove the 2.0 petrol
and the highest powered diesel engine to find out.
Of the two the diesel was the more impressive, which
is not to say the petrol lacked quality, merely that it
needed revs to be kept up if one was planning on
accelerating with any urgency. Handling is superb,
and though traditionalists might say the ride was firm,
it certainly suited me and my passengers. The diesel
is spectacularly refined; the only way you’re likely to
guess it’s an oil-burner is thanks to the massive
doses of torque that it dishes up from low revs.
With estate and hatchback body styles of the new 6,
Mazda have got the large family car market seemingly
well satisfied. It’s a good looking car in either shape,
and luggage capacity of the estate (which after all is
why you’d be buying it) goes from 519 to 1751 litres
(18 to 62 cubic feet); pretty much in line with a Mondeo
despite the Mazda body being a couple of inches
shorter. And loading of the boot is easy thanks to the
large tailgate fitted to both estate and hatchback.
Room for passengers is excellent up front, and leg
room just as impressive in the rear; however
passengers over six
feet tall might feel
uncomfortably close to
the roof in the back
seat. Talking of seats,
those at the front are
particularly well
designed: comfortable
and with sensible
amounts of lateral
support to hold one in
place should the driver
be exploring the car’s
considerable
roadholding.
I really liked the new 6,
but then I always have.
It’s an easy-drive
machine in all respects
save for the vision rearwards, which is somewhat
cluttered and not helped by the shallow rear window.
The previous model took some stick for the quality of
the cabin plastics, and revisions here, in particular the
soft-touch facia, will have gone a long way to convince
the critics. I certainly liked the interior, though this is of
course a subjective assessment and an element about
which few people can seem to agree. Dynamics of the
car are excellent, and Mazda have done a sterling job
here.
Standard equipment includes front, side and curtain
airbags, stability control, traction control, emergency
brake assist, alarm, remote locking, electric mirrors,
and driver’s adjustable lumbar support.
Size:
4.76m x 1.80m
Engines:
Petrol: 1.8 litres – 120PS
2.0 litres – 155PS
2.5 litres – 170PS
Diesel: 2.2 litres – 129, 163 & 180PS
Gearbox:
5/6-speed manual FWD
Best Consumption:
129PS diesel – 54.3mpg
Price at July ’10:
£16,995 to £23,445
Full details of the Mazda6 range available on the
manufacturer’s website: www.mazda.co.uk
Peter Cracknell - July 2010
l
l
l
l
Home
New Models
Industry
Green News
Odds n’Ends
