Mazda6 – 2018
So the doorbell goes. It’s a guy trying to sell me roof insulation. “I love the Jaguar on your drive,” he says. I told him I didn’t need roof insulation and shut the door, writes Motoring Editor Ian Strachan.
“Jaguar?” I thought. “I haven’t got a Jaguar.” So I went round to the drive to check on the new Mazda6 which was parked there. And he was right. At a quick glance it does look like a Jaguar XF. But your bank account will tell you it certainly isn’t.
The Mazda6 has always been a good looking car, and since its launch 10 years or so ago, it’s become a common sight on our roads.
And it’s just got better. The latest iteration gives this award-winning good looker more distinction inside and out. It has a sharp side-on profile with a high back end which gives you a cavernous boot. This car is attractive from all angles.
I test drove the GT Sport specification saloon with the excellent 194 horsepower 2.5 litre petrol engine under the bonnet.
The interior of the car includes trim materials that give the car a warm, high quality feel, particularly with the leather seats and dash trim which is standard on this spec. I’ve always liked the Mazda’s clear layout, easily accessible controls and wealth of storage space and the latest Mazda6 doesn’t disappoint. A clear satellite navigation system is standard.
Interior room is very good. There’s adequate leg and room and the hide seats are exceptionally comfortable and supportive. There’s an armrest which conceals a central cubby box with auxiliary/iPod and power sockets. Electric seat adjustment made it easy to find a comfortable driving position and store it in the memory.
My test car was powered by Mazda’s superb 194 bhp 2.5 litre petrol engine which is taught, easy revving and uncomplicated, delivering satisfying power when you need it, coupled to a smooth six speed automatic transmission which can be controlled using steering wheel-mounted paddles. Despite the Mazda6 being quite a big car you can get a respectable 42.2 mpg in mixed driving.
Suspension is firm without being uncomfortable and handling is crisp and sure-footed with confident cornering.
The boot is wide and deep. And despite the big boot, no compromises have been made in rear seat legroom.
Specification is good, with automatic climate control air conditioning, a Bose DAB radio and audio system, satnav, leather trim, all round electric windows, front and rear parking sensors with rear camera, powered front seats, automatic stop/start and cruise control as standard. Safety is a given – the Mazda6 has a high Euro NCAP safety rating.
It also has lane assist, smart alloy wheels and head-up display, although this is very bright and can be distracting when driving at night.
Mazda’s big saloon has bags of appeal and practicality and it’s not that expensive. The 194 ps 2.5 petrol GT Sport saloon that I tested comes at £30,795 on the road. Entry level price for the Mazda6 is less than £20,000.
