By Ian Strachan.
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.
“Jaguar?” I thought. “I haven’t got a Jaguar.” So I went round to the drive to check on the new Mazda6 Tourer which was parked there. And he was right. At a quick glance it does look a bit like a Jaguar XF estate. But your bank account will tell you it certainly isn’t.
The Mazda6 has always been a good looking car, and since its launch 13 years or so ago, it’s become a common sight on our roads.
And it’s just got better. The latest iteration of the Mazda6 Tourer gives this award-winning good looker more distinction inside and out. It has a sharp side-on profile with a gently sloping roof line, beneath which is an impressively large loadspace. This car is attractive from all angles.
I test drove the GT Sport specification saloon with Mazda’s 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 cream 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 with a central screen which also controls the car’s sound system is standard.
Interior room is very good. There’s adequate leg and room and the powered 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.
My test car was powered by Mazda’s superb 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. 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.
Specification is good, with automatic climate control air conditioning, a Bose DAB radio and MP3 audio system with Bluetooth, satnav, leather trim, all round electric windows, front and rear parking sensors with rear camera, powered heated front seats, heated steering wheel, 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 and smart alloy wheels.
Mazda’s big estate 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 £32,295 on the road. Entry level price for the Mazda6 is not much more than £20,000.
