Mazda 6 Saloon 2007 - Present

Like so many of the Japanese car makers Mazda is a solid performer. It offers cars that perform consistently above expectations and the 6 is a great example of this. It's well made and nicely finished, using good quality materials throughout. With a well deserved reputation for reliability and longevity the hard work put in by Mazda over the years is really paying off.

As you approach the Mazda 6 it looks fairly nondescript. It's a nice looking car but not really anything out of the ordinary. The doors open with a really decent, solid feel and they shut crisply. Inside the car it's a tale of good quality finish and room to travel in comfort. The seats are supportive and comfortable. The leg and head room available both front and back are ample. The cabin is insulated form the noise of both the road and the engine extremely well. There are good sized storage spaces in the front with a large glove box and central storage box, which also doubles up as an armrest.

The engine options are good from the start up, although the entry level 1.8L unit does require some audience participation if you want to get much from it. The 2.0 L model offers really useful power and acceleration reaching 60 mph in 8.3 seconds and a top end of 133 mph. it does this and is still able to return economy figures of 40 mpg. If this isn't enough there is a 2.5 L option which can get to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds and top out at 137, but to get this it's considerably more thirsty and the return isn't really worth the outlay. There are diesel options available but unusually it's the petrol options that really steal the show, although with 50 mpg economy figures the diesel has to be considered.

On the road the Mazda is nothing short of amazing the ride is lithe and the steering precise. The steering rack is the same as used in the RX-8 and it manages to keep the same sports feel on the family car. The 6 is equally at home on the motorway as it is in town and offers easy miles throughout. The ride is comfortable for passengers and the driver alike. The suspension is set up to offer both comfort and decent handling.
The boot is a decent size and although not a usable as the hatchback or the estate does still offer good room for suitcases or shopping as required.

There is little to fault with the Mazda 6 it's a great drive, well put together and extremely useable. It's in a very tough class and the only reason it's not mentioned in the top of the class conversations is the exceptional quality of the opposition.

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