Mazda’s brand new 2.2-litre engine has found its way into the Mazda6 Estate. Ian Robertson tests the new high output load-lugger
You can’t fail to have noticed Mazda’s upbeat zoom-zoom advertising and nothing epitomises this more than this Mazda6 Estate, fitted with the firm’s new 182bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine. Not only does it serve up a large dollop of power, but it combines that with a well thought out cabin and load bay, offering a competitive package for family needs. Factor in low CO2 emissions and competitive fuel economy and you have a pretty solid, dependable buy. The Mazda6 has always been a looker and in second-generation estate form, the trend has continued, especially on the inside, which feels sporty, yet durable. It’s an attractive design and will appeal to younger buyers, but lacks the soft-touch, upmarket plastics that are common place on rivals. The half leather seats are supportive, offering plenty of adjustment, resulting in a comfortable driving position. Rear seat passengers are also well catered for, with generous amounts of rear legroom, and space for three abreast. With the rear seats upright, the Mazda doesn’t quite offer the same levels of space as some large estate cars, but seats down, it’s a whole new ball game, with more room than almost all of its competitors.
Out on the road, the 2.2-litre engine feels both quick and agile. The grippy chassis offers a particularly good blend of great handling and poise, as we’ve come to expect from Mazda. The steering is light and precise, which adds to the sporty ambience, especially in terms of ride comfort, which is most definitely on the firm side. At motorway speeds, the Mazda is refined and relaxing to drive, soaking up miles with ease. One fly in the ointment though, is the road noise that can permeate through the cabin on poorer road surfaces, making it difficult to communicate with rear seat passengers.
With 182bhp at your disposal, and with a list price of £22,095, the Mazda6 Sport is exceptionally good value, especially when you take into account the CO2 emissions of only 152g/km. And that great performance won’t penalise you at the fuel pumps –average fuel economy is 49.6mpg, and that makes the Mazda around 10 per cent better than its peers. With most direct rivals costing at least £2,000 more, the 6 Estate is a veritable steal. And that’s before you take into account the generous kit, with 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, a Bluetooth hands-free system, half-leather heated seats, keyless entry and a great sounding BOSE audio system all as standard. Durability is truly top-drawer, with the Mazda6 scoring exceptionally well in reliability surveys.
RIVALS: Renault Laguna Sport Tourer Initiale dCi 180, Peugeot 407 SW Sport HDi 170, SEAT Exeo ST Sport 2.0 TDI
Drive Time
- Engine: 2183cc, 4-cylinder, turbodiesel with particulate filter
- Gearbox: 6-speed manual
- Max Power: 182bhp at 3,500rpm
- Max Torque: 295lb ft at 1,800 to 3,000rpm
- Max Towing Weight: 1,600kg
- Max speed: 134mph
- 0-62mph: 8.5secs
- Combined Consumption: 49.6mpg
- CO2 Emissions (taxband): 152g/km (G)
- Bootspace: 519/1,751litres
- Insurance group: 13
Pros
Performance, sporty feel, low emissions, good fuel economy, well equipped, reliability
Cons
Road noise, low rent feel to interior, load space less than rivals until you fold the seats down
