The old Mazda 6 was a Which best buy for most of it's life.
so the new car has big tyre tracks to fill.
And with rivals from Kia to Mercedes, it needs to be good.
If the battle was fought on looks alone, the 6 could be in with a fighting chance.
But is there enough substance behind the [xx]?
Style.
the car we're driving today is the likely best seller of the range.
The 148 horsepower brake power 2.2 diesel Now, Mazda charges about two thousand pounds
more for this than the equivalent petrol but it's one of the most efficient engines in
its class so you'll save money every time you visit the pump.
Mazda claims 67 miles per gallon, and CO2 emissions of just 108 grams per kilometer,
that means you'll pay just 20 pounds a year in car tax.
This diesel engine is smooth and responsive, although it's a bit noisier than you might
expect.
Apparently Mazda's deliberately tuned the exhaust for a sportier sound.
and the six speed manual gear box is just brilliant.
It feels like it's been lifted straight out of the Amex5 sports car.
It's precise and super quick.
The Mazda is available as the Saloon seen here or an estate called the Taura.
Prices at launch range from 19 and a half thousand pounds to 28,000 pounds.
Slightly more than an equivalent Ford Mondeo, but around 5,000 pounds [xx] less than a BMW
3 series.
Thankfully We haven't had cause to test the emergency braking system yet, but we have
given the 6 a good workout on these Scottish mountain roads and it's been surprisingly
fun to drive.
There's a decent amount of feedback from the steering.
And the 6 stays composed even in tight corners which inspires confidence.
Firm suspension is the only real black mark against the car especially if you have the
19-inch alloys fitted to this sport model.
We'd stick with the standard 17-inch wheels for more comfort.
All 6s come with air conditioning, cruise control, bluetooth, and an iPod compatible
stereo.
There are three trim levels: SE, SEL, and Sport.
But beyond that, your only real choice is the paint color.
a refreshing change from rival German cars, with their long and expensive options lists.
Inside, the Mazda is well made and comfortable, with enough space for three adults across
the back seat here.
it's a shame this media system looks like it was grafted in as an afterthought.
But it's mounted high in the driver's line of sight in the series by it is the top scoring
over choice that between the seats . XX course the complaint is the belt.
It's not short on space, but Mazda's decision to drop the hatchback version of the 6 means
this isn't the most practical large car.
Well, unless you opt for the Estate version, of course.
which gives you 3 times the boom space for an extra 750 pounds.
Safety kit includes a radar automatic braking system, for sport models.
This should prevent low speed collisions and according to Mazda reduce the cars insurance
rating.
The latest 6 takes the good points about the old car and adds a couple more, namely style
and outstanding efficiency.
And for liability, it's up to the standard as other Mazdas, buyers should have little
to fear.
So the new Mazda 6 is good, not as good as the cost leading BMW 3 series admittedly but
you can have this car and a couple of very nice holidays for the price of a 320 D. It's
worth thinking about, isn't it.