The Mazda6 is something of an unsung hero in its segment, often getting overlooked for premium German rivals like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.
But now, thanks to some mid-life revisions, the latest model is not only more stylish than before but is also offering more kit as standard and first-class comfort while out on the road.
It seems like the Mazda6 has never been better placed to steal customers away from its premium rivals and we’ve been driving the revised model for the first time to find out.
What’s new?
On the outside design changes have been very subtle indeed, Sport-Nav models like ours tested here include a restyled grille design, new 19-inch alloy wheels and the latest LED lights.
The big changes are inside the car which feature a new instrument panel and centre console design.
Standard kit has been greatly improved with an electronic parking brake and a new seven-inch colour touchscreen with DAB Radio and MZD Connect, which allows you to access the internet and social media while on the move, now available on all models.
Comfort levels have also been enhanced with a revised suspension and improved sound insulation to minimise the amount of road and wind noise intruding into the cabin.
What’s it like to drive?
The Mazda6 is supremely comfortable on the road, the soft suspension does well at soaking up all the bumps and potholes, and at cruising speeds the road and wind noise is minimal thanks to the improved insulation.
Our test car is fitted with the higher powered 2.2-litre diesel engine, which offers 173bhp and 420Nm of torque enabling the car to accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 139mph.
On the road the car feels powerful and quick away from the lights, smooth and refined on the motorway, and our test car also handled well around the town.
Running costs are pretty good too, the official fuel consumption figure for this car is 62.8mpg combined with CO2 emissions of 119g/km meaning a 21 percent BIK tax band for the current 2014/15 tax year (until April).
And the inside?
Anyone who has driven a current generation Mazda will be in familiar territory when you slip behind the wheel of the 6. Spacious and comfortable, interior quality is good with only a few cheaper plastics lurking.
There’s plenty of legroom in the rear although headroom could be a bit tight for six-footers, storage options are aplenty too with various cubbies and practical door pockets on offer.
Boot space is good too with 480-litres available with the rear seats in place which should prove more than enough room for the annual holiday or weekly shop.
Our test car comes in top-of-the-range SportNav trim and costs £26,795 to buy without options. Standard kit is very impressive with 19-inch alloy wheels, reversing camera, leather upholstery, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, DAB Radio, Bluetooth, head-up display system (which we think looks a little cheap) premium Bose sound system with 11 speakers, sat-nav and keyless entry all included.
Verdict
The revised model goes on sale on February 23 and if you’re after plenty of toys for your money then SportNav is the trim to go for.
This engine, although impressive on the road, isn’t the best when it comes to CO2 emissions. Company car drivers will want the lower-powered 148bhp option, which emits only 107g/km, it’s cheaper to buy too and we doubt the extra 25bhp on offer in this car will make a great deal of difference on the road.
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