Mazda 6 Estate (2012 - 2023) 2.2d (175bhp) Sport Nav 5d Owner Review

This is my 4th Mazda and possibly my last. I have previously had an RX8, 6TS and 6MPS and liked them all; happily defending Mazda against my Mercedes driving friends! This car is a massive disappointment. The positives are that it looks good, the engine is good and there is plenty of space. However, the positives are outweighed by the negatives. The worst thing is the handling which is truly atrocious. It has blancmonge-like suspension, marshmellow-like brakes and twitchy steering. It rocks and rolls on any road surface and under even minor braking or acceleration causing constant noticeable occupant movement. The steering requires constant attention. The slightest movement of the steering wheel or, indeed, the ever present body movement of the car itself causes exaggerated changes of direction. It loses traction easily in anything approaching damp conditions and under even moderate acceleration. It feels unsteady, unsafe and is tiring to drive. The infotainment system is adequate but the sat nav user interface is appalling. Mine also froze after 2 months requiring a return to the dealer to fix what was apparently a known but unpublished problem - that they only fix if someone complains. The doors then had to be taken apart and put together correctly as loose clips caused vibrations when the speakers were in use. The fans and screenwash sprays are weak. Windscreen de-misting takes an age and the foot-well fans can't be felt at all. The screenwash spray is pretty useless at anything over 60mph and just manages to hit the bottom of the windscreen. Finally (!) the road noise is very loud - if you're on a motorway, you'll have to turn the volume right up and be prepared to shout to anyone sat in the rear.