Review
I don’t normally write about a car’s styling in reviews because it is so subjective. But having had the Mazda6 Tourer on AM’s test fleet for three months, one of the most striking aspects is how handsome a car it is.
Its Stormy Blue Mica paintwork is offset by the classy, silvery roof bars, window surrounds, grille line and tinted rear windows, and the 17in alloys give it a poise that’s not brash. Parked against a Vauxhall Insignia estate in our office car park, it looks the better of the two.
The interior of the Mazda6 is functional and quite minimalist, with black cloth upholstery and a dark fascia thankfully lightened by occasional touches of silver. A central control wheel for the media, sat-nav and Bluetooth phone is a nice touch, as it avoids creating a Ford Focus-style dashboard cluttered with numerous buttons. Other controls for the colour screen and dual-zone climate control are also clear and easy to use.
The darkness of the Mazda6’s interior is reflected elsewhere in the car. The short daylight period this winter has revealed an anomaly in our mid-spec Mazda6 Tourer’s otherwise generous specification – its boot doesn’t appear to have a decent light inside.
It may seem a minor flaw, but actually it’s quite a significant oversight considering that most buyers choose an estate car because they expect to use its load area. There is a light inside the tailgate, which shows when it lifted, but it’s not that effective.
Having filled the boot with the weekly shopping on many evenings now, it is rather infuriating to have to finish unloading with a blind, fingertip search in case items have rolled around in the spacious rear. A saving grace are the fold-out hooks on the sides, which prove ideal for hanging a couple of bags on, and the small underfloor stowage area and 12v power socket.
The lack of light slightly tarnishes an otherwise superb load-carrying ability. With maximum load capacity of 506 litres behind the rear seats, the Mazda6 Tourer comfortably accommodated the presents, overnight bags and food and drink associated with taking my wife and three children to stay with family over Christmas.
What’s been said about the Mazda6 Tourer
Auto Express
There’s a decent list of standard equipment, while the 6 Tourer’s 2.2-litre diesel delivers efficiency without sacrificing performance. It’s not the most spacious in its class, but you’ll soon forget that on a twisty B-road.
Car Enthusiast
It isn’t quite a game-changer in its class but the new Mazda6 will certainly tempt those who in the past may not have given the brand a look-in.
An award-winning journalist and editor, with two decades of experience covering the motor retail industry, and accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) plus the National Council for the Training of Journalist (NCTJ)
As editor of AM since 2016, Tim is responsible for its media content, planning and production across AM's multiple channels, including the website, digital reports, webinars, social media and the editorial content of AM's events, Automotive Management Live and the AM Awards. His focus is on interviewing senior leaders of franchised dealer groups and motor manufacturer national sales companies to examine latest developments in UK motor retail.
Factsheet
- Price
- £23,595 (£24,825 as tested)
- Engine
- 2.2-litre turbodiesel; 148bhp
- Performance
- 0-62mph 9.2secs, top speed 130mph
- Transmission
- 6sp man
- Efficiency
- 64.2mpg, 116g/km CO2
- RV 3yr/30k
- 40.2%
- Start mileage
- 670
- Current mileage
- 3,031
- Key rivals
- Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia, Škoda Octavia, Volkswagen Passat