01 Aug 05
Three petrol engines remain on offer, the 1.8 (120bhp), the 2.3 (166bhp) and the most popular, the 2.0-litre, revised to develop 147bhp; all three now have an electronically-controlled throttle valve. The diesel engine has undergone a more comprehensive overhaul; offered in either 121bhp or 143bhp form, both versions now meet the Euro IV emissions standards thanks to the addition of a diesel particulate filter. The higher-output version, 7bhp more powerful than before and with torque upped to 266lb ft, now returns 47.1mpg (46.3mpg in estate form); it's more powerful, yet more economical. Apart from the 1.8, which retains its five-speed manual gearbox, all engines now work with a standard all-new six-speeder (a new five-speed auto is optional).
The 6 has always been one of the sportier options in its class, rivalling the still-excellent Mondeo in driving dynamics; it'd be difficult to improve upon the outgoing model without starting again from scratch, so it doesn't matter that this mid-life freshening-up has really brought very little to the driving experience. That comes with the high-performance four-wheel drive, 250bhp MPS6, to go on sale late this year. In the meantime, the mainstream 6 is plenty rewarding enough. It's considerably quieter than before, too, with less intrusive engine noise, reduced vibrations - especially from the diesel - and a more insulated feel in general. The ride is a little more forgiving, though this does depend, as ever, on wheel-tyre combinations, with Sport versions less compliant, and it copes well with poor road surfaces. All in all, it's immensely civilised.
The more powerful 143bhp diesel is very smooth, and its increased torque (pulling power) makes for relaxed high-speed progress and acceleration. Best of all, the new six-speed manual gearbox is a joy to use, with intuitive slots, a precise short-throw action and well-set ratios. This all bodes well for the next-generation Ford Mondeo, which will share most of the 6's powertrain combinations (Mazda is, these days, a subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company empire, though it has hung onto a certain amount of autonomous research and development work).
Mazda originally launched the 6 with brave intentions of taking on the 3-Series, A4, S60, 9-3 and their like, but quickly took a more realistic approach and re-positioned it much more appropriately. It has generally been seen as a well-equipped, but not cheap, brand to buy into, but here there's a further surprise: model for model, most versions of the 6 bar the entry-level 1.8s undercut their nearest equivalents in the Mondeo range, and that's with standard kit including front, side and full-length curtain airbags, remote central locking with deadlocks, a CD player, front and rear electric windows, 16-inch alloy wheels and air conditioning. Sure, the discounts on offer and the opportunities for haggling may not match those available with a Mondeo, or a Vectra for that matter, but the 6 is likely to return a higher proportion of its purchase price come resale time. It's excellent value, and 2.3 apart, comes with competitive running costs for both private and fleet motorists. Take note of those striking taillights: you're likely to be following a lot more of them in the near future.
