Mazda 6 (2002-) Review

On the road

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Like most Japanese cars, the 6 is very user-friendly. The driving position is good - the steering column is fully adjustable to accommodate even very tall drivers easily - and there is good all-round visibility. The controls are intuitively placed, the dials are clear and even the air con and stereo knobs are simple to fathom out. It's also predictable and safe to handle, feels solid and assured on the road, and delivers no nasty surprises or unexpected responses. For once, the hype is justified; Mazda has finally managed to transmit most of the fun of the MX-5 to another of its products. The steering is sharp and direct without being twitchy, and weights up nicely under hard cornering, the suspension is agile and assured, there is plenty of grip and it always feels stable, secure and solid without being in the slightest bit stodgy. You'd have to be seriously ham-fisted to get it out of shape and lose control of the rear end, though it does get slightly floaty behind at very high (illegal in the UK) speeds. Believe this or not, but it's more or less a match for the class-leading Mondeo when it comes to driving dynamics.

The 2.3-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines are both powerful and smooth, and provide plenty of power to satisfy keen drivers. The 2.3 is set up and geared more for relaxed high-speed progress, though it has loads of torque for sportier behaviour; the 2.0 has to be worked harder but is just as much fun if you like to drop down a gear and rev hard. Both models have a pleasing exhaust note with a sporty rasp. The 1.8 is more workaday, but adequate. However, performance enthusiasts will want to wait for "a very sporty version", which is due "within two years", and is tipped to take on the Mondeo ST220, Accord Type-R and so on. The diesels are both strong, with little performance gain by opting for the 136 bhp over the 120 bhp, though the former is smoother and a little more refined.