So many car buyers contact us and say they now need a practical family car, but love their motoring. They want it to be nimble, but have lots of boot space. It needs to take an army of people and be ever so quick, but it should be economical too. It must be value for money and look good.
You get the idea; they want the moon on a stick.
I don’t mind this, but then they say, “and I don’t want a 4x4 or MPV.”
Based on their already impressively fussy criteria, I just know they are not going to like the option their little list leaves. But trust me, I am right on this: They need to buy a sporty estate car.
In fact, they should consider buying a Mazda 6 Sport estate car.
Unlike so many family wagons, it is neither bland nor controversial in its styling. In Sport trim it looks expensive and semi-cool. Which for a mainstream estate car is quite an achievement. You will struggle to find a better-looking estate; and if you do it will cost a lot more money.
I know it is a step down from an Audi A4 or BMW 5-Series estate, but in lots of ways it feels like it could compete. A Vectra estate or a Mondeo feels cumbersome and looks clumsy. But the Mazda 6, like the premium brands, feels svelte and agile.
The fairest way to describe it is as a compromised design, that sits between the mainstream and premium choices. I mean that as a compliment, because the compromises make it all the more enjoyable to live with. For example, the alloy wheels are not as sexy or noticeable as those that you might find on a sporty BMW. But even when parking close to high kerbs I didn’t scuff them at all.
I tested the 2.5 litre Sport with a petrol engine and it averages a respectable 34 mpg, while getting 60 mph in around 8 seconds. There is also a diesel that manages a colossal 49.6 mpg and gets to 60 a bit later, but that’s your choice to make.
In the cabin of an Audi or Mercedes it can all feel a bit stern. But in the Mazda you are presented with easily the loopiest stereo design in the UK. It is like a 1990s hi-fi with pulsing lights and neon-esque strips. It is not going to be for everyone, but I thought it was great fun and a real plus to the experience of living with this car.
For the new Mums and Dads who don’t want to get too old, too fast, the hi-fi on the dash will draw them in. But it is the driving experience that will see them parting with their money.
The gearbox and ratios feel like they have come straight from the little Mazda MX-5. They click and thunk into place with a satisfying action that eggs you on. Helped by the grunt of the 2.5 litre engine I revelled in clicking up a gear or two and overtaking lesser family transport.
Heading into roundabouts in fast moving traffic, or round the S-shape slip roads of motorways, the handling delivered clear feedback to the driver and a surprisingly neutral balance.
There was not one point where I felt like I was in a big, practical - read dull - estate car. Which is why I was so pleasantly surprised during the practicality test. I wanted to get a tree in the boot (don’t ask). So I needed to get the back seats down and the parcel shelf out of the way. Now in a supposedly modern people mover, creating a long, clear and flat load space can be an ordeal. But in the Mazda, I simply pressed a button to release the chairs and they folded flat. Job done. In went the tree and I got on with my day.
Leg room in the rear compares to the rest of the market (all of which could do with being better really). In the front, the driving position is fully adjustable, so anyone can get comfortable, head room is good and the seats are supportive over long distances without being tough on the bum or back. The trim is part soft leather, which I like very much, as it made contact with the car pleasant and gave an air of luxury. But it was only part-luxury because the other half of the trim was a sort of cheap, old man’s corduroy. In such a sleek and otherwise modern car, what were they thinking?
Summary
A practical, value for money family estate that can be mistaken in looks and driving experience for a much more expensive car. An over-looked, but very capable and enjoyable car to own, available at sensible prices.
Road test car details
Mazda 6 Estate 2.5 T Sport
OTR £20,011 (new price – check out the used price)
0-60 mph: 8.3 secs
MPG: 34
Co2 g/km: 193
By: Matthew Tumbridge