IN SALOON and hatchback form, the Mazda 6 has given its rivals plenty to think, and worry, about.
Now the estate, which combines all the fun drive and spacious cabins of its four and five-door brethren, with great load carrying ability, should cause its competitors from Ford, Vauxhall, Renault et al even more sleepless nights.
You only have to walk round the car to see it is stunningly different - especially the lights - and all for about the same price as a Ford Mondeo.
In fact, the entry level 2.0S Estate kicks off at a very fair £14,495, that's about £1,500 less than the cheapest 2.0 Mondeo. And Mazda consistently comes out near to the top in any customer satisfaction survey.
The test car worked out quite a bit dearer than that. It was the 2.0 TS2 134bhp diesel estate, which comes with just about everything for £18,595.
There's driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist, traction control, dynamic stability control, climate control, sunroof and alloys.
The bits I really like though, come as standard on all Mazda 6 estates. These include a big button radio/CD player that isn't too fiddly to use, well designed cupholders between the front seats, bottle holders in the front door bins, a twin compartment armrest, underfloor load stowage, lots of tie down hooks and the easiest seat-folding arrangement I have ever seen.
Called 'Karakuri', the system is Mazda's trump card. Pulling a boot-mounted handle simultaneously flips the backrest and slides the cushion forward with each part of the 60/40 split operating separately. It's simple and means there's no need to remove the headrests first.
Now why didn't anyone think of that before?
Driving it, it's hard to believe you are in a Japanese car. It steers and handles as well as a Mondeo (and that's praise indeed) but perhaps with a little too much assistance to the wheel.
It's quiet and refined, but the best thing about it is a willingness to rev that's missing from some of its oil-burning rivals.
A healthy 229 lb/ft of pulling muscle is combined with a five-speed manual gearbox to give flexibility and eagerness in every cog.
Performance is good without being especially quick, with smooth, progressive power rather than the sudden burst of mid-range punch offered by others.
Seat adjustment is excellent, the steering wheel moves up and down as well as in and out so everybody can get comfortable.
Once acclimatised, you can enjoy the beefy torque of the 16-valve common rail direct injection diesel. It's a belter, reaching 0-60mph in 10.4 seconds and topping out at 122mph. Cruising is at a lazy 30mph per 1000rpm in 5th.
Fuel economy averaging 43.5mpg is OK but not as good as some rivals. A CO2 emissions figure of 179g/km isn't as low as some of the competition either, and puts the 6 into the 20 per cent company car tax bracket as opposed to the 18 per cent band for the Mondeo, Passat and Laguna.
Overall, the 6 is smooth and refined. Fuel economy and emissions let it down but its handsome lines and superb practicality will make it a winner.
- Alistair Coull
MAZDA was always good at the fancy stuff like the stylish MX-5, which still turns heads.
For the rest, well, they were - and still are - sturdily-built with a good reputation for reliability . . . but not for their ground-breaking style.
Take away the two-seater and the more expensive models and the remainder of the range has struggled to impress in the good looks department - though they have impressed on practicality and quality as well as reliability.
However, the sober looks of the staid but dependable and often long-distant runners are now being replaced by more youthful and contemporary ones - the latest 6 Estate is a case in point.
It is no longer sufficient to boast a competitive price tag, the ability to carry five passengers and their luggage in relative comfort - while delivering good fuel returns. Today the punters want style, and lots of it, and that goes for fleet buyers as well as the domestic market.
The 6 is a big improvement on Mazda estates of yesterday with a neat rear, enhanced by stylish wraparound light clusters that are very much in vogue.
But the ambitious sculpturing doesn't sacrifice on practicalities, with a sensible tailgate which cuts down towards the bumper, offering excellent low load levels.
A huge flat load area (505 litres) can be quickly and effortlessly achieved thanks to the Karakuri seat function - simply fold the rear seats with a light tug of a lever. It's got to be one of the easiest on the market. No more sprained fingers or thumbs and certainly no ravaged fingernails.
The 6 comes with a new body for the 21st century and its slimline silhouette and elegant, but typical Mazda face, combine to make it a serious challenger in Europe's estate arena.
It certainly looks more European than previous Mazda estates and these visual improvements are bound to be appreciated by the company car sector, where Mazda expects to sell up to 70 per cent of its 6 estates.
Way back in 1991, the MX-5 took the roadster world by storm with its sexy, fun, soft-top appeal. It was a hard act to follow, and since then Mazda has struggled to turn out anything which matches half the kudos. It has actually sold 600,000 worldwide and in so doing earned itself the title of the world's best-selling roadster.
Nevertheless, the new Mazda 6 is a huge improvement on previous middle-of-the-road estates and saloons and sets the scene for more innovative styling.
The 6 estate is impressive. Gone is the drab and dreary image of previous models - though the Japanese still need to lighten up on interior design and decor. Instead, the estate looks elegant and sporty at the same time, and it is very pleasant to drive.
Powered by a two litre, 134bhp common-rail diesel engine, it is athletic and the gears are slick and straightforward. The diesel unit is impressively quiet, and though some wind and tyre noise filters through to the cabin, it is not too obtrusive.
The Mazda 6 looks well and it is a very easy car to drive and live with.
FAST FACTS
Mazda 2.0 TS2 TD Estate
Price: £18,595
Mechanical: 134bhp, 1,998cc 16-valve common rail direct injection diesel engine driving front wheels via 5-spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 122mph
0-60mph: 10.4 secs
Combined mpg: 44.1
Insurance group: 13
CO2 emissions: 179g/km
BiK rating: 20%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs anti-rust