Mazda has given its popular 6 a midlife makeover. At first glance it doesn’t appear much different, but in fact more than 400 changes have gone on.
Looks-wise, there’s a redesigned front grille, new front and rear lights, and round rather than rectangular fog lights. Inside there’s some new chrome plating.
Four trim levels are available S, TS, TS2 and Sport. All models get ‘smart’ turn indicators and emergency stop signal, while TS2 models upwards come with parking sensors front and rear and hill hold assist, and Sport models get Bi-Xenon headlights. Prices have gone up an average of 4.8% across the range, but this seems justified considering the extra equipment they come with.
On the technical front, you’ve got a revised engine range and steering reprogrammed to give better feel. The 2.0 litre petrol unit jumps from 145hp to 153hp, while fuel efficiency improves by 7% to 40.9mpg.
The 6 starts at £16,995 for the 1.8 litre hatchback in S trim, but that’s something of a headline catcher, as the next cheapest the 1.8 TS is over £18,000.
I drove the handsome estate version with the 2.2 litre diesel engine, which is available in three strengths 129hp, 163hp and 180hp.
I drove the middle-powered one, which costs £21,595 in TS2 guise, and found it more than adequate.
Smooth and with plenty of low-down power, it generates very little engine noise when cruising in sixth gear. Fuel economy is 52.3mpg and CO2 emissions 143g/km.
Twiddling with the steering and suspension, and adding lighter wheels have paid dividends turn-in is much sharper and the car feels a lot more poised.
Mazda launched the car in the north west of Scotland, and the roads from Inverness out to the west coast provided a fine opportunity to enjoy its sharp handling.
It’s one of the most fun-to-drive cars in its class and, although the ride quality doesn’t quite match the magic carpet Mondeo, it’s good enough that few people should have complaints.
The estate version costs £650 more than its hatchback counterpart but is, for my money, the better looking of the two variants, and offers a cavernous 1751 litres of load space with the rear seats folded, trumping even the big Mondeo Estate.