The Mazda6 doesn't get as many buyers as its rivals in the family car market, but with a new diesel engine there's a good chance this might change, writes PADDY COMYN
SITTING DOWN to choose a car from a company car list can often be a chore. In previous years you might have got bored trying to figure out which of the mundane family saloons or hatchbacks you would have, but this would appear to be getting a lot better. Over the last couple of years we have seen the excellent new Citroën C5 arrive, and this year there are new versions of both the Toyota Avensis and the Opel Insignia looks great. And while these cars have gone on sale in a depressed market they will have made the choice for buyers in the 2010 market all the more interesting. Factor in cars like the Skoda Superb and a new version of the Honda Accord and it becomes much harder for individual models to make an impact in such a crowded segment. It wouldn’t be hard therefore to perhaps overlook the Mazda6.
It is probably fair to say that Mazda doesn’t get quite the recognition that it should, perhaps because people don’t fully understand the brand. Mazda sits somewhere between two ends of the spectrum. It isn’t quite mainstream, as it doesn’t enjoy the success of Toyota or Ford and it’s not really perceived as posh enough to be an executive brand. If you are to compare the Mazda 6 to its main rivals, then it is still some way off in terms of sales. The car has about 4 per cent of its segment, compared to more than four times that owned by the Ford Mondeo. With the Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis and Volkswagen Passat making up over 40 per cent of the segment combined, this Mazda6 has a long way to go to break into the dominance of the leading players.
Mazda owners are, by and large, a happy bunch. The brand ranked ninth in the 2008 JD Power survey into owner satisfaction and the Mazda6 was 28th out of 100. The build quality feels really good inside and out. There is quite an executive look to the car and our Sport model came with 18” alloy wheels and a smart bodykit. Inside the layout is good too. There is a particularly neat feature which allows you to control all the major functions such as air conditioning and audio from the steering wheel.
The Mazda6 is a great-looking car. Its arguably better looking than most of its mainstream rivals such as the Mondeo, Avensis and Citroën C5, if not quite as pretty as Opel’s Insignia. Much has been made about the link between Ford and Mazda, but this new 2.2-litre diesel isn’t Ford’s engine, but rather their own, developed with Peugeot.
In the new engine there is a new diesel particulate filter which does a job of sorting out some of the grime that come out of diesel engines; the injectors in the new engines have more spray holes and higher response solenoids for more power with greater fuel consumption. They also make it quieter and easier to service. The result is that the 2.2-litre diesel can be had in three power outputs, the lowest being 125bhp/310Nm torque, the mid-power has 163bhp/360Nm of torque and the highest is 185bhp/400Nm of torque. The mid-powered version, which we have been driving, hits 100km/h in 9.0 seconds while the high-power version knocks 0.7 seconds off that time.
Keeping the new 2.2-litre diesel engine as close as possible in size and weight to the 2.0-litre was a key factor in ensuring strong performance combined with good fuel efficiency and low emissions. Although new balancer shaft and double overhead camshaft result in increased size and weight, numerous innovations to manage that gain kept the increase to just 6.0kg. If the 2.2 did not have a balancer shaft, the cylinder block would have had to be 1.9kg heavier and its crankshaft 1.3kg heavier. Furthermore, the oil cooler is made of aluminium (saving 0.6 kg) and the camshaft cover is plastic (saving 1.0 kg).
Technical stuff aside, the new engine sounds familiar enough when started up but as you get moving you discover that is it way quieter than before. It is very quiet throughout the rev range and the power delivery is particularly impressive. It actually feels like a large petrol engine most of the time in terms of smoothness but the huge reserves of torque leave you in no doubt that it’s a diesel. It is incredibly comfortable, even sitting on the large 18” alloy wheels and although it isn’t quite as agile as the class-leading Mondeo, with quite a hint of understeer.
Where does the Mazda6 fit in then, in the grand scheme of things?
Well, when you look how well it’s priced then the car looks incredibly good value. With such high levels of standard equipment and a powerful diesel engine, our test car, priced at €31,645 seems really good value. There are so many competitors here that we must mention more than the four we have pointed out in the rivals section. For a start the Toyota Avensis is, alongside the Ford Mondeo, among the nation’s favourite, but if you want a 2.2-litre diesel version with less power then you are going to have to spend €33,600, almost €2,000 more than this Mazda. The Volkswagen Passat deserves a mention too, with the 2.0-litre TDi Bluemotion Highline available for €31,325. However, at that price you are getting just 110bhp although it has much lower CO2 emissions and is a band B car.
There is no doubt that this has become an extremely crowded segment and therefore it must be asked just where does the Mazda6 fit into all of this?
Well, having spent a few days in the car we would say that it feels a little bit unique in some ways. It manages to combine the qualities of the more regular models such as the Ford Mondeo and Toyota Avensis but as well as that it feels that little bit more upmarket because of its sporty looks and high levels of standard equipment. Furthermore, because there aren’t everywhere, aren’t Garda cars, and aren’t usually used that much as fleet vehicles, you can feel like you have something a little different, which is a welcome feeling in this segment. What you are getting here is a good package and a new engine that provides more power than most of its peers and without too much compromise on CO2 emissions either.
Would we have it over a Mondeo? Not if pure handling is your thing, but it offers better value and we would pick it over the Toyota Avensis; it would be a tough call between it and the new Opel Insignia.
This is a car that deserves not to be overlooked and now that it has an engine to match its potential, Mazda should be hopeful of some new takers for the car in 2010.
Mazda6 2.2-litre 163bhp 5-door
Engine: 4-cylinder turbo diesel 163bhp 2,183cc diesel engine putting out 163bhp @ 3,500rpm and 360 nm @ 1,800rpm
Specification: 18" alloy wheels, cruise control, computer with average speed, average fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption and range for remaining fuel, leather-covered multi-function steering wheel, air conditioning with climate control, front and rear electric windows with two steering-wheel-mounted remote audio controls, auxiliary port for MP3 player, luxury trim leather gearknob, front and rear seat armrests
Option available: Metallic paint: €475
L/100km (mpg):urban – 7.0 (40.3); extra-urban – 4.7 (60.1); combined – 5.5 (51.3)
CO2 emissions: 147 g/km
Tax: VRT – 20 per cent; motor tax – €302
Price: €31,645