June 12, 2013
New Car Review: Mazda 6
The success and popularity of a car brand in Ireland is inextricably linked to how that brand is perceived. Mazda, for one reason or another, suffer from a type of automotive “always the bridesmaid, never the bride” syndrome. It is popular but not popular enough. This time, however, the new Mazda 6 deserves a string of suitors lining up to buy it. The VMS expert tells us why that is.
I wouldn’t be entirely honest with the reader if I didn’t disclose from the outset that I used to own a Mazda 6 for three years and still regard that time as by far the most enjoyable period of car ownership I have ever had. I would be equally disingenuous not to state that I sort of ‘have a thing’ for Japanese cars. Still, I’m not opposed to saying unflattering things about a product when it is warranted, no matter how much I like it. The Mazda 6, however, just so happens to be about as faultless as a car can be.
Cliches and stereotypes permeate almost every aspect of the motor trade and don’t usually bother me. But two such stereotypes I find it impossible to ignore is that all Japanese cars have “plasticky” interiors and that reliability always immediately follows the word “German”. Mazda is tangible evidence to the contrary of both of those stereotypes and the new Mazda 6 is the most convincing example offered yet.
With the new 6, Mazda display their masterful grasp of a car’s fundamentals. The 2.2 diesel engine is whisper quiet even in early morning suburbia. The pedals are light, the gearbox is fluid but deliberate and the ratios between the gears are perfect. If this sounds like jibberish, then suffice it to say that the new Mazda 6 feels smooth and nimble to steer but purposeful and deliberate through the gears.
The 6 has a tall first gear which likes to be revved out a little higher than I was anticipating but it means that the up change into second gear places the rev needle squarely in the middle of the power band. For those of you who have never driven a Mazda, the sensation is bettered by only very few and typically far more expensive alternatives. In its class and indeed in comparison to examples from some of the segments above it, the new Mazda 6 provides an unparalleled drive. Sounds hyperbolic? Well, test drive one yourself. You’ll soon agree.
A cliché, which is deservedly so, is that Mazdas are “driver’s cars”. This is perhaps the most succinct way of describing the 6’s road manners. The suspension bolsters confidence to keep the momentum going even over poor road surfaces and long, fast bends do little to unbalance the 6 from its steady course. It gorges itself on mileage and as a long distance tourer I can think of no better view I would like in front me other than the bonnet of the new Mazda 6. This might sound over flattering but trust me when I say that the new Mazda 6 welcomes concerns and niggles from nobody other than the extreme nitpicker.
Here are some more stereotypes; 2.2 litre engines are too big for Irish roads and they aren’t as fuel efficient as smaller diesel engines. Let’s deal with these untruths in reverse. The new 6’s engine is tremendously frugal. I will admit that some rivals better the 6’s fuel range but the difference is negligible. I took the car on a research trip to Clonmel and Cahir i Co Tipperary and later subjected it to mostly urban driving around North Dublin by transporting myself, three adults, a two year old child and all the accoutrements that went with us over the course of four days and managed to cover over 750 kilometres before the fuel light illuminated the wonderfully appointed LED clock cluster. My in laws are perfectly incapable of being on time either so my moderately heavy foot was frequently exercised and contributed little to the Mazda 6’s attempt to be more fuel efficient. The 2.2 engine also meant that the car did not succumb to a dramatic drop in power when it was fully laden with people and baggage. A car whose power band is designed for single occupancy journeys are some of my most hated. Engines can be thought of as hearts. The bigger the heart, the less work it has to do to. A 2.2 diesel is sort of a sweet spot in terms of engine size for a vehicle of the Mazda’s nature. I think anything smaller would detract from the 6’s capabilities.
Mazdas marketing department raised the eyebrows of some observers when they invented obscure names like SkyActiv and iEloop (essentially weight saving and energy conversion mechanisms) but criticisms of this nature are largely insignificant and do not contribute to Mazda’s less than favorable market position. To that we need to consider some far more intricate problems like the cost of production and the performance of the Yen in international markets, neither of which I have any insightful opinions about I hasten to add. It would also be insincere of me to even attempt to describe the process of converting kinetic braking energy into electricity. I would be deceitful not only to myself but to the reader to assume that just because I read the marketing material that I actually understand “how” such measures make a difference. All I, or anyone else for that matter, needs to know is that the Mazda 6, despite its 2.2 diesel engine and big frame, sips miserly at the fuel tank and ensures that power and fuel efficiency are delicately balanced in the most splendid fashion.
I realize I haven’t provided much by way of facts and figures for the new Mazda 6. I haven’t even commented on the claimed fuel efficiency numbers or the stroke and bore of the engine or its torque. I’ve omitted much about the chassis and length of the saloon version compared to the estate (the saloon is longer in case you are wondering). The reason for all of these omissions is not idleness or a lack of ability on my behalf. I consume vast quantities of market data on a daily basis so I’ve got the stomach for it but I don’t think any of it really matters. If you have €31,795 to €35,895 (Sport and Sport SE prices respectively) to spend on a new car then the Mazda 6 is my top pick. Yes, I do think it is overpriced especially so when you consider that it is in a similar price bracket to entry level versions of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class. Perhaps you will prefer any of the other three but I don’t. The time I spent in the new Mazda 6 was the happiest I spent in a car since I owned my own all those years ago. There is a refreshing calm that goes with owning a Mazda owing mainly to it’s reliability. A lot of people ask me if there is a secret to the motor trade, like I have some unknown “insider” knowledge because of my unique position within it. Well I do. And it’s called the Mazda 6.
