This is the higher-powered diesel variant of the new Mazda 6, planted in a Tourer version of the car and linked – most crucially for this test – to the company’s new automatic gearbox.
Readers of our full road test of the new Mazda 6 will already be familiar with all the car’s engine and trim combinations, and the warmth with which we have received them, so the chief concern here is the effectiveness of the six-speed automatic and the compromises it introduces.
The addition of the automatic gearbox brings with it a significant price rise of more than £1000 over the manual equivalent and reduces fuel economy and acceleration times, so buyers need to be certain that it’s a benefit they will put to good use.
The good news is that the system operates smoothly and efficiently, whether it’s doing its own thing or you are controlling it via the steering wheel-mounted paddles. Left to its own devices, shifts are crisp even under heavy acceleration or braking, while requests via the paddle system are delivered swiftly, too.
The considerations must be the loss of both economy and acceleration. A combined 57.6mpg against the manual's 61.4mpg could be an issue for some, while the rise in 0-62mph time from 8.0sec to 8.6sec is a reasonably large percentage that is noticeable from behind the wheel.
The CO2 rise (from 121g/km to 129g/km) is potentially less serious at present as it doesn’t affect the car’s VED road tax band, although company car buyers will want to weigh up the extra costs associated with its higher list price.
The additional 15kg the auto ‘box adds to the kerb weight isn’t noticeable from behind the wheel, and the Mazda 6 remains a nimble and agile car in this guise. The 173bhp motor is refined and, with 309lb ft of torque, delivers reasonable, if far from record-breaking, shove.
The ride is decent, even on larger 19-inch wheels, while the steering is reasonably feelsome for a family-orientated car. Refinement is also a strong point.
You’ll either have a need for an automatic, in which case the Mazda should make your shortlist, or need to break out the calculator to work out if the additional purchase and running costs are worth saving your left hand and foot the effort of changing gear.
Either way, buyers will not be disappointed.
Mazda 6 2.2 175ps Tourer Sport Nav Auto
Price £28,045; 0-62mph 8.6sec; Top speed 134mph; Economy 57.6mpg combined; CO2 129g/km; Kerb weight 1245kg; Engine 4 cyls, 2191cc, turbodiesel; Power 173bhp at 4500rpm; Torque 309lbft at 2000rpm; Gearbox 6-spd auto
Technology advancement has made it posssible to add various new features into cars. The addition of automatic gearbox has made the vehicle mazda 6 more efficient and smooth. The driving experience will be more interesting and thrilling. It weighs less and is equipped with low emissions technology. Porsche repair huntington beach
Just over £1k for auto seems to compare well with other makers' charges, the drop in official economy figures is pretty small, and the addition of 0.6 sec to flat out 0-60 time not meaningful in real life. To obtain the manual 0-60 time involves abusing the car more than most owners would care to, whereas with auto the performance is readily attainable.
Whilst I applaud it's kerb weight, there isn't much else that feels particularly compelling given the prospect of spending £28k. The 6's seem to depreciate quite heavily meaning that the lifetime costs are high compared to cars with even loftier 'new' screen prices.
When did cars get so bloody expensive!
I think it's a shame you can no longer have a manual 'box in a GT3 or RS Clio but in a family car like this it is the better choice.
This Mazda 6 is an appealing and impressive machine. I'd consider this over a BMW 520d Touring, for example.
Whilst I applaud it's kerb weight, there isn't much else that feels particularly compelling given the prospect of spending £28k. The 6's seem to depreciate quite heavily meaning that the lifetime costs are high compared to cars with even loftier 'new' screen prices.
When did cars get so bloody expensive!
I'll be very surprised if the kerb weight is actually 1245kg even for a petrol manual let alone the 2.2 diesel auto.
A 3 series touring would set you back at least £33k with a similar spec. An Insignia with the BiTurbo diesel costs £31k or so.
Car prices going up just shows how little our currency is valued at nowadays.
In 1963 you could buy a new Ford Cortina for £675 and petrol was about 5p per litre in the UK. Mind you the average income was around £800 per year.
If you assume everything has gone up in price 30 fold since 1963 then we are paying about the same for petrol and cars.
maxecat
If Mazda 6 2.2L Diesel Auto Estate weighs 1245kg then Mazda has indeed delivered an astonishing piece of engineering.
Ford Mondeo Estate 2D weighs just under 1600kg
VW Passat 2D tips scales at 1600kg; A4 1575kg
The D-segment leader 3-Series weighs 1500kg.
And all these cars are at least a second slower than Mazda 6.
Whilst I applaud it's kerb weight, there isn't much else that feels particularly compelling given the prospect of spending £28k. The 6's seem to depreciate quite heavily meaning that the lifetime costs are high compared to cars with even loftier 'new' screen prices.
When did cars get so bloody expensive!
so bloody expensive - yes we have been sort of gazzumped - but if you want to find the culprit dont look at the makers - look to our wonderful friend the wankers - sorry bankers and the interest rates they charge and the bonuses they pay themselves!!
What bothers me about this report is NO MENTION of noise - is this the worlds first silent diesel?
Someone else mentioned depreciation - Mazda 6's have always been the best 2nd hand buy - low service costs and unbreakable amazing reliability
what's life without imagination
"When did cars get so bloody expensive!
so bloody expensive - yes we have been sort of gazzumped - but if you want to find the culprit dont look at the makers - look to our wonderful friend the wankers - sorry bankers and the interest rates they charge and the bonuses they pay themselves!!"
This has been creeping up on us for some time, with the average Focus-szied car seemingly now routinely pushing £25K, and Fiesta-sized hatches regularly over £15K. Unfortunately the car mag-reviewers are the last people to actually buy their own new cars, so the price never appears to be a genuine issue for them. All they do is compare rivals with each other, not look at absolute costs. Personally I'm never buying a new car again in my life. Some other mug can take the hit.
Hard to work out value of cars. I suppose you would pay at best around 26k-27k. It reads as being an excellent car but anymore and it it's too close to what a broker would charge for a pre-registered ultra low miles A6/E/XF/5 estate. I saw a Jaguar dealer offering an XF Sport 200ps estate with 300 miles for 30k , thats a different proposition to this car.
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