Mazda 6 Car Auto Review

Mazda 6 Car Auto Review

Mazda Mazda 6 X Auto

Unknown 10:58:00 AM Add Comment

The car behind me is the latest version of the Mazda6, Mazda’s flagship family saloon car. There’s no denying it; Mazda certainly knows how to make one good-looking car, and with a subtle facelift for 2015, it’s now prettier than ever, thanks to its sleek design and handsome snout. But appearance isn’t everything, and the 6 sits in a notoriously tricky market segment, dominated by big names like the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat. So is it all good looks but no personality? Maybe not The car we’ve got here is the top-of-the-range Sport Nav trim, which comes kitted out from top to bottom with this really nice black leather upholstery. One thing I like in particular is just how simple it is; there are no buttons or gizmos to get tripped up on, just your air-con controls and the centre-mounted touchscreen. 

Operated via this neat little rotary dial, it’s surprisingly easy to switch between functions on the fly and really intuitive to use. One little niggle, however, is that the built-in sat-nav doesn’t let you put in postcodes, which just sort of detracts a little from Mazda’s intended ethos of ease of use. There’s also this heads-up display, which pops up when the engine’s switched on. It’s a cool touch, but it would be nice if you could make it show something other than just speed. This model also comes with Mazda’s £800 Safety Pack included, which adds extra kit like adaptive LED headlights and an automatic emergency braking system to avoid low-speed crashes, while the car comes with a reversing camera and a BOSE surround-sound system. Clocking in at nearly five metres long and two wide, the Mazda6 is a lot of car. However, that translates into a lot of interior space, with plenty of head and legroom for even the gangliest passengers in the rear. 

The boot is also pretty spacious, with rear seats that fold down easily with the pull of a handle, but loading bulky items might be a bit of a problem, given the relatively narrow boot opening. In this case, you’d be better off with the estate version. Out on the road is where the Mazda6 really excels, with an entertaining ride and grip for days, along with direct, precise steering and a short-throw gearbox. Although it’s not quite as sporty as the trim name would have you believe, it’s still bucket loads of fun, particularly once the 173bhp diesel engine gets up to speed. Quiet and refined, even at motorway speeds, it still benefits from a healthy dose of torque – specifically 420Nm of the stuff – which catapults the car out of corners and down straights. That said, it’s not perfect. This car comes with a gorgeous set of 19-inch alloy wheels, which look amazing but sacrifice a little ride quality. It’s nowhere near as bad as you’d expect though, but with smaller wheels it’s a lot more comfortable. 

The main thing that really gets me, however, is the A-pillars. Sleek though they may look, they do get in the way of visibility quite considerably, particularly when pulling out of junctions, meaning you have to crane your neck a little bit to see what’s coming. Still, with a 0-62mph time of a pretty hasty 7.9 seconds, fuel consumption of up to nearly 63mpg and CO2 emissions of only 119g/km, the Mazda6 offers a really great driving experience for surprisingly low costs. Speaking of costs, not only does it undercut its main rival, the Ford Mondeo, by about £200, the Mazda6 also offers a lot more in terms of stand-out looks, low running costs and sheer entertainment value. Comfortable, high-quality and excellent on the road, it’s not perfect but it’s easily one of the finest family cars on the market, and definitely one that’ll appeal to drivers who are as conscious about driveability as they are about style and function. So what do you think of the Mazda6? 

Mazda 3 Car Auto Review

Mazda 3 Car Auto Review

Mazda X Auto

Unknown 10:27:00 AM Add Comment

No this isn’t a Mazda6, even though it boasts the same attractive curves, this is the smaller third-generation Mazda3, proudly wearing the brand’s new Kodo body language. And if you go for the saloon-styled Fastback body style, it looks even more like its Mazda6 sibling, but as you can see, we have the classic hatch model. Although the previous-generation Mazda3 was a great car, its roots dated back to 2009, so there were a few necessary changes that needed to be made – mainly to its overly firm ride. So, can this all-new car tackle the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf? And is it still fun to drive like the last model? Let’s take a look. 

Well, first things first, Mazda has definitely acknowledged the complaints about the firm ride, as it is now extremely supple, making longer journeys much easier. The steering is also excellently weighted and very responsive, giving you real confidence when cornering – and there’s great grip. At first, the six-speed manual gearbox can feel a bit notchy, but, as with many other Mazda’s and BMW’s in fact, you soon get used to this and appreciate that it is actually very sharp and direct. The engine we have today is the 2.2-litre 148bhp diesel, delivering plenty of low down pull and swift acceleration, reaching the 62mph mark in just 8.1 seconds. CO2 for this engine stands at 107g/km and you will realistically get around low-to-mid 60s. Thanks to Mazda’s Skyactiv philosophy of using larger engines there’s no 1.6-litre diesel options like you may find with many of its competitors. The rest of the engine range is a little unconventional for a family hatchback as well, with a 1.5-litre unit being the smallest petrol on offer. 

A 2.0-litre with either 118 or 163bhp completes the petrol range. Comfort in the cabin is very good, thanks to plenty of adjustment in the driver’s seat, cushy seats and things like this BMW-esque toggle on the centre console. Storage compartments aren’t lacking either. The Mazda3 keeps up the brand’s reputation of well-equipped interiors, with three trims on offer, each carrying a separate sat-nav-equipped Nav denotation. Standard features of every model include air-conditioning, Bluetooth, a seven-inch touchscreen and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Go for the flagship Sport Nav trim we have and there are plenty of luxury features like front and rear parking sensors, a 9-speaker Bose sound system and a futuristic HUD situated above the steering wheel, which displays your speed and any sat-nav directions. Lane departure warning and high beam control are a few handy safety features thrown in as well. 

One slightly annoying thing about the sat-nav however is the fact that it doesn’t have a postcode entry function – also, if you don’t get your seating position right, it can be a little difficult to see the HUD. Due to the sporty exterior shape, head room will be limited for six footers, but leg room is very ample, with the slim front seats helping here. Mazda manages to keep the high-quality feel of the cabin in the rear as well with nice trimmings on the doors. There are also convenient, family-friendly cup holders in the fold-down arm rest. Open the hatchback and you will notice the boot’s very practical shape, unlike some that require a little contorting to fit objects in. With 364 litres of storage capacity it sits somewhere in between all of its key competitors, and if you want to boost this space then you can pay an extra £300 for the Fastback model I mentioned earlier, which offers 419 litres of space. 

Folding the seats down allows for 1,263 litres of space, but you may have to configure the front seats or take off the rear headrests before folding them down. In a nutshell, the Mazda3 is for those who want something a bit different, and also something that offers a fun Jekyll and Hyde personality – and by that I mean a car that can act as a comfortable family cruiser and also a sporty hatch you can have a bit of fun with. You will pay for this luxury however, well at least more than the Focus, but the Mazda is still cheaper than the VW Golf. But what hatch would you go for? Images by www.caricos.com

Mazda 2 Car Auto Review

Mazda 2 Car Auto Review

Mazda X Auto

Unknown 10:15:00 AM Add Comment

It doesn’t matter which member of the current Mazda family you are stood in front of, that new front-end is extremely eye-catching and is a combination of KODO body language and lightweight Skyactiv technology. This particular model is actually Mazda’s smallest offering, the Mazda2 supermini. But just because it is the smallest in the range, that doesn’t mean it skimps on fun, quality or fuel economy. And it’s a good job, because it’s up against the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo. The cabin is undeniably Mazda, with a simplified layout, large extruded touchscreen, carbon trim and stretched dashboard inlay, which in our model has an interesting honeycomb effect.

Build quality is impressive as well and everything feels well-screwed together, although some of the scratchy plastics make the VW Polo look more polished. Entry-level models are well specced though, with air-con, electric windows, USB connectivity and plenty of driver seat adjustment. But it’s the mid-range SE-L that will entice most as it has Bluetooth, cruise control, alloy wheels and, if you go for the Nav option that we have fitted, a seven-inch infotainment system with a slick rotary controller on the centre console. Coming round to the back it’s worth mentioning that five-doors do come as standard. Space wise, it’s not overly generous, but it is in line with its supermini competitors, with just enough leg and head room to keep most happy. 

The boot is a bit of a mixed bag. You do get 280 litres with the seats in place, on par with rivals, but you also get a large lip when lifting stuff in and a lip when you fold the seats down. Total storage space, again, is there abouts the same as its rivals at 950 litres. The Japanese brand’s larger engine ethos makes an appearance in the Mazda2, with a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol and a turbocharged 1.5-litre diesel. The 1.5 petrol is available with either 74, 89 or 113bhp, but as the petrols are not turbocharged you will have to work the gearbox meticulously, but thankfully this five-speed manual gearbox is tremendously snappy and smooth. Go down the middle for the 89bhp petrol we have and its fairly nippy credentials - like a 0-62 sprint time of 9.4 seconds , should keep you entertained. You’ll also get around 50mpg in real world driving. The efficiency option is undoubtedly the 1.5 turbocharged diesel, emitting just 89g/km of CO2 and returning an average of around 70 to 75mpg. Similar to its siblings, the Mazda2’s ride and handling is a bit like a buffet, which is to say it has a bit of everything for everyone. Its suspension for example sits on the right side of firm, so it keeps body roll to a minimum and yet offers a comfortable ride. 

The steering is nicely weighted, although at times can lack feel, and there is loads of grip in the corners, meaning you can really tuck its nose into a bend. It doesn’t necessarily do everything perfectly, but it will suit those who are likely to vary their driving routes and automotive requirements. On the refinement front it does feel like a much bigger car, especially when you are motorway cruising, with good insulation and just well, a comfortable seating position. You do however get a bit of shake through the steering wheel when you push 70mph. On paper, the Mazda2 may not jump out as an obvious choice and it’s actually more expensive than the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo. But if you can’t choose between those usual suspects, then the Mazda2 strikes a nice balance, with its calculated offering of driving dynamics, fuel economy and build quality. So would you go for a Mazda2?