Mazda 6 2.2 CRTD 163 CV Sportive, road test (Part II)

We continue with the road test of the Mazda 6, a Japanese saloon that we have driven with its 2.2 CRTD diesel engine of 163 CV, a powertrain based on the previous two-litre, 140 CV unit it replaced a couple of years ago. In terms of handling we could already see that it not only has a sporty design, but also that its agility when it comes to driving is evident, and it behaves very well on the road (always bearing in mind that we are driving a saloon).

Now we turn to the design, a very important element for the Japanese brand, and our Mazda 6 stands out from other saloons with a sportier and more exotic design than the typical European saloons. The Mazda6 is a good car if you are looking for something different, with a good engine, dynamic handling and comprehensive standard equipment, though we will talk about the latter in the last part of the test.

Exterior design

Our Mazda 6 is the 2010 model, which has received some minor exterior changes focused mainly on the front end. Continuing with the exterior design, we find narrow headlights that give it a sporty character, along with the low-profile 18″ alloy wheels (optional).

Our model was a five-door, yet the rear still retains its character, and the low ride height, tinted glass and rear lights blend sportiness and elegance seamlessly. The front headlights are bi-xenon on the Luxury Sportive trim, and they are also self-levelling, providing good night-time illumination and, above all, practicality on winding roads.

Interior design and space

As soon as we get behind the wheel of the Mazda 6 we see that it has a typically Japanese interior but with quality materials on a par with any saloon on the market. Our unit featured leather seats, electrically adjustable and heated, which come as standard on the Sportive trim, and which also offer good support.

The dashboard corrects a detail we saw on the Mazda CX-7, since the navigation screen is larger and sits in the centre of the central console rather than being integrated into the instrument cluster as on the CX-7. The driving position is quite comfortable; from the steering wheel we can control practically all the multimedia and navigation equipment, and there is enough headroom. Meanwhile, in the rear seats there is plenty of legroom but not as much headroom, since the design (as usual) takes its toll.

Besides being spacious, the interior also has plenty of storage spaces for our belongings, such as the cup holders in the centre tunnel or the central compartment, but for the occupants of the front seats, since there are no storage spaces at the rear , and this is an area for improvement; at the very least, a glovebox in the rear doors would be welcome.

Boot

Finally, we have the boot section, which is quite large with regular shapes and a capacity of 510 litres, which can always be extended by folding down the seats. In particular, the rear seats can be folded down from the boot in a simple and quick way, a good feature if we are carrying something and need more space: with a single control from the boot we have the rear seats folded down.

Having seen its design both inside and out, and how the Mazda 6 behaves, in the third part of the test we will, as usual, discuss equipment, prices and our overall assessment of the model.

Photos | David Taboada