Estate Benefits? The Mazda 6 Tourer

The Mazda 6 Tourer : A Woman’s Eye Car Review






There was a time when going on holiday with the family meant loading everyone and everything up in an old estate car, pointing the car in the direction of the nearest seaside and heading off.

Life (and cars) have become a little more complex. We have MPV’s, 4 x 4’s, SUV’s and Crossovers, and families used to constant entertainment on long journeys. So where does the estate car fit in to the market? We test drove the new Mazda 6 Tourer for a surprisingly luxurious taste of nostalgia and comfort.

Mazda , literally meaning the ‘god of wisdom, intelligence and harmony’, have combined all of these qualities to produce a regal feeling car on the inside, with a slightly space-age demeanour on the exterior, particularly at the rear end. Handling is light and noise levels (minus children) are subdued: the overall impression is of a smooth quiet ride, with a touch of class.

The distinctive design of the Mazda definitely falls in to the ‘love it or hate it’ category: if you like your estate cars solid and Mumsy (Volvo) or sexy and gutsy (Mercedes/BMW) the Mazda might offer a surprising alternative (cutting edge and green). The Mazda 6 saloon has been shortlisted for World Car Design of the Year and is soon to showcase at Milan Design Week. It really is the Picasso of the driving world, rather than a Turner.

Cabin space in the Mazda 6 Tourer is plentiful and boot space can be extended by folding the rear seats down. As with most estate cars, comfort for the middle passenger in the rear seats is almost always compromised by the raised middle seat section. (As a point of some interest, particularly to parents, some research has shown that positioning any passenger in the middle rear seats can be up to 43% safer, as this area is far less likely to suffer direct impact on collision).

Safety features include abundant airbags as standard and Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) which enlists an automatic braking mechanism on detection of an object in front of the vehicle. There is also an automatic screen display warning of icy roads and hazardous driving conditions (if you haven’t already managed to slip up on your way to the car) and the option for a rear vehicle monitoring system, to alert you to cars approaching from the rear.

The overall winner, in terms of choosing this particular estate over others, or indeed, the multitude of SUV’s on offer, must be its fuel economy. With a combination of a lightweight body and efficient engine combustion and transmission, the Mazda 6 Tourer can achieve 64.2 mpg (combined) and splutters out only 116g per km of CO2 emissions: a rare feat for an able body carrier.

If you’re not in love with the high riding position of an SUV or 4 x 4, and like the feel of a saloon car, but with a bit more space, this estate car is for you.

Our one niggle with this particular car-the ignition button (key-free) is slightly obscured by the steering wheel.





Our Test Drive Model: Mazda 6 2.2D Tourer SE-L

Price (from £21,265) This model: £23,945

Competitors:

Ford Mondeo

VW Passat

Colours Red, Blue, Grey, Black, White

Safety Features Smart City Brake Support

Rear Vehicle Monitoring System (optional or standard)?***

NCAP Safety Rating:

MPG Combined: 64.2 mpg

CO2 Emissions 116g per Km

A Me-Mo Car Review

Labels: car review mazda 6 tourer, car reviews, estate cars, estate cars mazda 6 tourer, mazda 6 tourer, me-mo.co.uk, womens online driving magazine, womentalking.co.uk

posted by Ruthie @ 8:11 AM 1 Comments