Driven: Mazda6 2.2D Sport Nav 2017 Review
Following a test drive of the latest generation SKYACTIV Mazda6 Sport Nav: see what we thought of this ready for business, fresh-faced saloon.
What is the Mazda6 2.2D Sport Nav about?
The new Mazda6 is ready for anything: be it a family holiday, the weekly shop, or a business meeting. It has everything you need and is a solid, credible car.
The Mazda6 engine is part of the SKYACTIV range, which is the latest technologically-enhanced range from the Japanese manufacturer’s development team. They have fine-tuned the model to make it more efficient, rather than downsizing their engines, or adding forced induction.
The styling of the current Mazda6 is at its very best. The sharp, angular lines on the vehicle look fantastic and are beautifully displayed in machine grey on the demo model. The front of the car, in particular, looks very aggressive and this increases its appeal.
We test drove the Mazda6 2.2D 150 PS Sport Nav model, which is the pick of the bunch. Performance, safety, and economy are all working in harmony. The 2.2 litre diesel engine puts out 150 PS and can do 0-60mph in 9.1 seconds. It has a top speed of 130 mph, and does all this whilst maintaining a combined fuel efficiency of 68mpg.
How does it drive?
It’s clear from the stats that the Mazda6 is no slouch. For a car of this size and class, it effortlessly eats up the road. Even the larger Mazda vehicles still have an element of fun to them. Driving the manual gearbox is not too much bother and it is there to be enjoyed rather than just to serve a purpose.
The diesel engine has 380Nm of torque that you can use throughout most of the rev range. I often found myself smiling as I pushed my foot down a little harder. That amount of torque meant that overtaking in the car was a dream and getting up to speed seems to take no time at all.
Although the Mazda6 lets itself down when cornering because of its long body, the 1,562kg car actually feels very well balanced. It provides a fair bit of feedback whilst taking the bends. The test car is running on 19″ alloy wheels with 225/45 R19 tyres. Even with large wheels, it smoothly negotiates bumps in the road. I can see it being a relaxing car to drive on a long journey.
The test vehicle came with a £800 safety pack. This includes Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Driver Attention Alert, Lane-keep Assist Radar Cruise Control, Smart City Brake Support, Traffic Sign Recognition and a reversing camera. This increases your sense of safety and makes the car feel bang up-to-date. These systems may come at a bigger premium from other brands also.
What’s it like inside?
The interior of the Mazda6 is another area where the car scores highly for me. Firstly, the usable capacity is immense; you can easily seat five adults in the vehicle without a problem. At 6’4″ with the seat in my driving position, there was still plenty of space behind me.
Everything you touch inside the car has had thought put into it. There is a great use of materials such as luxury leather on the seats, which keep you centred whilst driving round the corners.
My favourite feature of the Mazda6 is the eleven speaker Bose sound system. It’s perfectly executed, sounds brilliant and will maximise your driving pleasure.
The Experience
Owning the Mazda6 is a great experience. There are a couple of distinguishing factors that add great appeal to the car. Firstly, the machine grey bodywork and the 19″ wheels gives it a premium finish. Mazda have perfected the car’s design and it looks unbelievable.
Secondly, the brand’s unique spirit has been encapsulated in the driving experience of the Mazda6. The car seems to defy the laws of physics as it still has sharp steering, which you would expect to get from the smaller MX-5 model.
Verdict
The latest generation Mazda6 2.2-litre diesel is not only a great alternative to other four door saloons, for both business and pleasure. But it can also be looked at as a leader in the field due to its exceptional exterior design, and clever capturing of the Mazda driving experience.
Specification
Mazda6 2.2D 150 PS Sport Nav
- Price: £27,455
- Engine: 2.2-Litre Diesel
- Power: 150 PS
- Torque: 380Nm
- Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
- 0-62mph: 9.1 Seconds
- Top speed: 130 mph
- Weight: 1,568 kg
- Economy combined: 68 mpg
- CO2: 107 g/km
Author: Paul Hadley
