mazda 6 Hatchback road tests and consumer car reviews

Mazda 6 Hatchback TS2 2007

One of the first of the new Mazda 6’s and both my wife and I loved the car as soon as we saw it. That continued until recently. We were impressed with the drive, economy, styling, comfort and overall feel of this excellent looking car.....and then.....SNOW !!! Yes, it warned us of impending slippery conditions, what it didnt tell us that it simply had no way of combatting them !!! The arse end was all over the place and on the slightest of incline, despite new tyres etc, etc.,it simply could not cope. Others on the hill were up up and away,and here was I, going sideways!! Luckily I guess we don’t regularly have winters and conditions like we have had the last 6 weeks!!!

Responses to this review

Do you have the petrol or diesel version? - Allan Jamieson from Mid-Lothian (Edinburghshire)

Mazda 6 Hatchback TS 2.0 petrol 4dr 2008

Got the car late December so early days, and am growing fonder of it as time goes on, but in the first few weeks found the suspension very hard and jittery at slow speeds over poorish surfaces... have since lowered tyre pressures to 2 bar at front and 1.8 bar at rear, great improvement though heaven knows what that will do to tyre life or fuel economy. Likewise find tyre noise to be on loud side (Bridgestone E300s) and not much padding in seats and drivers seat seems set slightly to left of steering wheel centre resulting in some wriggling about to stay comfortable. Seems a lot of moans but they remain minor in relation to overall impressions and its a much pleasanter drive than a Mondeo, which seems like a tank in comparison; though it smooths out the bumps better.

Mazda 6 Hatchback 2.0 Diesel Sport 2008

I liked my old Mazda 6 but this new one is something else! Having plumped for the 2.0 diesel sport variant in shiny black metallic I have been really impressed with the performance and handling from day one. I was fortunate enough to be invited to a test day at Milbrook and drive the Mazda 6 around the alpine circuit under the watchful eye of an instructor. What a superb chassis, it goes round corners like it’s on rails and fills the driver with total confidence. As I drive in excess of 40,000 miles per year and I’m 6’ 2’’ tall I need a car that offers good legroom, a high level of comfort and equipment and the Mazda 6 provides the lot! I used to drive VW Passat’s and really suffered with lower back problems after long journeys but with my Mazda I arrive feeling as fresh as I was when I started out. It’s difficult to fault the car but there is one niggle and that’s the rain sensitive wipers which just cannot detect drizzle. Other than that I cannot heap enough praise on this car - the fuel consumption is good and I achieve around 600 miles on a full tank - and it’s not too bad on the tax either. If you enjoy driving you’ll love the new Mazda 6.