Living up to the zoom-zoom boom

With a 2.2 litre engine and strapping size, you wouldn’t expect the all-new Mazda 6 to be on good terms with the environment. But at just 108g/km CO2 it’s surprisingly planet-friendly

Released in January this year, the all-new Mazda6 Saloon is a remarkable car in terms of its look, its performance, and its low-carbon and fuel-sipping credentials. On paper the car is quoted to do 67.3mpg on a combined cycle and I was itching to find out if it would live up to this figure in the real world. Well, I got impressively close. On a 200‑mile trip up to Leeds, with some town driving and lots of motorway driving, I achieved just shy of 60mpg (59.7mpg to be exact). The CO2 level of 108g/km is also remarkably good for a car of its size and power.

   
The car is a pleasure to drive. The 2.2 four‑cylinder with turbo booster gives you instant acceleration and satisfying power and is very quick to get up to speed. The drive is smooth at speed, with the car absorbing any bumps in the road. And it’s quiet too, both in terms on engine noise and road noise. In fact, Mazda engineers have worked to make the engine noise more pleasurable, tuning the ‘intake and exhaust to eliminate undesirable high frequency sounds while maintaining the vibrant low-frequency band’.

Getting Techy
The Mazda6 has SKYACTIV technology, which is the manufacturer’s new approach for fuel efficiency and lowering emissions. Encompassing the powertrains, chassis and body, the technology has recently won the What Car? ultra-low-carbon award for its ‘totally fresh approach’ to fuel efficiency. The stop start system i-stop, which stops the engine when the car is at a standstill and starts it again when you step on the accelerator, works without hesitation and does not hinder the zoom-zoom when setting off. For the first time, this model is equipped with brake energy regeneration called i-ELOOP which is claimed to boost economy by up to 10 per cent – enhancing the Mazda6’s green credentials even further.
   
The Mazda6 has an extensive list of safety features, which is noticeable as you do feel confident driving the car. Firstly the body offers robust impact protection thanks to highly rigid impact-absorbing structures and load paths to disperse energy away from the cabin. To help the driver avoid accidents, it has radar-based Rear Vehicle Monitoring, Smart City Brake Support (SCSB) and Lane Departure Warning System. Even when in a collision, passive safety technologies work to diminish its severity for occupants and pedestrians – and even the vehicle itself.

Pleasing on the eye
With it’s strapping body, smooth lines, and striking wing grille, the Mazda6 is eye catching from all angles. Internally the cabin is extremely comfortable, with ample leg space for passengers in the front and back and a generous boot. The manufacturer says the cockpit has been designed to promote ‘simple and accurate recognition of controls and indicators’, and it’s true – all the buttons and dials are recognisable and where you would expect them.
   
The parking assist system, which gives audio and visual warnings  for the front and rear is very useful when trying to park a car of its size. Also worth a note is the 5.8-inch touchscreen sat-nav which gives clear instructions, is visually easy to follow, and is easy to use.

One aspect I have always liked about Mazda is the good level of standard specification that comes with each model. This model comes with satellite navigation, 17-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Traction Control System (TCS), cruise control, air-conditioning, integrated Bluetooth and Mazda Multimedia system with a 5.8-inch colour touch screen display.

Details
ENGINE: 2191cc, 4-cyl turbodiesel
CO2: 108g/km
MPG (combined): 67.3
VED: Band B
BIK: 20%
PRICE (OTR): £23,195
(including VAT)