Mazda 6 vs VW Passat
Which of these efficient, easy-to-live with family four-doors makes a better used buy?
We decide which family saloon makes a better used buy
Mazda 6 51.0mpg (on test) £68 fill-up Mazda 6 2.2D Sport Nav Years: 2013 to date Engine: 2.2-litre 4cyl, 173bhp Ins grp: 23 Official econ/co2: 62.8mpg/119g/km Why? The Mazda 6 is great value, offers lots of kit and is fun to drive, plus it looks great inside and out.
Prices from: £12,295 THE Mazda narrowly lost out to the VW in our group test last year, but it’s a different story on the used market, as the 6 is much cheaper.
It’s also a more stylish offering inside and out with a curvy exterior and driver-focused cabin, smartened up as part of the facelift in 2015. Sport Nav spec comes loaded with kit that’s missing on the VW, including climate control and heated leather seats.
The Mazda doesn’t quite offer the same level of refinement and comfort as the VW, but it’s more fun to drive with enjoyable handling. The 2.2-litre diesel is also a strong performer, proving faster than the VW. It should be even more frugal in the real world, too.
It’s not quite as desirable for company car buyers due to the higher CO2 emissions, but that’s less relevant when buying used.
The 6 finished in 55th place in our Driver Power 2016 satisfaction survey, with reasonable reliability and build quality scores. Gearboxes can be notchy, so check before buying. Mazda 6 ★★★★★ ON the used market, little else in the class can touch the Mazda for value. It’s great to drive, well equipped, looks sharp and should be cheap to run, meaning it narrowly beats the VW here. VW Passat ★★★★★ MAKE no mistake, the Passat is a very capable car that offers lots of space and comfort. But its stronger residuals mean it’s not as good value used, plus it has less kit and drab styling, too. VW Passat 46.4mpg (on test) £72 fill-up VW Passat 2.0 TDI SE Business Years: 2014 to date Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 148bhp Ins grp: 19 Official econ/co2: 70.6mpg/106g/km Why? Few rivals can beat the Passat’s blend of space, comfort, solidity and composure, but it’s pricey used. Prices from: £13,995 FOR years the Passat has been the perfect choice for those after a mainstream saloon with a premium feel, and the latest model is no exception. In Business SE spec it looks rather unexciting next to the Mazda, but it’s got understated class as well as a very solid, upmarket and easy-to-operate cabin.
It beats the 6 for space, too, with a bigger boot and more rear headroom, although a lot of the kit found as standard on the Mazda was optional in the VW when new, so buy carefully.
On the road, the Passat excels thanks to its impressive ride comfort. It’s not bad in corners, but lacks the engaging feel of the Mazda. Plus, despite better on-paper figures, in our hands it hasn’t proven as efficient out on the road, although low CO2 figures make it cheap to tax.
The latest Passat didn’t feature in Driver Power 2016, but the previous-generation model disappointed by ranking in 126th. We’ve heard of no major issues with the current car, and it will be comfortable racking up the miles.