2nd Mazda 6

Mazda is the better driver’s car here, but it’s narrowly edged out in most other areas

THE engines partly define the driving experience of our two test contenders; the Mazda 6 uses a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre against the 1.4 TSI unit in the Volkswagen. The company’s philosophy means you have to work the motor in the 6 a little bit harder. It’s slightly down on power with 143bhp, but what’s more noticeable is the 40Nm torque deficit.

This is also produced 2,500rpm higher than in the Passat, and refinement is affected by having to rev the Mazda’s motor harder.

It’s a smooth unit and welcomes hard driving, which is good, because you’ll need to treat it this way to extract the performance; of which there is plenty available. Yet whereas the Volkswagen’s engine is fairly quiet, the Mazda is more vocal. There’s not much to split these cars once you settle down to a motorway cruise, although the response in top gear is better in the VW.

However, under full throttle conditions for our 0-60mph test at the track, the Mazda was actually faster, taking 8.6 seconds to complete the dash compared with 9.2 seconds in the VW.

Traction off the line wasn’t as good as in the Volkswagen, but once the 6’s engine is up in the higher reaches of the rev range, there’s a decent turn of speed, and this explains this superior sprint time. The Passat’s gearbox shifts nicely, but the Mazda’s is even sweeter; it allows fast, precise gearchanges, which was also a big factor in its impressive run off the line.

Most driving isn’t full throttle, though, so the extra torque and flexibility the VW’S engine brings will be more beneficial more of the time.

The 6 counters this with plenty of comfort and an easy, unruffled feel to its suspension damping and body control. It doesn’t have the slightly firmer edge of the VW, which was partly down to the Mazda’s smaller wheels and taller tyre sidewalls. Yet there’s still more than enough precision and control from the chassis and steering, even if it doesn’t feel quite as responsive when changing direction as the VW.

Even in fairly high-spec SE-L Nav trim the 6 doesn’t seem quite as upmarket as the Passat. However, it’s £2,845 cheaper and basically comes with an identical level of equipment. You get sat-nav, Bluetooth, DAB, cruise and climate control, plus front and rear parking sensors. But all this kit isn’t quite as well integrated as in the Passat and quality isn’t up to the same standard, either, so that extra outlay is reflected in the cabin.