Mazda hits target with class tourer

THE Tourer estate version of the fourth generation Mazda6 has evolved into a very complete package.

But is it good enough to out-point Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia station wagon rivals?

The Mazda6 has built on the strong showing of its predecessor with sharper styling, better attention to quality and some very economical engines.

Many will want it in this stylish Tourer estate guise. It’s got the talent to give some better-selling cars in its class quite a lot to think about.

The Mazda6 hasn’t had the easiest ride, whether the variant in question is a saloon or this Tourer estate.

The first generation car drove brilliantly but felt a bit lightweight and the diesel engines were plagued by reliability issues.

The second generation model was an improvement in virtually every regard but seemed to lack its predecessor’s personality and fun factor.

Some of that returned with the third generation model, launched in 2012. This featured Mazda’s clever SYYACTIV technology which dramatically improved running costs and made this model not only good enough to prise customers away from mainstream rivals but even to make buyers of lower order German compact executive saloons think twice.

It only needed a smarter cabin and a bit of extra technology, both things apparently delivered by this MK4 model.

The Mazda6 Tourer sits on the same chassis that underpins the saloon variant, so the road going demeanour is just the same.

As before, most Tourer models will be sold with either 2.0-litre petrol or 2.2-litre diesel SKYACTIV powerplants.

The 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G petrol unit has been enhanced with redesigned intake ports, revised pistons and a more advanced fuel injection and cooling set-up.

The fourth generation Mazda6 is a very good product in the medium range estate segment, especially in Tourer estate form.

The problem for the Japanese brand though is that it now competes against some other particularly good estates in this class. It needed a bit extra to stand out.

Will the redesign we’ve been looking at here be enough to enable it to do that? Much of the answer to that depends on how Mazda promotes this car.

Right now it’s a bit of a forgotten choice in its sector but in our view, it doesn’t deserve to be.