Kentish Express Ashford & District

Six of the

Mazda have given the 6 a midlife refresh and, as Paul Acres finds out, made a great car better

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The Mazda6 has always been one of the best in its class. It’s always been fun to drive, practical, efficient and green. However, the old adage, to stand still is to go backwards, is as true for car manufactur­ers as it is for any other business which is why Mazda have given the medium-sized saloon and Tourer a very welcome spruce up.

You’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference between pre- and post-revamp models simply by looking at them, even side by side because Mazda have focused their attention on where it matters, and the 6’s styling has stood the test of time admirably.

I drove the 2.2-litre diesel with Mazda’s SkyActiv technology, which delivers the efficiency of a smaller capacity engine without sacrificin­g performanc­e. On the road the it feels brisk and there’s the merest hint of a nudge in the back when dropping down through the gears to overtake.

Handling is as sharp as ever, with excellent turn-in, while the ride is slightly on the firm side but not uncomforta­bly so. There’s plenty of grip to exploit should you be so inclined and enough feedback through the steering wheel to help keep you on the straight, narrow and twisty stuff.

The updates included Mazda’s innovative G-Vectoring system that adjusts torque according to steering angle to provide a more stable and comfortabl­e driving experience.

Flicking through the gears is made easy thanks to the short throw lever and light, positive action.

The well-insulated cabin provides a relaxing and comfortabl­e environmen­t for longer journeys and the seats are supportive and the driving position just about spot on.

Head and leg room in the back is fine, and access is made easier thanks to doors that open nice and wide.

The dashboard now has a much more thoughtful, modern layout and Mazda has upgraded the cabin materials.

The built-in display has gone, replaced by a freestandi­ng seven-inch unit atop the dashboard.

It’s controlled using the touchscree­n or a rotary Multimedia Commander located between the seats and incorporat­es the sat nav, DAB radio and MZD-Connect, which pairs with a smartphone to provide real-time internet access and social media connectivi­ty.

The Sport Nav model that I tested is fitted with an 11-speaker Bose sound system complete with digital sound processing and an eightchann­el equaliser.

The boot offers a generous 522 litres of space, rising to an impressive 1,664 litres with the 60:40 split rear seats stowed away, a process made simple using the levers in the load bay or release buttons on the set backs. The boot floor is flat and easily accessible thanks to the large tailgate.

The 6 has always been a good car, good enough to warrant a place on anyone’s shopping list, but there was certainly room for improvemen­t.

Mazda clearly felt the same because the midlife refresh has addressed the car’s weaknesses without compromisi­ng its strengths. Mazda may have made little changes, but they’ve improved a lot.

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