Pros and cons of shunning the obvious

Hypermiling

It’s so un-dynamic I’ve started looking for pleasure elsewhere within the Mazda 6 ownership experience, in particular by trying to take the impressive fuel economy to even greater heights. It’s oddly addictive, and infectious too – on a recent cross country trip with Ben Miller he let out a celebratory yelp when he nudged up the onboard trip by 0.1 mpg.

Safecracker required

Many other cars’ keyleyss-entry systems are ‡lawed, but this one make no sense at all. With the key in your pocket you unlock the front doors by pressing a button on the handle. Need something from the rear seats? Now you need to ‡ind the key and press the unlock button. Luggage in the boot? You can open it without pressing any buttons.

Immune to fashion

I’m slowly being won over by the understated looks of my Mazda. There’s a maturity to its nonconformist styling that shuns the garish, overused cues of the saloon clones coming out of Germany in particular. No singing, dancing LED lights, no diamond-cut alloys, no lines that lead nowhere – just simple, well proportioned shapes.

Seats

The seats are described as ‘sculpted to the human form’, yet the base is positioned so high I can’t sit straight (thanks to the reduced headroom caused by the sunroof), leaving me crooked and in agony – not that my chiropractor is complaining. And that metal bar across your spine!?