Quick test: Mazda 6 Tourer
Model tested 2.5 GT Sport Nav+ Automatic Price £31,695
Mazda’s updated 6 is fun to drive, and makes a reasonably good tow car if your preference is for a petrol engine
Towing ability We’ve had positive experiences towing with the Mazda 6 in the past. In fact, a few years back, a Mazda 6 won the Best Petrol Tow Car prize at the Tow Car Awards. Could the new 2.5-litre version be a contender in 2019? Well, it has a healthy 191bhp. It’s mid-range torque that really counts when towing, however, and the 2.5-litre engine has 190lb ft. That compares with 184lb ft from the equivalent petrol model in the Volkswagen Passat line-up. The Mazda delivers maximum pulling power from 4000rpm, compared with 1250rpm for the VW. However, the Mazda’s sixspeed automatic tranmission does a good job of choosing the right ratio to make the most of the engine’s muscle. We found it better to leave the gearbox in its normal mode rather than selecting ‘sport’. In this setting the ’box was too keen to hold a low gear, dropping from sixth to fourth when we changed from one mode to the other while towing on the motorway. With a kerbweight of 1610kg, the 6 has an 85% match figure of 1369kg. That’s within the legal maximum of 1500kg. For our test, we matched the Mazda to a Swift Challenger 580 with a MIRO of 1367kg. That’s almost exactly an 85% match with no luggage or touring equipment inside the caravan. But it would have exceeded the car’s legal towing limit if the Swift had been fully loaded. The 6 pulled the Swift up to speed cleanly and quickly, and comfortably held 60mph on the motorway. In addition, thanks to the responsive gearbox, it maintained speed well on hilly roads. It took a lot of care to make smooth hill starts, however. On damp Tarmac, it was easy to spin the wheels. Out on the motorway, we were reasonably happy with the stability of the 6. In still air, the car tracked straight and true, but it did move around a little when caught in a cross wind.
‘The steering is keen and precise, and this is far more fun to drive than most family estates’
It certainly wasn’t enough to have our palms sweating, but we’ve found the Škoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat to be more secure in breezy weather.
Solo driving The Mazda 6 has long been one of the most enjoyable family cars to drive. Keen drivers will be pleased to know that no babies have been thrown out with the bath water in Mazda’s attempt to make the 6 more comfortable and refined. Steering is keen and precise, and the car corners with true agility. It’s far more fun than most family estates, especially if you use the paddles behind the steering wheel to change gear for yourself. Although the ride is still firm, the tweaked suspension is welljudged. This is a comfortable car, unless you really clout a big bump or pothole. The Mazda is also quieter at speed than it used to be. Body reinforcements and extra sound deadening contribute to keeping the cabin reasonably hushed at speed. However, engine noise can be intrusive if you use all of the available performance. It’s quiet at a steady cruise, but the engine can be harsh and vocal higher up the rev range.
Space and practicality
Mazda has improved the finish inside the 6. Go for the top-spec GT Sport Nav+ (your only choice with the 2.5-litre engine) and the cabin is trimmed in plush Nappa leather. There’s plenty of legroom in the front of the car, and we were comfortable after a long journey. In the back, you’ll find enough head- and legroom for adults, and vents between the front seats allow conditioned air to reach those in the rear. For a family estate, boot space is good rather than outstanding. A capacity of 522 litres should be sufficient, although the Škoda Superb Estate has more room. But it’s easy to fold the seats flat, using levers either side of the tailgate, which extends the capacity to 1664 litres.
Buying and owning
At north of £30,000, this is the most expensive petrol version of the 6, but it’s less than the equivalent VW Passat Estate. Fuel bills won’t be cheap, with an official combined figure of 37.2mpg under the new WLTP regime. We were reasonably happy with the 23.6mpg we achieved while towing. GT Sport Nav+ models are very well-equipped in terms of luxury kit and driver aids, and the 6 comes with a fivestar rating from Euro NCAP. Verdict A fine estate car if you have decided on petrol power.