Mazda 6: A near flawless creation that comes with a CD player too

“Mazda” isn’t the sexiest name in cars. This is despite trying very hard. The firm has a long record in making sporty sports cars, such as the phenomenal MX-5 roadster, and sporty saloons, including a succession of eccentric, if not downright weird, rotary-engined saloons such as the RX-8 (a coupe/saloon hybrid that is destined for classic status, if you can stand the upkeep of its high-maintenance, thirsty engine).

Mostly, however, Mazda sits firmly in that automotive mainstream, neither premium nor budget. It is quite easy to get lost in there. Mazda doesn’t deserve to. The latest improved version of the Mazda 6 reminds us why.

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The model has been around for a few years now, and is almost as familiar a sight on our roads as the Ford Mondeo, VW Passat and Vauxhall Insignia which dominate the segment, and indeed the new wave of SUVs that have grown so ubiquitous (Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai among many others).

There’s a good reason for the success of the 6 in a crowded field, as it has always been a well-engineered, well-built reliable car, with elegant, fluent styling and competitive levels of equipment for the price. Company car drivers certainly seem to like it. Its virtues have shone through.

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Now, though, Mazda’s dedicated engineers – and this is one of those car companies driven by its engineers, not its salespeople or accountants – have made their “SKYACTIV-X” engines even more efficient – trying to keep up with newer competition.

Mazda basically believes that the game is not yet up for the dear old internal combustion engine, powered properly by petrol, and over at HOQ in Hiroshima the engineers spend a good deal of time and money trying to perfect it (though progress has also been made in diesels and hybrids, the focus on petrol remains).

So they have treated their 2.5 litre unit in the 6 to a new combustion system, which basically means the car runs much “leaner” than it did before, but can also deliver the power that is needed from rest and when rapid acceleration is required.

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Like some engines from Chrysler, Fiat and others before it, this four-cylinder Mazda will also run on only two cylinders when it is under light load – say running at a constant 60mph on cruise control – which has a significant impact on its fuel consumption. In practice the switches from two to four cylinders and back again are imperceptible. It is a fine piece of work.

The idea is to both improve power output, return more miles per gallon and reduce emissions – and it pretty much works. I noticed a very slight harshness in the running at low speeds, but on the move the Mazda is its usually smooth and responsive self, and the system works well with the conventional automatic gearbox, which more than can be said for some of its “premium” German rivals.

The unit is also linked to a “mild hybrid” system that regenerates energy wasted in braking, with a modest boost to low speed acceleration. An excellent package then, though only available on the largest petrol engine option in this revised 6.

In many ways the new Mazda 6 saloon and Tourer are nothing less than flawless. The sinuous styling has aged well since it was first seen on the “Kodo” concept nearly a decade ago, and they’ve confined themselves to giving the front a bolder look, plus a touch more chrome for the larger grille, with a bigger Mazda “bird” logo plonked on it. The curve that flows into the front doors like a vestigial wing is very distinctive.

Its package of curves and haunches makes this Mazda slightly reminiscent of contemporary Jaguars, or maybe that should be the other way around. It looks especially attractive finished in the signature Mazda Soul Red crystal metallic.

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Indoors, the 6 is commodious and comfortable, though the Tourer isn’t especially roomy compared to some estate rivals (eg Skoda, still the space kings). It has nice, thoughtful, touches such as exceptionally high (electric) seat adjustment and unusually wide doors to help access for those past their most athletic years. I liked especially the fuel gauge, which shows you not just how much petrol is left, as is legally required, but also how far you’ll get on it, which is more to the point. This is such an easy feature thing to add to a dash display and so useful I don’t see why others don’t do it. The heads up display gives you all the essential details – satnav directions, speed, safety warnings – and the driver assistance aids work efficiently from steering wheel controls.

It’s a bit sombre, though, the interior. The light leatherwork on my test car did lift things, but otherwise it’s pretty conservative. Maybe some “mood” lighting around the cabin would add a bit more atmosphere.

Another detail: they’ve even made the touch screen speed sensitive, so you can’t use it above 6mph, for safety reasons. It makes you resort to a dial next to the handbrake or the steering wheel buttons instead, and is, I’ll concede, a wise move.

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Look around the dash and you will even find a little slot for something called a compact disc, if you remember those. From Olivier Messiaen to The Sun’s giveaway compilation Medallion Man, I’ve got lots of them and feel just a little disenfranchised every time I get into a car and there’s nothing to play them on. The audio system makes the best of it. Actually I’d quite like a new car with a cassette player too, but that is asking too much, I know. (The Mazda’s got all the modern digi kit too, of course).

The 6, as saloon or Tourer, will suit many families just fine, though, fashion being what it is, they might instead opt for one of the Mazda SUVs, the CX-3 or CX-5, both very accomplished.

Anyhow, it won’t be that long before an all-new Mazda 6 arrives. The company has entered into a partnership with its gigantic rival Toyota, and an electric/hybrid powertrain – with a rotary engine range extender – is promised. I hope that Mazda’s “zoom zoom” spirit and individuality won’t get smothered, and I hope too, against the odds, there’ll still be a CD player in the 6 of tomorrow. Otherwise one of the current ones will have to do. It would do very well, I think.