New Mazda6 first drive

At the European launch of the new Mazda6 in the South of France this week I was able to sample 120PS 1.8 litre and 170PS 2.5 litre versions (no examples of the 140PS diesel were yet available).

On a mixture of roads ranging from fast autoroute to twisting coastal roads, and including some town driving, I was impressed by the overall refinement of both models. Except when accelerating very hard, the cars were impressively quiet, and cruising at motorway speeds was particularly hushed.

The supple ride quality did not mean poor handling, and rapid cornering felt reassuringly safe, with minimum body roll; the usefully-weighted, responsive power steering helped to make light of the tightest corners. Braking from high speeds felt effective without being over-aggressive.

The seats were generously proportioned and supportive, and for both front and rear passengers leg and head room were generous. The luggage compartment on each of the saloons I drove was long, deep and wide.

I found that the five-speed gearbox in the 1.8 litre car, and the six-speed unit in the 2.5 litre, were both smooth and slick in operation, and contributed greatly to the overall enjoyment of driving, especially in heavy traffic.

Even the 1.8 litre version felt fairly lively (although on long autoroute inclines it was sometimes necessary to change down to fourth gear to maintain momentum), and the 2.5 litre model was especially eager on the open road.

MILESTONES

Prices: From £15,100

Performance: the 0 to 62 mph acceleration time for the 1.8 is stated as being 11.6 seconds, and the top speed 123 mph. Equivalent figures for the 2.5 litre model are 10.2 seconds and 132 mph respectively.

VERDICT: Solidly built, well engineered, comprehensively equipped and enjoyable to drive. In due course it will be interesting to try the diesel and estate versions.

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