Mazda 6 - A Worthy Alternative To A German Premium Saloon (Part 2)

The only area where the Mazda noticeably lags behind its rivals is with regards to its interior. While spacious, comfortable and finished to an acceptably high standard, it’s just not as quiet at motorway speeds as it should be; both wind and road noise intrude into the cabin too much. Those covering mostly motorway miles could tire of the persistent roar at speed.

The Mazda’s cabin is just a little drab for my liking as well; myriad black plastic finishes, dark wood trim and black leather all combine to make the interior somewhat oppressive. Opting for the optional $ 336.34 Light Stone leather might improve affairs considerably, but you are still stuck with the glossy piano black trims and the aforementioned dark wood, so the end result might be too much of a contrast.

2014 Mazda 6 Interior

I found a few other interior curiosities, too, including a relatively basic trip computer - you can’t view range remaining and average economy at the same time, for example - and a volume control that inexplicably ran all the way up to 62. I’d love to have been in the meeting where that one was decided.

These issues didn’t compromise the Mazda’s ease of use, something that was bolstered further by a capacious boot and a decent-sized fuel tank. It wasn’t difficult to eke around 550 miles out of a single tank, which helped to avoid overly frequent fuelling stops, and the car could easily accommodate four adults and all the necessary gear for a long camping weekend.

What’s also interesting is that the few faults that developed along the way didn’t put me off the Mazda — partly because none stopped the car from being usable and partly because it was giving me so little grief elsewhere.

2014 Mazda 6 i Sport instrument cluster

During our 16,253 miles in the car, the issues we experienced included warped brake discs and a recall for squeaky suspension top mounts — the replacement of which were carried out efficiently and politely by the local Mazda dealer.

Park the 6 next to an entry-level BMW 3-series or Audi A4 and I’ll bet you it’s the Mazda that garners more attention

It did raise a few questions regarding the Mazda’s long-term durability, but the interior, exterior and powertrain don’t appear any the worse for wear for its time on the fleet. Even the paintwork has held up well, with minimal stone chip damage despite a substantial number of motorway treks over its year with us.

Admittedly there are things that its rivals do better, but as an overall ownership proposition I think it’s the pick of the bunch. The Mazda will only cost you $ 50.45 to tax, for one thing, which is impressive given the performance on offer compared with similar-priced rivals. Coupled with the low fuel costs and comparatively sensible servicing bills, it shouldn’t break the bank to run.

The Mazda’s uniqueness contributes further to its appeal; park one next to an Audi or entry-level BMW and I’ll bet you it’s the Mazda that garners more attention. Or at least it will if there are people mildly interested in executive saloons walking around.

All in all, I’m going to be sad to see the back of the Mazda. Would I take one home over its German rivals, or alternatives like the ageing Ford Mondeo? Yes, without a doubt. I suspect that many buyers, however, will still blindly pick an Audi or a BMW over the Mazda.

That’s a shame, because they’re missing out on a great car. Well, I think they are, at any rate.

Mazada 6’s ear seat room is above average for a car in this class.