Review of the new Mazda6 2.0 DISI

The fleet customers that have long been responsible for keeping the medium range family car market ticking over tend to like the Mazda6. Who can blame them? The car has good looks, a finely honed driving experience and attractive running costs in its favour. Of course, it's by no means the only competent option available and sales in this sector of the market are often secured by the tightest of margins. Can the latest 2.0-litre DISI petrol engine contribute to the Mazda6 cause?

Sportiness is a sought-after commodity in most kinds of car to a greater or lesser extent. In a conventional family model like the Mazda6, it usually boils down to some sleek styling and an engaging driving experience. The powerful engines and firm suspension fitted to more specialist performance models would respectively be too costly and too wearing for the Mazda6's wide audience.

Rather than being sporty in the grand scheme of things then, the Mazda6 is a more stylish and agile proposition compared to the majority of its medium range rivals. These are useful qualities to have in a market that's dominated by business users who are rarely averse to outshining colleagues in the company car park.

The main factor that will hamper the 2.0 DISI engine in its quest for sales is that it isn't a diesel. The strong mid-range torque and low running costs of a good oil-burner such as the 2.2-litre unit offered with the Mazda6 have a powerful pull but this 2.0 petrol shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. It's a 153bhp engine with 193Nm of torque available at 4,500rpm. The 0-60mph sprint takes 10.3s in the manual model and there's a 134mph top speed. By popular demand, Mazda is also offering a five-speed automatic which slows 0-60mph acceleration to 11.2s.

"There are a lot of 2.0-litre petrol engines in the medium range family car class but Mazda is confident that its 2.0 DISI is up with the best of them"

Ultimately, it's the Mazda6 chassis that will supply more of the enjoyment for keen drivers than the engines themselves. The fully-independent suspension system has been enhanced on the latest cars with numerous small modifications designed to bring more grip, stability and comfort. The steering, the one weak point in the Mazda6 driving experience, is also upgraded with revisions to the mounting bushes and the power assistance.

Without doing anything too dramatic or innovative to challenge the styling conventions of the medium range market, the Mazda6 is a very good-looking car. The latest models can be identified by even shapelier headlamps and a more sculpted bumper beneath featuring a trio of large intakes - the outer ones housing the fog lamps within their chromed boarders. The light clusters have also been tweaked at the rear and inside is a higher quality feel helped by chrome dials and piano-black trim inserts.

The Mazda6 is a large car that has plenty of pace for five occupants and a big boot. The hatchback models offer 510 litres of capacity below the car's belt-line but you only get 9 litres more inside the estate version. In the rear, the 60/40 split seatbacks fold forward with a simple, single movement, presenting a flat luggage floor and a 1,702-litre capacity that increases to 1,751 litres in the estate.

Mazda6 buyers can get the 2.0-litre DISI engine in hatchback or estate form and have a choice of TS, TS2 and Sport trim levels. Happily, Mazda's usual generous specifications apply. At the TS level, there's dual-zone climate control, 16" alloy wheels, cruise control and a trip computer. TS2 adds Bluetooth connectivity, front fog lights, 17" alloys, parking sensors and the RVMS Rear Vehicle Monitoring System which detects cars and motorcycles in your blind spot. The Sport models get half leather trim, keyless entry, Bi-Xenon headlamps with a cornering function, a BOSE stereo and a number of other styling accessories.

This is the only Mazda6 engine with an automatic option which will count in its favour but there's a £1,200 premium to get it. A diesel engine can be had for around £600 less but if you want the same specification and similar performance, you'll need to pay £1,000 more to get an oil-burner.

The economy and emissions figures for the 2.0 Mazda6 are competitive for the class, if predictably lagging behind the diesels. It returns 40.9mpg on the combined cycle with 159g/km of CO2 puffing from its exhaust. Add the automatic transmission and costs rise with economy of 37.2mpg and 176g/km emissions.

Mazda is confident that residual values of the latest Mazda6 will be amongst the best in the class and CAP seems to concur, pointing out that the TS2 grade is likely to prove the best investment in the range. Owners can expect their cars to be worth about 35% of the original value after three years. Insurance costs are reasonable and there's a three-year/60,000-mile warranty on all models.

There are a lot of 2.0-litre petrol engines in the medium range family car class but Mazda is confident that its 2.0 DISI is up with the best of them. The figures appear to back that up and when fitted beneath the sleek lines of the Mazda6, the engine forms part of a compelling package. Diesel will continue to have the edge over petrol in this area of the market for the foreseeable future but if you have a soft spot for a sporty, free-revving petrol car, the Mazda6 is a good place to start the hunt.

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