In the 20 years since Ford launched its first Mondeo, Europe’s D-segment has changed beyond recognition. Where once these large saloons and hatchbacks were regarded as a badge of competence for designers, engineers and marketers, these days it is hugely diminished, overshadowed in sales, profitability and importance by the C- and even smaller B-segment. And non-premium models have suffered most; basically anything not German.
Mazda wants to sell its new model to a middle ground of upper-non-premium, user-chooser company-car drivers. We’ve heard this sort of marketing ploy before from Honda, Mazda and Saab and it hasn’t worked.
Tested: Four-door saloon with 2,191cc, four-cyl turbodiesel, six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive
Price/on sale: £19,595 to £28,045 (as tested £25,595)/now
Power/torque: 148bhp @ 4,500rpm/280lb ft @ 1,800rpm
Top speed: 131mph
Acceleration: 0-62mph in 9.0sec
Fuel economy: 55.4mpg/67.3mpg/46.5mpg (EU Urban/Combined/on test)
CO2 emissions: 108g/km
It only gets three stars, marked down on handling and price. Surely a competitor for the MG6, an established sporty brand with low CO2...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufacturers/mazda/9840286/Mazda6-review.html
