Mazda6: new arrival

Arrived: May 2008
List price (including options): £19,490
Average economy: 37.9mpg

The Mazda6 Estate has been -

Taking the place of the little 2, the Mazda6 2.0D TS2 Estate is mine for six months. So it'll be with me over the summer, transporting me up and down the country to see friends and family, and even taking the odd sojourn abroad when I've got the time. Prior to its arrival here 'my' 6 spent a bit of time on the press fleet, covering the 6 launch event. So when I got the keys it had 2,356 miles on the odometer, meaning I've been able to get in it straight away and start adding to those miles without having to take it easy running in. Over the four weeks it's been in my custody a further 2,000 miles have rolled beneath its 17-inch alloy wheels, it quickly becoming indispensable in easing my hectic schedule.

We're loving the -

Super cool air conditioning and huge boot. The 6 transported me to take my Compulsory Basic Training with Honda on what felt like the hottest day of the year. The 6's super-chilled cabin was a huge relief after sweltering wobbling about on a 125cc motorbike in the sun in biking gear. The huge boot has quickly filled up with my junk, it littered with golf gear, press packs and gym kit - not that I've been using the latter much recently. When needed on recent B&Q and Ikea trips the one-touch folding seats have impressed hugely, while the smart luggage cover that rises with the boot door is genius. The cabin in nice and spacious, the seats comfortable and the stereo decent and equipped with an aux-in socket for my iPod. Bluetooth phone integration comes as standard as well with this TS2 model, something I'll be using a lot given the amount of time I'm on the road.

But not so impressed by -

We chose the 2.0-litre turbodiesel over its petrol relatives as we thought it'd be the best all-rounder. With 138bhp and 243lb.ft of torque it should feel quick, but it never delivers in a way I'd expect for a car that has an official 0-62mph time of 10.9 seconds. Perhaps I should empty the boot. It needs revs, and it's not the most refined when in its upper ranges. In fairness it's nicely hushed on the motorway, where it is spending a good deal of time at the moment. Why Mazda has fixed the lights on is a mystery, even when set to off or auto they're on all the time. Switching to the sidelights turns them down, but also dims the interior switchgear lighting, meaning you're left guessing the time, radio stations or temperature on the air conditioning. A buzzing speaker needs investigating too, so the 6 will be visiting a Mazda dealer soon. I'll be trying a different one this time, to see if the service is as good as it was at Roy Chapman, Berkhamsted, when I needed a new aerial for the 2.

We're looking forward to -

Heading into France to Le Mans with the 6's boot fully loaded with camping gear, lots of beer and a fridge to chill it. Scotland is also on the agenda in the next month, the 6 certain to have a pretty big number on its odometer after all that. Fingers crossed diesel prices drop a bit though, as at over £1.25 a litre it's a £75 fill at the moment. Ouch.

Kyle Fortune