running report
Paul Webb
O
Last of the line
NCE THEY BESTRODE THE UK’S motorways like rep-driven colossi. Upper-medium saloons were the salesman’s tool of choice – Cavaliers and Sierras became Mondeos and Vectras, and later Insignias, Passats and Superbs. Who doesn’t love a decent-sized, well-equipped saloon? It wasn’t just the sales executive’s choice. The private hire sector always opted for the three-box saloon, especially models with German or – especially – Japanese reliability. Toyota Avensis, Nissan Primera, Honda Accord – all populated the PH fleets for many years. But tastes change, and “Mondeo Man” has transferred his – or her – taste to the SportsUtility vehicle. So much so that the big, volume brand saloon is becoming an endangered species. This year, Vauxhall has axed the Insignia, VW has limited Passat sales to estate-only, and in the cruelest cut of all, the Mondeo itself has been culled from the Ford range. Not good news for private hire drivers who still favour a saloon. But all is not lost, as the Mazda 6 is still around – for the time being at least. A new consignment has recently arrived in the UK, and we’ve got hold of one to test for a few months.
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Mazda6 Saloon 2.0 GT Sport
As big saloons go, the Mazda 6 has always been one of the most attractive looking cars in its segment. It also has a high level of equipment and a very comfortable, welcoming interior. Delivered in metallic Soul Red I immediately thought about Little’s in Scotland, whose fleet sports a similar colour. And while the Mazda 6 is perhaps not enough of a chauffeur car for a
Mazda6 Saloon 2.0 GT Sport £33,720
price
I
ved band
36 months /
warranty
60,000 miles
performance engine transmission
1,998cc 4-cyl, 16v petrol 6-speed manual, FWD
power
145PS at 6,000rpm
torque
213Nm at 4,000rpm
combined fuel economy
42.2mpg
co2 emissions
152g/km
dimensions length
4,870mm
width
1,840mm
height
1,450mm
wheelbase
2,830mm
loadspace
480 litres
top-end operator like Little’s, it’s not far off. With GT-Line spec, you get heated and ventilated leather seats that are certainly comfortable. The legroom in the rear is good and the boot is roomy at 480 litres – not quite a match for the car that’s now pretty much its only rival – the Skoda Superb – but more than capable of taking a couple of large suitcases This car also comes with an 11-speaker Bose sound system and a head-up display, LED headlights, adaptive front lighting, keyless entry, electrically-adjustable seats and a heated steering wheel. There are plenty of storage options for those odds and ends you might need on a journey. There’s a large glovebox and door bins that’ll fit a bottle of water, plus a tray for your mobile in front of the gearlever. There’s also a sizeable cubby in the centre console which has a sliding lid. It’s a cut above a lot of the cars you might see on a private hire fleet. For an operator looking for a car that can do corporate work as well as general airport runs, it’s a very good option. I haven’t done any major mileage yet but I will be adding some major motorway miles later this month which will give me a better indication of the all important fuel economy and ride comfort that are essentials in our market. But I’m already enjoying the car.
JUNE 2022