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FARM WHEELS
September 2013
Country Motoring with Ken Strugnell
Driving the Mazda 6 This month we look at the Mazda 6 which has been around in several guises for nearly 40 years. The latest version is, by a country mile, the best and could well be a contender for a Car of the Year Award later this year.
Do you have a common rail engine? If your answer is YES, you need a Sebco Diesel Station!
Mazda 6 2.2L Diesel Limited Wagon
I first drove a front-wheel drive Mazda 6 then the 626 nearly thirty years ago. It was a Limited 2 litre hatch and at the time the vehicle was a joint venture with Ford. I thought the Mazda was the better vehicle as it had some clever features like powered vents that oscillated to move cool or hot air around the cabin. Today the same category car from Mazda now called the ‘6’ is just as innovative and takes safety very seriously. I drove both the sedan and the wagon and as with many wagon versions preferred it for its styling and versatility. The ‘6’ is the second of the Mazda range to include ‘Skyactiv technology after the
CX5. It also shares some other design cues particularly the nose and the dash. Recognising that the wagon may well be the family or rep favourite the base model is a 2 litre 6 speed automatic [no manual option in the range] GLX spec priced at $45,495 is likely to be the top seller. I drove the top model turbo diesel Limited wagon $60,795 pictured, and a petrol mid spec GSX sedan $49,795 and was impressed by both for different reasons. M a z d a ’s Skyactiv terminology refers to all the improvements in chassis design weight and structural stiffness, design developments in smoother higher powered
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more fuel efficient petrol and diesel engines as well as the fuel saving i-ELOOP and I-STOP. The best way to experience them is to drive the cars so that’s exactly what I did. Over around 700km in each I discovered that they were both quite different in nature and will appeal to different drivers. I like push button starting keeping the keys in your pocket. It’s easy to use and safe as the keys just don’t get lost. Hit the button and either petrol or diesel models start easily and settle to a slow idle without vibration. Select drive and release the handbrake which surprisingly is still manual [not electric] and both models’ engines move off and up to speed effortlessly. Night driving in the ‘6’ has been improved thanks to the super white penetrating brightness of the Bi xenon headlamps that swivel up to 15 degrees on cornering. This was really evident on a winding unsealed road we drove over returning home late one evening. I like driving on metal, as sealed winter icy roads can be far more dangerous. Great lighting made the night drive on an unknown road surprisingly easy. For sheer grunt and acceleration the petrol is still the only choice. Its engine will live at maximum revs all day and not feel stressed. It was crisp in handling and provided excellent road holding. Mazda claim to have provided extra stiffening over the outgoing ‘6’ by 30% in the sedan and 45% in the wagon. Being lighter in the nose the petrol seemed sharper at turn in at speed without any vagueness. The
DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING
LESS
Ranger 4WD XLT Double Cab shown in Aurora Blue, with accessory sports bar. Award presented to Ford by Pieter Wieman, jury chairman, at the Fleet Transport EXPO 12 event, in Dublin, Ireland. November 2012.
Avon City Ford
Cnr Main South Rd and Epsom Rd, Sockburn | CHRISTCHURCH | 03 348 4129 or 0800 655 551 Rangiora Service Centre | 78 Ivory St | 03 313 7059 | avoncityford.co.nz
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