Mazda6 estate 2.2D

CARS such as the Mazda6 estate are rarely in the spotlight. It’s a sensible choice, a workhorse, practical and competitive on stuff like strong residual values, CO2 emissions and economy.

Stylish, it most certainly is too, but it was built to do a load-lugging job, rather than tug on heart strings.

This year, however, it has found itself on more than one podium. Most recently, its combination of driver appeal, lifestyle, versatility and workhorse practicality enabled the Mazda6 2.2-litre diesel estate to be named best estate car in the 2010 Fleet World honours.

And recognition like that from the business end of the motoring press counts for a lot.

That award completed a quartet of titles for the Mazda6 estate, which earlier this year won best estate car awards from both Fleet News and What Car? magazines and was named towcar of the year by The Caravan Club.

What the judges were particularly impressed with were some clever touches such as the ability to convert from a five-seater into a huge load-lugger in a matter of seconds.

The exact model that impressed the most was the 2.2-litre diesel version in TS2 specification, priced at £21,595.

The diesel model’s CO2 emissions have been reduced to below 150g/km to help offset 5g/km increases in company car tax thresholds and rises in VED rates on cars with emissions of 151g/km and above.

The importance of the diesel estate to Mazda's sales cannot be overstated. In the 12 months to next March 31, the company expects to sell more than 10,500 Mazda6 models, of which about 7,600 (72 percent) are predicted to be fleet sales. Diesel models will account for 90 per cent of fleet sales.

On-the-road prices for the revised line-up range from £16,995 to £23,445.

Equipment includes rear spoiler (TS upwards), front and rear parking sensors and Hill Hold Assist (HHA), (TS2 upwards), and swivel-type AFS front lights (Sport). Full leather trim is now available as an option on all TS2 and Sport models and includes powered driver and front passenger seats with a memory function on the driver's seat.

The Mazda6 estate now sits at the top of the estate car club, building on the attributes of the hatchback version to good effect.

For a start, it is undeniably a handsome machine. Unlike some of its competitors, the 6 estate doesn't look bulky. Instead it has a lean, athletic look, even with the load-carrying rear end. The extra metalwork at the rear is neatly integrated. The leanness isn't just visual either. All credit to Mazda for reversing the current trend of bigger and heavier, as the Mazda6 is lighter model-for-model than the old car.

The load area is designed for frequent use, with a clever tonneau cover and bags of extra storage. The seats also fold as flat as you could possibly need, which helps it to offer a huge storage space in total.

Up front, the cabin carries plenty of equipment but it is simply laid out, despite the plethora of buttons and switches. The handy steering wheel controls are sufficient to operate most functions on the stereo, and although most of the buttons are on the small side, it's fuss-free .

You won't be disappointed by the spec sheet either. The estate starts at TS level rather than the base S version, so you get heated electric mirrors, climate control, leather on the steering wheel and gearknob, cruise control and speed limiter and two extra speakers on the radio/CD unit. There's also the TS2, Sport and Sports Luxury models above it too, which pile on the equipment still further.

So it's an attractive, well-specified and spacious family estate then, and for a lot of people that is enough. However, the Mazda 6 has another trick up its sleeve: it is uncommonly good to drive.

For a car so practical and – dare it be said –”ordinary”', it is a satisfying to to know that getting behind the wheel doesn't mean a dreary experience lies ahead.

It all starts with the steering. It's easy enough to twirl from lock to lock at parking speeds, but get on the move and it instantly reveals its accuracy and excellent weighting. That doesn't make it hard work to drive.

Instead, it means that whether pressing on down a motorway or simply heading for the shops, the Mazda 6 estate is a pleasure to drive. Back that up with a slick, short-throw gearchange and and it has the responses that would not disgrace a car with a much bigger price tag.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine is excellent, ticking all the boxes you would expect The Mazda 6 Estate isn't short on rivals, but its list of qualities is longer still, and suffused throughout is a sense that the people who designed and built it set out to make a car for people like you and me. The plaudits it received are thoroughly deserved.

Mazda6 estate 2.2D

Price: £21,595.

Engine: 2183cc diesel.

Transmission: Six-speed manual.

Power: 161bhp.

Performance: 0 to 62mph in 9.2 seconds; top speed 130mph.

Economy: 50.4mpg combined.

CO2 Rating: 149g/km.