Passat vs Mazda 6 vs Octavia

[Dan_1981]

I have narrowed down my search to the above three wagons.

Budget is a max of £13k

All diesel, 2 litre (2.2 mazda) high spec - so VRS octavia, GT Passat, Skydrive Mazda. Estate spec.

So all in the 170 / 180 BHP and circa 280 lb

I do circa 30k per year mileage - almost all motorway.

Heated Leather, cruise, decent audio all essential.

Nav not important.

Performance & economy seems pretty even between them all.

I can probably get a slightly newer / lower mileage Mazda for the equivalent price of the other two.

Which would you go for? And what do I need to know?

[Dan_1981]

I did consider the 508 SW which I understand is the same car as the C5 - however the interior looked a little low rent in 90% of the pictures I saw. The one big selling point the 508 has is they all have a pan roof.

I think the passat can be got with pan roof but doesn't seem to be a common addition.

Not sure it's even an options on the Mazda.

[Dan_1981]

Looks like I need some test drives.

Economy, spec etc all seems very similar.

Passat has a slight win with the ACC which doesn't seem to be readily available on the others.

On looks alone I prefer the Mazda, I think, interior wise the Passat possibly or again maybe the Mazda

[Dan_1981]

Is the new Mazda engine belt or chain?

Passat and Octavia are both belts I believe?