RE: Unforced induction into wagon theory | PH Footnote
Discussion
A few years back my mate had a Mazda 6 estate 2.2 diesel and I had an Accord 2.2 diesel, we both had young families and went on several holidays together. We agreed that both cars were fantastic, and having huge amounts of torque made the drive enjoyable.
I've driven a few Hondas with the 2.0 petrol (K20 series) and they just don't suit big cars, much more a home in hatchbacks. In big cars you have to rev them and the real-world mpg suffers.
Can anyone tell me the thinking behind Mazda's Sky Active engines (NA 4 cylinders) when other maufactureres were going to turbos for everything? Was it to make an engine that worked in all markets, reduce costs by nit having a turbo?
I've driven a few Hondas with the 2.0 petrol (K20 series) and they just don't suit big cars, much more a home in hatchbacks. In big cars you have to rev them and the real-world mpg suffers.
Can anyone tell me the thinking behind Mazda's Sky Active engines (NA 4 cylinders) when other maufactureres were going to turbos for everything? Was it to make an engine that worked in all markets, reduce costs by nit having a turbo?
mersontheperson said:
Strange that the article doesn’t mention that in Japan the car is offered with the 2.5 liter turbo with 230ps
So if you want a turbo estate you can have one
We've had a 2.5 litre naturally aspirated Mazda 6 since 2015. According to the spec sheet it's supposed to have 184PS. We find it good to drive, and averages 38mpg (in the "real World"). The performance is more than good enough even with the conventional automatic gearbox. I'm sure it'll be quicker with forced induction, but I'm not sure that's needed. It's good enough as it is.So if you want a turbo estate you can have one
Edited by mersontheperson on Sunday 18th September 07:50
Good to read a write up on the current Mazda 6.
My 2.0l 145ps Mazda 6 saloon is being returned at the end of the month. It's been a great car apart from being a little bit gutless when 4 up on holiday driving around Scotland. Even as the base model, it was pretty well loaded with equipment - it was also a dirt-cheap lease (£187/month, same car now £430/month).
It's being replaced with the 194ps Tourer, which has arrived in the UK and I'm waiting to confirm that I can collect on the 1st October, although I wish that the 2.5 turbo engine was sold here, as that would be the one for me if it was.
I understand that there is a new 6 on the way (maybe end of next year), with an in-line 6, rear wheel drive.
My 2.0l 145ps Mazda 6 saloon is being returned at the end of the month. It's been a great car apart from being a little bit gutless when 4 up on holiday driving around Scotland. Even as the base model, it was pretty well loaded with equipment - it was also a dirt-cheap lease (£187/month, same car now £430/month).
It's being replaced with the 194ps Tourer, which has arrived in the UK and I'm waiting to confirm that I can collect on the 1st October, although I wish that the 2.5 turbo engine was sold here, as that would be the one for me if it was.
I understand that there is a new 6 on the way (maybe end of next year), with an in-line 6, rear wheel drive.
I don't think this model is long for this world? In the 3 years I've been in and out of Mazda dealerships to buy my MX5 and get it serviced I don't think I've ever seen one in the showroom.
I know it's got a st reputation but the 180 odd bhp 2.2d suited this sort of car much better than the same power from a naturally aspirated 2 litre, and it was very nice in the old Mazda 3 too.
Rest of the review I agree with, I'm always really impressed with the interiors and the standard of build on the cars I sit in or borrow, the Mazda 3 interior is nicer than any other FWD dross hatch I can think of for example. The interior of their MX30 EV is absolutely fantastic too (rest of it is mediocre to crap though, sadly).
I know it's got a st reputation but the 180 odd bhp 2.2d suited this sort of car much better than the same power from a naturally aspirated 2 litre, and it was very nice in the old Mazda 3 too.
Rest of the review I agree with, I'm always really impressed with the interiors and the standard of build on the cars I sit in or borrow, the Mazda 3 interior is nicer than any other FWD dross hatch I can think of for example. The interior of their MX30 EV is absolutely fantastic too (rest of it is mediocre to crap though, sadly).
The sooner more manufacturers cotton on to making EV estates the better. Perfect match for a practical family car.
They're beginning to come through slowly - obviously there has been the MG5 for a while (although if that's anything like the MG ZS EV I tried, I'd be giving it a wide berth), but this is being joined in the next year or so by an Peugeot e308 SW and fully electric Astra Estate. Obviously, these are both developed on old school platforms that are compromised in terms of packaging due to also needing to accommodate ICE and gearboxes in other variants.
Mazda need to hurry up a bit with their full EV offering - a ground-up 6 Estate could find itself in a pretty rewarding marketplace if they could get one out in the next few years.
EV Range will focus people's minds on aerodynamic efficiency with EVs in a way it was masked with ICE - I suspect this will drive SUVs out of favour and give estates a bit of a resurgence.
They're beginning to come through slowly - obviously there has been the MG5 for a while (although if that's anything like the MG ZS EV I tried, I'd be giving it a wide berth), but this is being joined in the next year or so by an Peugeot e308 SW and fully electric Astra Estate. Obviously, these are both developed on old school platforms that are compromised in terms of packaging due to also needing to accommodate ICE and gearboxes in other variants.
Mazda need to hurry up a bit with their full EV offering - a ground-up 6 Estate could find itself in a pretty rewarding marketplace if they could get one out in the next few years.
EV Range will focus people's minds on aerodynamic efficiency with EVs in a way it was masked with ICE - I suspect this will drive SUVs out of favour and give estates a bit of a resurgence.
Totally agree re too many SUVs on the road. An estate does the job so much more elegantly and sportingly. In my case it's an Audi A4 B9 V6 TDi, Stage 1 chipped to 340 bhp and 500 lb ft. A great mile-muncher which will swallow all sorts of loads. Totally silent inside at 80+ mph with the optional double glazed glass, and 39 mpg overall.
mersontheperson said:
mrclav said:
mersontheperson said:
Strange that the article doesn’t mention that in Japan the car is offered with the 2.5 liter turbo with 230ps
So if you want a turbo estate you can have one
I guess that this being a UK site, talking about a Japan only model means UK readers can't have one if they want.So if you want a turbo estate you can have one
Edited by mersontheperson on Sunday 18th September 07:50
I think it’s completely relevant to the story of the weakness of a car is an engine option that doesn’t exist here but does in other markets, especially RHD markets
Guessing it would be in a high VED bracket (or whatever we're calling car tax this week).
Deranged Rover said:
So, are we now at the stage where every car has to have turbos, eleventy hundred horsepower and a 0-60 time to rival supercars? How ridiculous.
Always liked Mazdas, this looks very nice and I’d be more than happy with its allegedly miserable performance and having to actually change gear if required.
Nope but with a family in it and trying to make decent progress it'll no doubt do less than 30mpg and if I'm driving something with poor fuel economy I want performance to go with it. Always liked Mazdas, this looks very nice and I’d be more than happy with its allegedly miserable performance and having to actually change gear if required.
Might as well get the diesel BMW with twice the power, twice the fuel efficiency and three times the torque.
Evil.soup said:
The Ceed isn't anywhere as big as the Mazda, ut even so, it's far more practical than any large SUV I have had the use of. An estate car is a no brainer, but the soccer marms don't see them as cool I guess.
(...)
Personally, I love a wagon and always have done. The ceed is the first I have owned and it has already got me cruising the classifieds for a newer, cooler replacement.
So the cool factor is as important for you as it is for a soccer mum then? (...)
Personally, I love a wagon and always have done. The ceed is the first I have owned and it has already got me cruising the classifieds for a newer, cooler replacement.
I know what you're saying though but for me a SUV is more practical than an estate for my needs AND even more crucially they are shorter which is important to me. I really like estates though, just not as much. I really don't think SUVs are cool though, particularly as almost everyone has got one and they have been around for decades.
Buy it, drive it, service it properly and it’ll probably last you 15 years.
That’s what I did with my Mazda CX-7. It outlasted a new Freelander and 3 Discovery Sports. All bought as replacements, but we always found an excuse to keep the Mazda.
I don’t know f you can fairly judge a brand by the ownership of one car, but Mazdas appear to be utterly reliable. A relative had a new 323 in 1980 that lived a long life into the 1990s, with similar reliability.
A turbo would make the 6 a really attractive prospect.
That’s what I did with my Mazda CX-7. It outlasted a new Freelander and 3 Discovery Sports. All bought as replacements, but we always found an excuse to keep the Mazda.
I don’t know f you can fairly judge a brand by the ownership of one car, but Mazdas appear to be utterly reliable. A relative had a new 323 in 1980 that lived a long life into the 1990s, with similar reliability.
A turbo would make the 6 a really attractive prospect.
nobrakes said:
satfinal said:
Number 1 rule of estate design, do not do this
Do this (flat opening to the boot, and more square opening)
This^.Do this (flat opening to the boot, and more square opening)
Boot lip and non flat folded seats is a fail.
runnerbean 14 said:
Totally agree re too many SUVs on the road. An estate does the job so much more elegantly and sportingly. In my case it's an Audi A4 B9 V6 TDi, Stage 1 chipped to 340 bhp and 500 lb ft. A great mile-muncher which will swallow all sorts of loads. Totally silent inside at 80+ mph with the optional double glazed glass, and 39 mpg overall.
I get 38mpg overall out of a standard Merc GLE400d with 330bhp/516Ib ft, and that weighs 2300kg. So I was expecting a bit more mpg out of the A4 in comparison with it being a much lighter car. I do agree that an estate does generally drive much more sporty than an SUV though. I also preferred my old E61 520d Touring to drive(lighter/lower/better in corners/under braking etc) in comparison to the X5 4.8iS I had in that regard too. I did like the noise that the V8 made big time in fairness...just not the fuel bills though!
Wildcat45 said:
I don’t know f you can fairly judge a brand by the ownership of one car, but Mazdas appear to be utterly reliable. A relative had a new 323 in 1980 that lived a long life into the 1990s, with similar reliability.
I knew a family back in the 80's and they used to swear by the Mazda 626 for the same reason. They loved them. cerb4.5lee said:
Wildcat45 said:
I don’t know f you can fairly judge a brand by the ownership of one car, but Mazdas appear to be utterly reliable. A relative had a new 323 in 1980 that lived a long life into the 1990s, with similar reliability.
I knew a family back in the 80's and they used to swear by the Mazda 626 for the same reason. They loved them. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff