Mazda6 MPS Road Test

Mazda6

Inside, the differences reveal themselves in the sporty gear knob, leather-clad, almost bucket-type front seats, stainless steel scuff plates and aluminium pedals with rubber studs. In terms of layout the fascia is much the same as in the standard car except the MPS has chrome surrounds to the instrument dials and the centre console has a grey titanium look save for the piano-black face of the audio system. Altogether, it is a good combination of sportiness and comfort.

The driver’s seat is electronically adjustable and has three memory buttons, while both the multifunctional steering wheel and the front passenger seat are mechanically adjustable for rake and reach.

There’s room enough for three people in the rear, with plenty of legroom for all. The rear seats have a lightly contoured bench squab and the backs look as if they fold but don’t. As part of the strengthening process, a brace was introduced behind the rear seatback's forming a kind of bulkhead. This also means that the boot is slightly less capacious than in the standard car, offering 455-litres as opposed to 505-litres. Nonetheless, it is still very large and Mazda says that there is easily enough room for four golf bags.

There are no engine or trim options with the Mazda6 MPS and the only optional extra is a Satellite Navigation system with TMC and a 7-inch colour monitor, which adds £1,650 to the £23,950 price tag. Standard in-car-entertainment comes in the form of a BOSE 6 x CD in-dash autochanger with seven speakers.

Mazda says that the MPS is the fastest, best handling, best braking saloon, the company’s ever built and I’m inclined to agree.