Mazda 6 TS2

Family models are enjoying a revival – and it’s all down to a flood of new and redesigned cars entering the class.

The highly capable Mazda 6 joins the latest Ford Mondeo and Honda Accord in helping to raise the bar in this sector. And Vauxhall hopes its replacement for the Vectra, the Insignia, will also be a major player when it goes on sale later this year.

Hatchback manufacturers have been forced to raise their game after seeing potential buyers opt for more versatile MPVs instead. So can this fresh generation of five-seat cabins really offer the practicality a modern family needs?

The all-new 6 is a prime example of a traditional full-size five-door that’s been brought up to date. With its bold headlamps, elegant profile and sloping tailgate, the Japanese model is stylish – and a good antidote for anyone who’s left cold by the upright shape of many people carriers.

Inside, there’s a compromise. Rear headroom isn’t great for adults, and nor is the amount of space in the centre seat.

Still, the huge boot provides some compensation for this, and a large tailgate gives easy access to the 510-litre storage area. To increase it even further, you simply pull a single release handle and watch the rear squab move forward and the seatbacks fold over. This more than trebles the load bay’s capacity, taking it up to a huge, flat 1,702 litres. The icing on the cake is the classy auto-closing tailgate, which pulls itself shut if you don’t slam it hard enough.

On the road, the 6 shows just what it can offer over most MPVs. With the exception of the superbly engineered S-MAX, many people carriers struggle to tackle corners – their high centre of gravity usually means severe body roll. A low-slung hatchback has an obvious advantage, especially if it’s as accomplished as the 6.

The Mazda is a fine-handling front-wheel-drive car – it feels like an oversized version of the rear-drive MX-5 roadster. Better still, its dynamic abilities aren’t hampered when carrying five people – although long-distance cruising refinement could be more polished no matter how many passengers you have.

From a standstill, the 2.0-litre diesel engine appears rather weak. With only two people on board, the 6 completed the 0-60mph sprint in 9.9 seconds. That figure rose to 11 seconds exactly with three more adults sitting in the back. But real-world in-gear pace is more impressive, thanks to the car’s 331Nm torque output.

Emissions are also a strong point – the 147g/km output helps to make the 6 a viable choice for company car drivers keen to minimise tax bills.

Yet despite weighing in at a competitive £18,630 in mid-spec TS2 trim, the Mazda trails its rivals’ prices per seat, with a figure of £3,726. Even the cheapest model in the 6 line-up is £16,640, which works out at £3,328 per occupant.

Nevertheless, the traditional five-seater hatchback bodystyle is making a comeback. And if this latest breed can combine the Mazda’s dynamics with an extra dose of rear space, the good old family car will show little sign of fading away.