Car of the Year 2004 - Estate car

Winner
Mazda 6 2.0 D (119) S
£15,600

A wave of excellent new estates has appeared over the past 12 months, but none has managed to unseat our reigning champ, the Mazda 6.

The Japanese car makes a compelling case for itself. With all five seats in use, there is 505 litres of boot space which is accessed through the large, upright tailgate. There’s also a waterproof storage area under the boot floor that’s ideal for muddy boots.

To increase load capacity to 1712 litres, the rear seats quickly fold completely flat thanks to Mazda’s neat, clever ‘karakuri’ system, in which the seat base cantilevers downwards as the seat back is tipped forward.

The other area where the Mazda scores is the buying proposition it offers. This year, the 6 has gained Euro IV emissions regulation compliance, which means it avoids the 3% tax penalty imposed on diesels. That’s great news for company drivers, but everyone who drives this 6 will enjoy the 42.8mpg economy, competitive list price, generous kit levels and strong residuals.

The 6 is a pleasure to drive thanks to its excellent body control and precise steering. The cabin is extremely well made, the handling secure and entertaining, and performance from the 2.0 turbodiesel is strong.

Our only gripe is that those opting for this model face a longer-than-average wait to take delivery because Mazda keeps very few in stock, and any car specified has to be built to order.

Highly recommended
Honda Accord 2.2 i-CTDi Sport
£19,700
Mercedes E270 CDi Classic auto
£31,370
Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 16v LS
£16,645