Mazda 6 Problems

Mazda spokeswoman Karla Leach might have the answer for you, as well as some good news on sun damage: “The angle of the windscreen is very similar to the previous model but in the current model car has moved 100mm rearward relative to the previous model. However, the windscreen blocks out 100 per cent of UVA and UVB rays, and 46 per cent of heat. The side windows block out 91 per cent UVA and 100 per cent of UVB rays.”

That seems like a lot of money to replace the seat mechanism, perhaps you could try an independent Mazda mechanic and replace it with used parts. That would save you some money. As for the extended warranty, you should read it and understand what is covered and what is not. The warranty is generally not from the carmaker directly, but from an insurance company and sold through the dealer. If it is correct that the failure was due to faulty welding, as you say it was suggested, then it's a problem for Mazda itself to fix.

The Mazda6 is the best choice but could stretch your dollars. The i30 wagon also gets The Tick, so choose the one that works best for your budget.

Until this week I would have said the Passat was fine but I've just run into a problem with a VW test car. I would now punt for the Liberty, which has just been updated and gets The Tick.

I couldn't say with any confidence that the problem has been sorted and I would be reluctant to recommend the car to you given that you travel short distances. I have asked Mazda to comment and will get back to you once that response has been received.

There have been reports of problems with the CX-5 and some other Mazda models of fuel contaminating the engine oil through the DPF filter. Mazda claim to have a fix for that problem. I would check with your Mazda dealer so see if your car is one of those affected.

The i40 is a good choice; it ticks most of the boxes. It’s well equipped, well built, reliable and durable. You could also look at wagons like the VW Passat, Ford Mondeo and Mazda 6, but it’s hard to go past the i40.

Definitely the Mazda6. It gets The Tick from me and wins over the SUVs on everything from fuel economy to comfort and quietness.