Mazda6 Awarded Best Estate Car In Fleet World Honours 2010

DARTFORD, UNITED KINGDOM – May 21, 2010: An award-winning combination of driver appeal, lifestyle, versatility and workhorse practicality has enabled the Mazda6 2.2 litre diesel Estate to be named ‘Best Estate Car’ in the 2010 Fleet World Honours. The awards were announced inthe usual tradition, at the Royal Automobile Club, London this week (Tuesday, 18 May).

The award completes a stunning quartet of titles for the Mazda6 Estate, which earlier this year won ‘Best Estate Car’ awards from both Fleet News and What Car? magazines and was named ‘Towcar of the Year 2010’ by The Caravan Club.

The Fleet World Honours are presented annually to those motor manufacturers, service companies and individuals who have, in the opinion of the judges, achieved the highest possible level of excellence in their sector.

Chairman of Judges, Steve Moody said: “Mazda continues to build on its solid reputation in the fleet market as a manufacturer of stylish and attractive cars. But it also features all the clever touches we have come to expect from Mazda, converting from a five-seater into a load-lugger in a matter of seconds.”

The exact specification for the model that received this honours award was the Mazda6 2.2-litre Diesel Estate TS² 163ps manual and is priced at £20,559 on-the-road. Its strong residual values, keen pricing and competitive CO2 emissions saw the Mazda6 Estate beat off stiff competition including theSkoda Superb Estate, Toyota Avensis Estate and Honda Accord Estate to be named ‘Best Estate Car’ at the 2010 Fleet World Honours Car Awards.

Peter Alibon, Fleet and Remarketing Director for Mazda UK commented “Mazda has yet again successfully combined a sporty appeal with a very practical model creating that competitive edge in the D-segment. This further recognition from the fleet industry represents the superb reputation that the Mazda6 range has developed over the past eight years since the original launch.

“We have firm hopes that this will continue as the Upgraded Mazda6 launched this spring represents great value for fleet operators with strong residual values, keen pricing, driver appeal and impressive CO² emissions.”

Commenting on the high standard of entries in this year’s awards, Fleet World Managing Editor, Ross Durkin said: “The fleet industry is emerging from a period of economic uncertainty but, fortunately, is now robust again.”

The upgraded 19-model Mazda6 range has recently entered showrooms with a choice of two body styles (hatchback and estate), six engines (three petrol and three diesel) and four equipment levels: S, TS, TS2, and Sport. The Mazda6 Estate 2.0 TS is priced from just £19,295 on-the-road. The estate diesel model emissions reduced to below 150g/km to help offset April 2010 5g/km increases in company car tax thresholds and rises in VED rates on cars with emissions of 151g/km and above.