2.0 Sport Nav 2WD 5dr

Does most things well. Looks and feels massive, although it isn't

The 2.0 engine needs a lot of revs to develop power (by which I mean accelerating to 50 in 2nd and 70 in 3rd before dropping into 6th) but my other car is an MX-5 so that's fine. I don't like turbos anyway.

Brakes are very, very good. Handling is also excellent - it did better in the "moose test" than the 6 estate, a far lower car. Clutch and gearbox are impeccable, not at all like the notchy boxes on MX-5s.

There are no rattles and cabin space is very good. The boot is a bit smaller than my old 6 estate but it still takes a bike with the rear seat folded down

The Bose stereo is pretty weedy, just like the one in the Mazda 6. I've had better sound from cars with a mere two speakers.

Fuel economy is remarkably consistent at 41-42mpg for each tank. It doesn't much like E10 petrol, needing lower gears on hills and drinking more of it, so I use E5. 42mpg is excellent for such a tall and heavy car.

The swivelling LED headlights are good, although not a patch on decent halogens.

It looks huge but is the same size on the road as a Mazda 3, apparently. It's certainly much shorter than any Mazda 6 and actually fits in a normal parking space without hanging over the back.

Small niggles: the cylinder deactivation is noticeable at some speeds (e.g. 50mph in 6th) and barely saves any fuel if you watch the instantaneous gauge. Auto Hold is reluctant to let go on hills. The DRLs turn off if the parking brake is on - WHY? The power tailgate is slow and pointless.

I'm not a massive fan of SUVs but they hold their value much better than saloons or estates. This is still almost worth the discounted price I paid, after 17 months of ownership. Remarkable.

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