Perhaps it’s time we ditched the SUVs in favour of the maligned estate car writes Geraldine Herbert What is it? For many the attraction of an estate car is lost, it’s not a purchase that appeals to the senses but one that placates the need for space, an assortment of hooks and flat-pack furniture. It should come as no surprise that car makers go to increasing lengths to disguise their load luggers, calling them ‘Avants’, ‘Tourers’ or ‘Sportswagons’. It seems the term “estate car” conjures about as much excitement as phrases such as “insurance policies” and “pension plans”. But while saloon cars may have gone out of fashion some years ago with the onslaught of large 4x4s, compact SUVs and crossovers, is it not time to rethink the much-maligned estate car? Arriving in Ireland this month, Mazda’s revamped 6 Tourer has all the panache of a sports car and practicality of an SUV. First impressions of the new Mazda6? Sporting a redesigned 3D signature grille and a sleeker profile, it’s a heady mix of taut lines and sharp creases. What about the interior? And the makeover isn’t only skin deep, as this refreshed version boasts a more modern cabin and feels much less cluttered. The increased use of leather along with upgraded materials throughout give a more premium feel. Drivers can now enjoy upgraded seats that come with soothing ventilation designed to reduce fatigue and stress. Other new additions include the introduction of a larger eight-inch centre display screen, a heads-up display and a 360° parking view. As you would expect from an estate, there is a vast load bay that expands from 522-litres with the rear seats in place to a cavernous 1,664-litres with the split rear seats folded flat. The seats fold in a 60:40 split into a flexible flat cargo area by simply using either the levers located on each side of the boot or the standard release buttons on the seatbacks themselves. Under the bonnet? There’s a range of petrol and diesel engines on offer; the most efficient is the 2.2 Skyactiv Diesel 150ps manual which despite the overall vroom appeal does a wallet-soothing 4.4 litres per 100km. Other engine options include a 184ps diesel and a 2.0-litre petrol with 145ps or 165ps and all are available in either manual or automatic transmissions. And on...