Mazda 6

A sharp-driving, roomy D-segment car sold as a sedan, five-door hatchback (called Sport in Germany) and Kombi estate. The 2.0 and 2.5 MZR petrols are simple and durable; the 2.2 MZR-CD diesels are strong but carry DPF, injector and oil-dilution histories. Corrosion is the generation's real weakness, rear wheel arches, sills and door bottoms, so bodywork matters more than mileage. Cheap to buy, easy to fix, and a sensible first family car when a rust-free example is found.

Mazda's Kodo-design 6 with the full SkyActiv package: high-compression naturally aspirated petrols, a conventional 6-speed automatic and a low-compression 2.2 diesel. The petrol 2.0 165 and especially the 2.5 with the 6AT are among the most trouble-free D-segment drivetrains of the decade; early 2.2 diesels (2012–2015) had soot, injector and oil-dilution problems that were largely engineered out by the 2018 update. Three visual phases (2012, 2015, 2018) and a Kombi that is one of the best-looking estates on the road. Discontinued in Europe in 2023, which keeps late cars firm in price.