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A NEW KIND OF PLEASURE
As a motorist who has always enjoyed swift, measured and safe driving, a combination of factors (average speed cameras, reduced A-road speed limits, drivers going considerably slower ‘just in case’, increased traffic, temporary lights, potholes) are dictating that I now find my motoring ‘pleasure’ in a different way: chasing efficiency.
I don’t mean hypermiling, just reaching my destination as quickly as I can without spoiling my average MPG, which is as high as possible.
My daily fleet comprises a Mazda 6 2.0 Skyactiv Sport Tourer and a very hard-used Honda Insight CVT hybrid that I’ve owned for 17 years. The Mazda is remarkable for a large petrol estate, regularly doing 45mpg in local and longer-distance driving and recording a best of well over 50mpg on a trip to Scotland. It has really strong low-end torque, enabling short shifting, and notably good coasting ability, considering its 19in wide-profile wheels.