Which way do you zoom with Mazda?

The Mazda MX-5 RF puts a smile on your face when you go off the highway

The school holidays are now in full swing and, naturally, there are some of us who might want to take a road trip up North for a bit of rest and relaxation. That was certainly the intention of Mazda, who invited some of their customers and us for their Mazda Driveaway 2017 to Kuantan.

We were more than happy to join in the fun, but first we had to decide which car we wanted to go in.

The MX-5 RF was pretty much the obvious choice for enthusiasts like us. After all, the MX-5 is a driver's delight, with its sweet handling, and finely balanced chassis and setup, promising plenty of enjoyment for the winding B-roads that await us.

Truth be told, however, while Mazda's venerable roadster truly was a revelation on the numerous winding country roads along the way to Kuantan, it is not without its flaws.

For starters, it is obviously not the most practical car if you intend to bring more than a couple of bags up with you. Our only advice if you plan on taking the MX-5 with you on a holiday is to pack light, because the boot space is frankly miniscule.

Being a lightweight sports roadster, the car can also get rather noisy when you're zooming down the North-South Highway. Even with the hard-top roof of the RF model in place, the road and wind noise at high speed can get a tad unbearable after hours of driving.

Some may also bemoan the seemingly lack of grunt from the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine, which has a mere 158bhp and 200Nm of torque. While it is indeed not a very fast or powerful sports car, that's not to say that the MX-5 is a complete dud.

It does require a lot of commitment (and some bravery) if you really want to unlock the car's performance potential, and you have to literally put the pedal down to the floor if you want to pull off moves like overtaking that pesky slow truck that's in your way. But that only makes the driving experience more exciting in my view.

And when the road is clear, the MX-5 is truly rewarding for the keen driver, with its quick steering and sharp handling abilities guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face. There really is nothing quite like it, and it's almost enough to make up for the rest of its imperfections.

If you're chasing after the purity of driving enjoyment on your road trip, then there's absolutely no better choice than the MX-5. That much is for sure.
The Mazda6 gets you there in comfort for those who value their destination over the journey

On the other hand, there are those who simply want to get to their destination in comfort, luxury and peace, without too much drama or excitement.

There's nothing wrong with that of course. Not everybody wants to explore the absolute limits of grip through a series of winding corners, or is keen to exploit a car's full dynamic abilities. The vast majority of folks simply want to get there with no fuss.

The Mazda6 fits the bill perfectly in this instance. It offers plenty of space, refinement and power to ensure that you reach your holiday spot while still feeling refreshed and relaxed. After all, if you're going to suffer the five and a half hour drive from Singapore to this sleepy beach resort town on the eastern shore of Malaysia, why not do it in comfort and luxury, which is what the Mazda6 has in spades?

The fastest way to Kuantan is via the North-South Highway, and here is where the Mazda6 is in its element. Its 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, with 189bhp and 256Nm of torque, is hugely effective when it comes to gaining speed quickly and smoothly, and before long you'll be easing past slower traffic and halfway towards your destination without even breaking a sweat.

There's plenty to be said for the ability to eat up mile upon mile of highway with such efficiency, and in my view it is a highly underrated trait, especially if you're embarking on a long journey where you just want to get there with no fuss and no trouble. The Mazda6 is able to do that effortlessly with passengers and luggage on board, and after several hours on the road you start to appreciate the qualities that such a car can offer.

And it's not like the Mazda6 cannot handle the rough stuff as well. Sure its softly-sprung setup means that there's a fair amount of body roll as you push it through a corner, but Mazda's clever G-Vectoring Control technology ensures that you'll never lose control, and the Mazda6 is surprisingly capable in its handling dynamics, much to my surprise.

More importantly though, the Mazda6 is probably the car you want to have if you're driving up with your family, as it boasts a whole suite of safety features to ensure that you and your brood will arrive at your holiday destination safe and sound and in one piece.

There is Advanced Smart City Brake Support to warn you or even brake for you if you're about to hit someone in front, and Driver Attention Alert, which monitors your habits to know when you're fatigued and advises you to take a break if necessary, which is extremely handy when you're travelling long distances on the highway.

While the MX-5 may offer more thrills and spills for your journey up North, I actually found myself preferring to go into the Mazda6 for a long hard slog of a drive. After all, fun is a temporary pleasure, while comfort is a luxury you can enjoy all the way.