When you think about a midsize sedan, you probably think of a car that will get you and the family safely from point A to point B. Is it possible to also have a sedan that’s performance-oriented and fun to drive? Well, with the Mazda6 you can get a dynamic driving experience as well as great gas mileage and an attractive interior, all at a very reasonable price.
The five-passenger Mazda6 is available in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trims. Starting prices range from $21,945 to $30,695. It’s only available with front-wheel-drive.
All models are powered by the same SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine that makes184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. The Sport and Touring models come standard with a six-speed manual transmission with an optional six-speed automatic. The Grand Touring is only available with the automatic.
There’s nothing boring about driving the Mazda6. It’s got quick acceleration, athletic handling, responsive steering and strong brakes. It stays planted when cornering. For even zippier handling, put it into Sport mode. The ride is firmer than many competitors but not jarring. Road and wind noise are fairly noticeable; other competitors are quieter.
Fuel efficiency is excellent for the class. EPA ratings for my tester are 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway with a combined rating of 30 mpg. I got 29 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
The modern and classy interior looks like it comes from a more upscale car. Materials are of high quality. Seats are supportive and comfortable. There’s decent leg- and headroom for adult passengers in both rows of seating.
The Mazda6 comes standard with a rearview camera, push-button start, USB port, Bluetooth,a six-speaker audio system and the MazdaConnect infotainment system. It has a seven-inch display and a control knob located between the two front seats, in addition to old-school knobs and buttons on the center console. When the car is moving, you use the control knob. When the vehicle is stopped, the display turns into a touch screen. The system is intuitive to use. Voice commands worked well to make phone calls and change radio stations. Unfortunately, Apple CarPlay and Android Audio are not available on any trims.
My Grand Touring tester has the navigation system. It can be very tedious to enter addresses and then slow to respond. Many competitors have better systems.
Other optional features include head-up display, power moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, 11-speaker Bose audio system, satellite radio and HD radio. You can also get a slew of safety features including blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking and rear cross traffic alert.
The Mazda6 has 14.8 cubic feet of storage in the trunk which is average for the class. The trunk has a wide opening, making it easy to load bulky items. The back seats fold down easily.
The good:
Strong performance for the class
Modern styling
Great fuel efficiency
Attractive and comfortable interior
Excellent safety scores and many available safety features
Price is lower than many competitors with lots of features for the money
Top rating of five stars in NHTSA crash tests
The not-so-good:
Only available with one engine
Optional navigation system is s-l-o-w
Below average reliability
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay aren’t available on any trim
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $30,695. The cargo mat is $75. Gray paint charge is $300. Door sill trim plates are $125. The GT Premium Package is $2,500 and adds I-Eloop regenerative engine braking system, active grille shutters, shifter LED accent lighting, Bright Finish interior trim, Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, steering wheel with unique stitch and black headliner. Delivery fee is $835 bringing the grand total to $34,530.
Bottom line:
If performance is important to you, you’ll definitely want to test drive the Mazda6. In addition to the zoom-zoom, you’ll also get lots of car for the money with many standard features, great gas mileage and an upscale interior.
