The latest Mazda6 takes the car onto the edges of the premium sector in terms of its quality, its spec, and its road presence. John Oxley reports.
I always feel Mazda is being a bit short-changed in the marketplace after I’ve driven a Mazda6, a feeling that the car is better than its sales figures would indicate. It’s that good you could easily be getting out of a German premium car, yet it’s pitched price-wise right in the middle of its segment in terms of what it has to offer.
From the outside the Mazda6 remains an aggressive and impressive vehicle, with the latest Mazda corporate grille up front flanked by “tiger’s eye” headlamps, while from the side there’s a flowing style that makes the car look modern and progressive, and appear long and low – which it is.
Last year Mazda chose to upgrade the 6, and while the exterior changes were small cosmetic bits, the interior came in for a big upgrade, part of what makes the car seem to much more upmarket than its price point would suggest.
Our test car was the Limited, top-of-the range, and as such features premium-grade trim materials, and exemplary interior styling.
And the features list is impressive, with safety up front and standing at attention.
Intrinsic to this is the advanced i-Activsense technologies, which include Advanced Smart City Brake Support – which monitors what’s happening in front, and will stop the car for you if you don’t brake in time – plus the self-explanatory blind spot monitoring, as well as rear cross traffic alert which monitors what’s happening outside the car while you’re reversing.
But wait, there’s more. Radar plays a big part in the Mazda6’s life, so you get adaptive cruise control, adaptive headlights (which assure precise control of the headlight pattern according to traffic conditions), plus such niceties as traffic sign recognition which, among other things, alerts you if you’re exceeding the posted speed limit.
Then there’s lane departure warning, which tells you if you’re wandering out of your lane (it uses a windscreen-mounted camera to monitor road lane markings), and one stage further, Lane Keep Assist which nudges the steering in the right direction if it feels you’re still going to leave your lane. Subtle, but noticeable.
LDW sounds an audible warning if you’re about to stray from your lane. LAS will act if it determines the vehicle is going to leave its lane, by applying a degree of corrective steering.
And then there’s Driver Attention Alert. When speeds above 65km/h are sustained for longer periods, the system monitors driver inputs and provides a visual warning if it detects signs of fatigue. It also provides an alert when two hours have elapsed.
All this is great, but what about the heart of the car, its engine? Well, this is the latest SkyActiv 2.5-litre petrol unit, and it’s lusty, it’s uber-economical, and it’s smooth, and matched to an equally smooth six-speed auto ‘box.
Add in great suspension, with a sports mode, plus paddle shifters, and the Mazda6 easily offers great driving pleasure.
On top of all this there are great features which include leather upholstery, electric seats, multi-function steering wheel, and Bose sound system, as well as satnav, Bluetooth, and lots more goodies, and it all adds up to a great car which punches way above its weight.
_____
Specifications
Body type Four-door sedan
Drive Front-wheel drive
Engine type Inline 4-cylinder petrol
Engine capacity 2,488cc
Max power 138kW/5,700rpm
Max torque 250Nm/3,250rpm
Fuel consumption 5.6L/100km
C02 emissions 153g/km
0-100km/h N/A
Front suspension MacPherson strut
Rear suspension Multi-link
Roof rack No
ABS brakes Yes\
Airbags Six
Stability programme Yes
Air conditioning Dual zone climate\
Lap/diagonal belts Five
Satellite navigation Yes
Electric seats Yes
Burglar alarm Yes
Boot release Yes
Cargo cover Yes
Boot capacity 474 litres
Wheel type 19-inch alloy
Spare tyre Space saver
ANCAP rating 5 Stars
|Price $55,995
