WASHINGTON — The midsize sedan class is filled with many different cars to choose from. Most offer plenty of space and a fine, but somewhat bland, driving experience geared toward comfort rather than sporty handling.
Mazda has a different take on what a midsize sedan should be — more connected to the road with a sportier feel.
The 2016 Mazda 6 offers good space and standout good looks to help set it apart from the rest of the class. With the Mazda 6 Grand Touring, I also enjoyed a week with a more revised styling outside and an improved interior inside. The Mazda 6 has a starting price around $21,500 if you want a manual transmission — a rare find — in the midsize sedan class. If you want all the options, then choose Grand Touring and the sticker goes to $33,000. I wish you could have the manual with Grand Touring trim level, NAV and leather would be nice to have for the shift-for-yourself crowd. I must say the six-speed automatic is good and does a nice job of being smooth and it can be quick when you want to play.
The drive is a little more fun than you’re used to with the midsize sedan. The Mazda 6 seems light and it also feels faster. That’s a bit of a surprise as the only engine is a 2.5l four cylinder engine with 184hp but it gets the job done. I’m a horsepower guy — the more the better — but the Mazda 6 doesn’t really seem to need more in most cases. Just once with the seats full of people, the A/C blasting and trying to merge with traffic, I wished for another 20hp.
The large 19-inch wheels do a good job of soaking up a fair share of the bumps, but the bigger ones do make themselves known. The Mazda 6 is geared toward better handling and less soft than some of the competition. It’s never a rough ride, just a bit more firm, and it pays off on back roads. Fuel mileage on my 500 mile new Mazda 6 was 29 mpg for the week, a little under the 32 mpg combined rating.
The Mazda 6 has swooping lines, a more coupe-like profile and is one of the better looking sedans outside, even after a few years of this basic design. New for this year are the LED headlights up front, which seem to make the headlight unit smaller than before, enhancing the lines of the car. The larger 19-inch wheels really add to the side view of the car, making it look smaller than it is. The rear end styling isn’t as flashy as the rest of the car, but dual tailpipes add a little flair.
Interior space is pretty good with plenty of space up front and even in the back seat with good head and legroom. Don’t forget to duck your head when going through the sloping rear doors though. The front power and heated leather seats are supportive and maybe a bit more firm than others. I found them comfortable, more along the line of a sports car seat.
There is good space in the trunk — I would say about the going size for a midsize sedan. The NAV system works well most of the time and there is now a larger 7-inch touch screen and a wheel on the console to control many of the functions, which I mostly liked. There is even a heads-up display that rises from the dash — sort of like a fighter jet look and feel.
The Mazda 6 is the sporty alternative in the midsize sedan class that likes to have some fun. With a well-appointed roomy interior and a stylish exterior, the Mazda 6 with a fuel efficient four-cylinder engine is worth a look before you buy the same car as your neighbor.
Editor’s note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
