Mazda 6 (2017-2018)

Overview

For quite some time, Mazda has been synonymous with luxury and class-driven brand. Almost all of the models in the lineup are daringly beautiful and sophisticated, the same goes for the Mazda 6 sedan as well. The car has everything, doesn’t it? Plus, the G-Vectoring Control and slightly newer equipment that were added in 2017, did a great job into getting the brand into business against the likes of the Mercedes, Audi and BMW.

With the SkyActiv-D in the Mazda 6 sedan, the company managed to go places in the Malaysian market. The clean diesel engine is obviously the first thing you would want as high power delivered with minimum emission.  Plus, not to forget, the high utility and designing excellence that the sedan is engineered with, work well to maximise the joy of an exhilarating journey down the highways. The car does really pack a punch in almost all the aspects and near to negligible is left behind.

Interior & Features

The cabin of the Mazda 6 is built with an uncompromised build quality and comfort, it also involves a very high-level of craftsmanship. Straight up on the dashboard, there is a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is tuned with MZD Connect along with GPS navigation in both 2D as well as 3D. The audio system consists of an MP3 player and FM, it comes with 11 speakers in the bigger variant and six with the base variant.

The seats are wrapped in fine leather upholstery as standard, and so are the gear knob and steering wheel. There is a power-controlled sunroof with tinted glass and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. The steering wheel has a lot of control buttons that support phone connectivity and hand feature feture.

To offer a comfortable drive, Mazda offers dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents. The driver’s seat comes with 8-way adjustable while the front passenger has 6-way adjustable feature.

Exterior

The Mazda 6 sedan does have a flair and flamboyant approach in terms of designing. The car looks a tasteful D-segment sedan with everything about it being so right. The styling brilliance is evident in its every inch with swooping lines and a sleek approach.

The “KODO - Soul of Motion” design language does the biggest part in giving the sedan a peak physical shape, just like it does to other cars in the company’s lineup. The front section has Mazda's signature horizontal slated grille with a thick strip of chrome passing across to the headlights at the two ends. The LED headlamps, along with the DRLs, are cleanly carved into the shape.

Ride & Handling

The Mazda 6 is a runner for anyone who takes it for a hardcore spin on the highways. According to the company, the petrol variant is their best-seller but it feels slightly lower in the performance department. The humongous torque of the SkyActiv-D does the job of getting you the acceleration and feel out in the countryside or the outskirts.

However, despite the diesel engine variant deserves quite a lot of build up, the gasoline model feels nimble too, especially the bigger variant. The power and acceleration are divided equally among the entire rev range and the gear ratios.

With the diesel being more frugal out of the two, it does sound like a more wallet-friendly option to go with, especially if you live around 40-50 kilometres away from the place of your job.

The ride quality is utmost comfortable, especially with electric cruise control kicking in as standard. All of the variants have 225-sections tyres, which means the road grip is not compromised on even with the base variant.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Mazda 6 Sedan has three engine options on offer, all of which are powerful and grunty. The smaller 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G engine can deliver a maximum power of 153 PS at 6,000 rpm along with a peak torque of 200 Nm at 4,000 rpm. However, the bigger 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G churn more power of 185 PS at 5,700 rpm along with a peak torque of 250 Nm at 3,250. The higher displacement enables more power production at lower engine revs.

But the highlight of the Mazda 6 sedan is the addition of a SkyActiv-D (diesel) engine. This 2.2-litre engine manages to produce 173 PS at just 4,500 rpm but a humongous torque of 420 Nm at 2,000 rpm. The engine is known for its grunt and the nimble feel out on the open roads.

The power is sent down to the wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox in all the fuel trims. However, there is a manual shifter on offer too.

Braking & Safety

Talk about the safety parameter and the Mazda 6 will rank high on the list. Six SRS airbags are given as standard in all the variants, be it the smaller 2.0-litre trim. The 3-point seat belts have the ELR feature (Emergency Locking Retractor) which makes it safer on any given day. Plus, if the driver or the front passenger hasn’t put the seatbelts on, the car gives warnings to put them on.

The drivers have a lot of assistance while riding the powerful Mazda sedan. There are emergency brake assists and TCS (traction control system) added to the package, along with dynamic stability control, lane keep assist, and lane departure warning. There is also a Blind Spot Monitoring system which helps new drivers to drive without worrying about running into a vehicle in front.

Topping up the braking section are the ventilated disc brakes up front and solid discs at the rear. These brakes are well supported with the addition of ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution.

Verdict

The moment we spot a Mazda 6 on the road, it might be slightly difficult to take the eyes off it, such is the aesthetic design. Plus, the well crafted interior layout does appear to have a futuristic approach.

However, the best part of the cabin lies on the safety front where six safety airbags are given as standard in all the variants. Moreover, when it comes to the electronics, the safety parameter is just inflated to its brim. It is an amazing alternative sedan for the entry-level models from luxury German automakers like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes.