The Garage Blog

The Garage: Your daily dose of automotive news, reviews and motorsports coverage

  • About
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • A word about guest posts

Mazda is Ready to Sell the 2018 Mazda6

March 16, 2018 by Tom Williams Leave a Comment

Ok, so we are well into 2018 now, but Mazda is now prepared to sell you the 2018 Mazda6 (on the lot now is the 2017.5). In a segment where the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry grab all the headlines, the Mazda6 goes about its business with little fanfare or recognition. Which is a shame, as the 6 is one of the best looking and performing midsize sedans available at a reasonable price. Just ask me-I own a Mazda6s V-6 with a 5-speed, so I may be biased.

The 2018 Mazda6 will be available in April. Mazda promises a quieter, smoother, and more comfortable car while maintaining its fun to drive nature. Mazda also states there will be more standard equipment, a new range topping Signature model, and most importantly, a new 2.5L turbocharged four cylinder engine rated at 250hp. Sadly for enthusiasts, this new engine is only available with a six-speed automatic. A six speed manual can only be had in the base model Sport. Non-turbo 6’s have a 2.5L four rated at 187hp.

Below is pricing and standard equipment for the 2018 Mazda6 line. Pricing is USD.

Sport: $21,950 Includes cloth interior, 17″ alloys, LED headlights, dual zone auto climate control, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic assist, and low speed automatic braking. Adding an automatic raises the price to $23,000. Of note, this gives the 6 cylinder deactivation. Mazda is quick to point out this is only four cylinder engine sold in North America with this feature.

Touring: $25,700 Adds 19″ alloys, leatherette interior, power driver’s seat, heated front seats, sunroof, and rear air vents.

Grand Touring: $29,200 The base model for the new turbocharged engine. Additional standard features include an 11 speaker Bose audio system, navigation, heated mirrors, and auto dimming driver’s mirror.

Grand Touring Reserve: $31,700 Adds a head up display, rear spoiler, windshield wiper de-icer, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, and power, ventilated front seats.

Signature: $34,750 Mazda is hoping to lure premium car shoppers with features like Nappa leather, Japanese Sen wood inserts, 360 degree View Monitor, front and rear parking sensors and a 7″ reconfigurable gauge display.

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailSuzuki Quits US Auto Sales Default ThumbnailReview: 2014 Mazda6 Default ThumbnailThe Jeep Cherokee Returns Review: 2014 Mazda6 GT – Rocky Road ice cream in a freezer full of vanilla 2015 Waste Management Winter Rally

Review: 2014 Mazda6 GT – Rocky Road ice cream in a freezer full of vanilla

March 20, 2014 by Andrew Ling Leave a Comment

Mazda6 fountain HDR front 1
According to the International Ice Cream Association, vanilla ice cream is the USA’s favourite ice cream flavour and beats out chocolate. More exotic flavours like Butter Pecan or Rocky Road fall into 4th or 5th.

One can draw a similarity when it comes to mid-sized family cars. The top selling car in America is the Toyota Camry. A competent but safe choice, sort of like vanilla ice cream.

Even Honda played it safe with the Accord’s styling when the sedan was redesigned recently. The top selling sedan has been criticised for looking too derivative even though the new shape is certainly an upgrade over the prior model.

The Mazda6? Well it’s sort of a wallflower among the big selling midsized sedans. While it’s probably never going to sell in the same numbers as the Camry or the Accord, consumers would be remised in passing it up during their shopping.

Personally, I’ve always enjoyed Rocky Road ice cream. So when I recently had the chance to get the keys to a 2014 Mazda6 GT with <gasp> a 6 speed manual transmission, I knew I had to give it a go.

EXTERIOR

The Mazda6 is definitely one of the sleekest sedans you can buy. Mazda’s Kodo “Soul of Motion” design language, which is supposed to mimic the calm and furious states of nature, has resulted in an aggressive front fascia and plenty of attractive character lines along its profile.

Mazda6 fountain HDR front 3
And look at those front fender bulges! Where can you find them on another sedan, let alone what is traditionally expected on a plain-Jane family sedan?

In fact, Mazda says that their new 6 is probably the purest expression yet of the Kodo design language.

In this case, the aggressive front end is supposed to look like an animal that is crouched and ready to spring into action.

Overall, I think that the eye-catching coupe-like styling looks quite fetching and the ties the Mazda6 with the Ford Fusion for the best looking mid-sized sedan.

IMG_3195
My other favourite exterior design element aside from its bulging front fenders, is the combination LED strip and halo ring within the headlamp unit. It adds an upscale flair to the car, and is something different than the now ubiquitous strip of LEDs along the bottom perimeter of the headlamp.

INTERIOR

No matter which trim level Mazda6 you choose, you’ll end up with a car with a roomy and comfortable driving position.

It is a little bit of a pity that the interior design team didn’t have the same exuberance (or perhaps the same budget) as the exterior designers.

IMG_3187
The 6’s cabin is an almost identical photocopy of the Mazda CX-5. Not a bad thing but just a bit bland. Then again as discussed at the beginning of this review, vanilla ice cream reins supreme in the conservative midsized family car market and not Rocky Road.

Regardless, the inside of the 6 is neatly trimmed with comfortable and supportive seats. My top-end GT spec car included standard leather hides and all trim levels include generous applications of soft-touch dash plastics.

IMG_3163
The design is more minimalist than techy, and the gloss black plastic trim that spans across the dash has a hint of BMW design to it. Not a bad association to be made.

I like that the steering wheel both tilts and telescopes for maximum adjustability. To compliment it is an 8-way power adjustable driver seat. This makes finding the perfect driving position a clinch.

Previous Mazdas have been so-so when it comes to the interior electronics, but no longer.

A touchscreen now replaces the odd split-control radio headunit design in the previous generation Mazda6. The new system is much easier, albeit a bit plain due to its TomTom borrowed interface.

IMG_3171
Thankfully there are many redundant hard buttons for the climate control system, which has not been integrated into the touchscreen interface unlike an increasing number of cars. I prefer this than the fussy virtual interfaces that some vehicles have these days.

IMG_3170
One bone of contention. While I appreciated that Mazda has taken the effort to include a rotary BMW iDrive-style knob that also controls the headunit, it seems almost redundant when the touchscreen is so easy-to-use and so close at hand.

IMG_3159
Irritatingly, the headunit still locks out most functions when the vehicle is on the move, so neither driver nor front passenger can program the system using this Controller knob anyway.

On the plus side, almost every 6 will have Bluetooth and a backup camera. The GPS Navigation screen is a bit small, but high resolution. Blindspot monitoring was a standard feature on my GT model and it worked well. Opt for the Tech package and you also get Smart City Brake Support, which can automatically brake to prevent low speed collisions.



Out back, the rear seats have a lot of room. Thinner front seats and widened openings under them mean that rear seat passengers now benefit from extra knee and foot room.

Just how commodious is the space back there? I invited fellow car enthusiast, Mitchell Sayers, to give the rear seats a try. At 6’5”, he’s not exactly what you would call of average height. But even he was surprised by the amount of rear cabin space.

IMG_3068-1


While the lower roofline meant that Mitch had to swoop a bit when getting out, the headroom was more than enough for him. My kudos goes to the Mazda designers and engineers for their clever interior packaging and ergonomics.

SO HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

Being a smaller company, Mazda doesn’t have the resources that Honda and Toyota do. And now that they’re going in alone (without any more Ford resources), they have to play it smart.

As a result, they build their products on a modular structure. The 6 shares the same platform as the well-regarded CX-5 small SUV. It also shares the same engine, a variable valve timed SKYACTIV-G 2.5L direct injection 4 cylinder engine with 184 hp at 5700 rpms and 185 ft-lbs of torque at 3250 rpms.

IMG_3196
Mazda wants to be known for its efficiency but does it via conventional ways without expensive hybrids. The key is Mazda’s comprehensive suite of SKYACTIV technology, including direct fuel injection and a race car high 13:1 engine compression ratio.

Some models have an optional system named i-ELOOP (aka Intelligent Energy Loop), which stores power from regenerative braking into a special capacitor. This is used to run electrical accessories such as the lights and the climate control.

IMG_3197
Mazda says that capacitors are much better at quick charges and discharges as they don’t involve the same chemical reactions as conventional batteries. As a result, they are much more apt at delivering quick bursts of power, reducing fuel consumption by as much as up to a claimed 10%.

Mazda claims fuel economy ratings of 8.1L/100 kms in the city and 5.3L/100 kms on the highway for my manual transmission car. I averaged 8.5L/100 kms in mostly city driving in my non i-Eloop car. Interestingly, the automatic transmission car gets a better 7.6/5.1L city/highway rating.

IMG_3175
A bigger fuel economy bump is going to come when Mazda sells a diesel version of the 6 in the near future, competing with the VW Passat TDI.

Despite just having a 4 cylinder engine, the car lives up to the brand’s zoom-zoom character. My test car felt agile for its size and more than quick enough for everyday situations. There is acceptable amounts of body roll and it is competent in the corners.

Thanks to the SKYACTIV philosophy of reducing curb weight, it also felt surprisingly light on its feet and drives smaller than it is.

IMG_3074
The vast majority of buyers will choose their Mazda6 with the 6 speed automatic gearbox. However, one of the main reasons that I was looking forward to testing this car was because of the available 6 speed manual gearbox.

IMG_3188
According to Mazda, it is said to have been tuned with inspiration from the MX-5 Miata.

Continuing with the SKYACTIV mindset, this gearbox has also been lightened and modified for less friction in the pursuit of improved fuel economy.

IMG_3180
I’m happy to report that the short throws and good clutch feel make the gearbox a pleasure to use. Not only does it snick from cog to cog smoothly and precisely, but there is enough mechanical feel dialed into the system that you never forget the box full of gears at the other end of the stick. Exactly what manual transmission fans are looking for.

This easy-shifting transmission really did do justice to Mazda’s sporty heritage and adds the right amount of excitement this car deserves.

WRAP-UP

The family sedan market is a very crowded one. But Mazda stands out from the crowd by offering a good looking, well-equipped sedan with the “zoom-zoom” sportiness it is known for.

IMG_3078
It’s no wonder that journalists in the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) voted it as the 2014 Canadian Car of the Year. The Mazda6 also won AJAC’s prestigious award for the 2014 Best New Family Car over $30,000.

Mazda6 COTY 2014 Mazda6_2 COTY 2014
So it’s really too bad that the Mazda6 often gets overlooked by many shoppers in the category. It really should be in the spotlight thanks to its blend of sporty driving character, eye-catching coupe-like styling, and excellent fuel economy.

If you need the practicality of a midsized family sedan but don’t want to give up sleek styling or sporty handling (or if you like Rocky Road ice cream and don’t want to own a Camry or Accord), you might want to take a very close look at the Mazda6!

Mazda6 fountain HDR rear 1

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailReview: 2014 Mazda6 Default ThumbnailReview: 2012 Subaru Impreza Default ThumbnailReview: 2013 Volvo S60 T5 AWD Default ThumbnailReview: 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Default ThumbnailReview: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Review: 2014 Mazda6

May 20, 2013 by Tom Williams 4 Comments

IMG_1497

The life of a car guy isn’t always easy or as satisfying as one might think. Most of you know what I mean. You spend your free time reading, thinking about cars, taking care of your own car-just Something associated with cars. And if you keep this up long enough, your family, neighbors, and co-workers are bound to catch on to your curious affliction. You know what happens next-they are going to ask your opinion of what car they should buy. And in North America, every year hundreds of thousands of car guys are asked that same question, yet almost no one ever follows our advice. While I do not have concrete proof to back this up, something tells me that if these people were taking the advice of car guys, the Mazda6 would surely be selling in greater numbers than they do.

So, what’s going on here? Your neighbor Joe leans over the fence, and tells you he’s looking for a nice, mid-size family car, and what do you recommend?. You pause for a moment, think, and respond, as a car guy, recommend the Mazda6. And you roll off what you’ve read in the car magazines, that it is engaging, fun to drive, offers crisp handling and steering. Meanwhile, Joe’s eyes are glazing over, and he doesn’t hear a word you’re saying, because in reality Joe already made up his mind. He’s buying a Toyota Camry, he just wanted approval from the neighborhood car guy. Joe may as well have asked where he should go for Italian for dinner. You tell him about the small Italian restaurant downtown, where the chef makes the pasta fresh everyday, buys farm fresh produce, and then he goes to eat at Olive Garden.

Such has been the maddening problem with the Mazda6, held as one of the most respected mid-size cars available from the auto enthusiast community, yet one that is constantly overlooked by the general buying public. And Mazda has been struggling to find the right answer. While past 6’s have been praised for their handling and fun to drive capabilities, some critics blamed the 6 as being a size too small to go toe to toe with the Accord and Camry. In its 2009 redesign, the last generation 6 grew up in size, yet the sales figures just were not there. I even heard from a Mazda rep that sales of the last 6 never met what the company thought they could sell.

With the all-new Mazda6, you get the feeling Mazda took a step back and figured they couldn’t beat Honda and Toyota by imitation. Instead, they have gone the opposite direction-build on the virtues of the 6 and upon its reputation, and see what that brings. Mazda’s smaller role in the mid-size car business actually works to its benefit, in that style-wise, Mazda can take far more risks without the fear of offending long-time customers. And let’s face it, if Mazda buyers expect a fun to drive car, it should be exciting to look at as well. Even on our base model test car finished in a somber Meteor Gray, there is no way you can miss the deep-dish front spoiler, pronounced grill opening flanked with aggressive-looking headlights that taper back to flowing fender lines for a much softer, elegant look than the front end suggests. Taken as such, the Mazda6 may sound like a disjointed design, but in person, it all blends very well. Style is subjective, but in my opinion, the Mazda6 sits at the top of its class, alongside the Kia Optima and Ford Fusion.

IMG_1504

Step inside the Mazda6 and its position as the driver’s car of mid-size sedans is confirmed. Slip into the bucket seat and it is immediately clear that Mazda understands that a driver’s car is all about creating an environment that is driver-centric. It sounds simple enough, but in some mid-size sedans you get the sense the driver is just a passenger with the seat with the steering wheel in front of him. Not here. All controls are clear, easy to use, and within short reach. The meaty, just-right sized steering is a pleasure to hold, and would be at home in any German sport sedan. The same can be said of the beautifully executed gauge cluster. Our base Mazda6 may have been low on frills, but provided a distraction-free driving environment. No, there are not four dozen cupholders, or stowage space for six smartphones, tablets and game consoles, but this isn’t a minivan. That said, the Mazda has a roomy cabin with plenty of room for the family.

Presently, the only engine available in the Mazda6 is a new 2.5L four cylinder, rated at 184hp. Our base model test car featured a delightful six-speed manual. A six-speed automatic is an option, but in higher trim levels the automatic is your only choice. Interestingly, in Canada the manual is available on all trim levels. The 6 has always been known as a car with decent pep, and the new car is no different. However, when it came to gas mileage, the 6 always fell short of the competition-a major no-no when fuel consumption ranks fairly high on most shopper’s list of priorities. Mazda has finally addressed the issue with its SkyActiv technology, and the proof is in the numbers. EPA fuel economy estimates are 25/37 MPG city and highway, respectively, which is an impressive figure. While the powerful but thirsty V-6 is no longer on the menu, Mazda plans to add a 2.2L turbo diesel to North America. Until now, Volkswagen has been the sole provider of diesel powered family cars here, and the addition of a diesel Mazda6 should be interesting.

IMG_1500

In North America the Mazda6 is available only as a four door sedan, while foreign markets continue to offer the 6 as a wagon. Trim levels in the US start with the base Sport, Touring, and top-spec Grand Touring. Standard equipment on our Mazda6 Sport included 17″ alloys, dual exhaust, LED taillights, six-speaker audio with USB port, and remote keyless entry. In other words, a pretty basic car, but very attractively priced at $21,675USD, including delivery. Of course, features most purveyors of family cars desire like satellite radio, navigation, and other luxury goods are available on higher trim levels. Yet I took delight in the simplicity of our Mazda6, and marveled that such a well-composed, enjoyable car with this much usable space could be had at this price. Short on content, maybe, but at no time did I ever feel I was driving a cheap car. The high standard of quality and driving pleasure make the Mazda6 Sport an outrageous bargain.

And to all the car guys out there, I sympathize. You passionately tell your neighbor Joe this is the family sedan he wants, for all the reasons  we’ve just shared. And without fail, he shows up the next day, proud of his new Toyota Camry. You politely decline his offer of dinner at Olive Garden, instead opting for the small Italian restaurant in town. And you take the long way home. The reality of the mid-size car war is the Accord/Camry/Altima is they constantly try to appeal to as many people as possible, yet live in terminal fear of offending anyone. The result are near perfect cars that offer practically nothing in terms of personality, or character, the very thing that draws us to cars. The new Mazda6 is a success because Mazda realized they weren’t going to build a Camry killer, but more importantly, is that they didn’t want to.

[nggallery id=523]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailReview: 2012 Mazda5 Default ThumbnailReview: 2012 Mazda2 Default ThumbnailReview: 2013 MAZDA CX-5 Default ThumbnailReview: 2012 Volkswagen Passat Default ThumbnailReview: 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe

Turn Two: Mazda6i

January 7, 2010 by Tom Williams 1 Comment

What is Turn Two, you ask? A new feature here at The Garage, where another editor gives his take on a car previously reviewed here. It is our hope that you, the reader, enjoys and benefits from more than one point of view.

Our first look at the Mazda6 came last winter, when the car was completely redesigned for 2009. This new 6 was substantially larger that the car it replaced, as Mazda hoped parity in size with the class-leading Accord and Camry would translate into more sales. Long regarded as the “auto enthusiast’s” family sedan, fear ran rampant that a larger, heavier 6 meant no fun at the wheel. Thankfully, as we discovered, those fears were unfounded-Mazda’s “zoom-zoom” DNA is alive and well here.

[Read more…]

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailLong Term Test: 2006 Mazda 6 Sport Wagon

Mazda shows teaser shot of Mazda6 prior to Frankfurt

August 7, 2007 by Gary Grant 1 Comment

070807b.jpg

Following the trend set by a few other manufacturers, Mazda has given the world a sneak peek at the all new Mazda6 which is scheduled to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Officially, the wraps will come off at a press conference September 11 in Frankfurt.

Not only is this a full redesign of the sedan, but it is the first model to incorporate Mazda’s new Zoom-Zoom design philosophy. Sadly, the wagon has been dropped from the lineup.

Mazda press release after the break
[Read more…]

Related posts:

No related posts.

Long Term Test: 2006 Mazda 6 Sport Wagon

August 29, 2006 by Gary Grant 4 Comments

mazda61.JPG

A few weeks ago, Ed over at The Car Blog wrote a piece on Why Wagons Rock, detailing why the practicality of wagons has won him over. Well, here in The Garage, we couldn’t agree more. In fact I’m a little surprised that it’s taken so long for so many folks to come to the realization that wagons (or some SUVs by extension) are indeed cool. As one who spent years working for Volvo, with all their boxy, turbo monster wagons I figured this out way back in the early Eighties. There is no reason why a wagon can’t be practical and a blast to drive at the same time.

Enter the Mazda 6 Sport Wagon. Over the past couple of months we’ve racked up about 9,000 km on a pair of these haulers. The first was equipped with the 3.0 l V6 and a 5 speed manual transmission, while the second utilized the same engine coupled to the optional 6 speed automatic. The automatic is tuned for the sporting driver and has a manual shift option. Personally, I’ve never been excited by manumatics so this feature didn’t get much use but it did seem to work smoothly. Just not my thing.

This engine is rated for 212 hp and 197 ft/lb of torque which was more than enough to turn the front tires to smoke off the line when the driver’s inner hooligan is released and sometimes when you’ve got your jacket and tie on too. Everyone who drove the car while in our stable commented that the front tires will squeel when leaving a light, even under moderate throttle. Odd, considering the big sticky boots the Sport Wagon wears.

[Read more…]

Related posts:

No related posts.

What’s new in The Garage?

May 30, 2006 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

Whenever a blogger misses their stride, they always seem to post some sort of apology to their readers. In most cases, life has just caught up with them and the blog suffers. In The Garage, it really isn’t all that much different, except for the fact that it really is garage stuff that has been catching up with things.

Over the last week, I’ve been busy moving from the Nissan store to the Mazda store & the change has been fairly time consuming, not to mention a bit stressful. The up side to this is all the new road test candidates! First up will be my new 2006 Mazda6 wagon. I know it’s got all the toys & a gearbox, but I don’t know what colour it is or even how many gears it has!

Kart racing season truly starts for our house this weekend, with the arrival of the new engine, fresh from Arnold Racing Engines. Both days this weekend will see the Grant family invading Mosport once again.

Last weekend saw me cleaning a winters worth of kid crap out of Mamma’s Protege5.

Occasional contributor Petri has been getting caught up in the IRL world lately. The daily grind of highway management has been interrepted with schmoozing with the likes of Dan Wheldon and Buddy Rice, not to mention Scott Pruett and a certain Nascar champ. Hopefully he’ll have some time to bang off a few words here and there in the near future.

As for The Garage, we should be back up to our normal pace soon, as life settles in at the dealership.

Watch soon for opinions on street racing penalties from The Garage, along with more road tests and maybe an interview or two.

Related posts:

No related posts.

Advertisment

Find stuff

Recent Posts

  • New Canadian series promises international quality competition
  • INDYCAR Announces Paretta Autosport
  • Carvana Conundrum
  • Honda Loses Some Funk for 2021
  • Review: 2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid

NEW Feature: World’s Fastest Car Review

World’s Fastest Car Review: Volvo Drive Me

May 29, 2014 By Gary Grant 1 Comment

World’s Fastest Car Review: Enviro Dad and the VW Touareg TDI

May 26, 2014 By Gary Grant Leave a Comment

World’s Fastest Car Review: 2014 Mazda5

May 8, 2014 By Gary Grant 1 Comment

Copyright © 2021 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in