Mazda raises its own BAR
Mazda calls the 2018 Mazda6 its “newest flagship for people who love cars”. But in the same breath, Mazda describes itself as a smaller carmaker that does “a lot with less”, and that’s pretty accurate. Mazda is run by engineers, not the marketing department, and its tally of breakthroughs is impressive — such as making the rotary engine work when no one else could or hitting a home run out of the park with the MX-5 Miata – the world’s all-time leader in sportscar sales. But being small and having to spend its resources prudently means Mazda has not been able to develop a second luxury division, as Acura has done with Honda or Lexus with Toyota, so the Mazda6 mid-size sedan is still considered the top of its brand range. Now, we all know crossovers seem to be taking over the planet and Mazda is solid runaway sales of the CX-5 and CX-9 CUVs, yet it still believes there is a need for the mid-size Mazda6 and compact Mazda3 sedan. So when it was time to do a “major refresh” of the Mazda6, engineers took the task very seriously. Outwardly the styling has been refined with a new grille and lighting treatment with LED lights now standard and the multiple, horizontal bars replaced by an intricate mesh design that has a 3D effect depending on the angle in which it is viewed. Mazda’s signature Soul Red paint is now called Soul Red Crystal Me- tallic and looks even more vivid, especially in diffused light. Suspension, bearings and materials have all be improved and strengthened for a very solid road feel, especially at higher speeds. In addition to its usual three trim levels, for the first time there is a new Signature top grade model with all the Mazda bells and whistles standard. But perhaps the biggest change is in the engine department where Mazda steps up its innovative Skyactiv technology. The brand says its 2.5-litre is the first four-cylinder in North America to offer cylinder deactivation at constant speeds, with Mazda claiming a fuel improvement of 20 per cent at 40 km/h and five per cent at a steady 80 km/h. In light load situations, cylinders one and four shut down, but fire again automatically when passing. It produces 187 hp and 186 lb/ft of torque on regular fuel. The other engine is the new turbo version of the 2.5-litre four-cylinder (no deactivation) producing 227 hp on regular fuel and 250 hp on super premium (93-octane) with torque being 310 lb/ft in either case. Mazda says most people will not notice the difference, but I’d suggest discussing the idea of using 91-octane premium every four or five fill-ups with a dealer technician. Mazda has dropped its manual transmission in favour of standard six-speed automatic and all-wheeldrive is not available although Mazda officials were mum on the subject when pressed so you know they’re working on it. When driving both versions in and around Vernon, BC, during the Canadian press introduction, the difference between the two engines was noticeable, with the turbo and its 310 lb/ft of torque really digging. And when you think about it, that’s not so surprising as that kind of power is on par with a normally aspirated 4.0-litre V6. I drove the 2.5-litre GS-L in the afternoon and, while more than adequate, compared to the Turbo, it was a different animal. Southbound on BC Highway 97, at a steady 100 km/h it did not feel like two cylinders were shut down. When it was time to pass, all four pots kicked in with a lusty roar and my co-driver and I made short work of the car in front. But what I want to point out is how the brand is moving the Mazda6 up market, especially with the Signature. For example, the GS-L, as well as the GT and Signature, were decked out with a bevy of premium driver/safety features standard, such as adaptive radar front cruise control with stop/ start function, smart brake control, forward pedestrian sensing, forward obstruction detection, lane departure and lane keeping assist and high beam control. And I think the Mazda6 is one of the first in a mid-size sedan to make LED lighting standard across the board. My morning drive was in a Signature in the new Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint and 19-inch alloy wheels making it stand out like a luxury car; which although Mazda won’t say it, makes this model a serious player in the entry-level luxury segment. With chestnut brown or oyster white leather, you find premium touches such as piano black accents on the vent bezels and Ultrasuede trim on the door panels and lower dash complemented by wood trim also on the dash and doors. But don’t think the Mazda6 has become fat and pretentious. It still has the “Soul of a Sportscar” ride, plus the handling, which has been a core value since day one and it all came through when driving both models. If anything, the overall feeling was more like a European sports sedan with taut steering response and standard front torque vectoring adding to the stability when cornering. Doing “more with less” is what has resulted in such a loyal following and is manifested in the 2018 Mazda6, probably its best sedan yet. What’s Best: Competent and frugal sedan clothed in a very stylish body. What’s Worst: Those who value Mazda response and performance will miss the slick-shifting sixspeed manual. What’s Interesting: The new toptrim Signature model elevates the Mazda6 into the entry-level luxury sedan segment.