Refreshed sedan has an expensive feel
The 2018 Mazda6 is a compelling choice in the family sedan segment. The Mazda6 just underwent a sweeping refresh that helps it stay competitive. Here are five things you should know about this stylish sedan: 1. It drives really well The Mazda6 might have some of the best driving dynamics in its segment.
The steering is tight and responsive, with the right heft. The Mazda6 feels way more agile and engaging than most family sedans. The downside is that it doesn’t feel as smooth over rough roads as an Accord or Camry.
The 2018 Mazda6 I tested was powered by a carryover 2.5-litre engine with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Although this naturally aspirated engine can be a bit coarse at times, the power delivery doesn’t leave you wanting. New for 2018 is a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that has 250 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque — this engine gives you more grunt should you feel the need for a more spirited drive.
Even when the driver assistance tech is being used, the Mazad6 still drives well, never being too intrusive, jarring or annoying for the driver. The lane-keep assist is gentle enough that you don’t have to wrestle with the steering wheel and the adaptive cruise is smooth, feels natural and is easy to set up. The only issue I found is that the blind spot monitoring is a bit too sensitive. 2. The interior is excellent Mazda’s upmarket aspirations are felt in the cabin, where the build is top-notch and the materials are a level above its segment. Real stitching, brushed aluminum trim, soft materials, switchgear that clicks satisfyingly into place; these all make the Mazda6’s interior feel premium and more expensive than it actually is.
It also helps that the layout is clean and generally userfriendly, although the infotainment system is lacking and isn’t up to par in terms of being intuitive to use. 3. It’s stylish Mazda is sticking to making something legitimately pretty. As one of the most attractive and elegant family sedans in the segment, it will age gracefully, as its beauty lies in sophisticated lines and subtly luxurious details. 4. It’s fuel-efficient The carryover 2.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder got one important update for 2018: It now comes with cylinder deactivation. The engine can shut down the two outside cylinders if a driver is travelling at a steady pace between 40 to 80 km/h to increase fuel economy. In practice, the switchover was seamless and I could never tell when the car was running on half or all cylinders or when the sleeping cylinders were brought back online.
All in, the Mazda6 with this engine is rated at 9.1 L/100 km city, 6.7 highway, 8.0 combined, which is pretty good for a family sedan. 5. It’s a bargain A base Mazda6 starts at $28,785. Base models are pretty well-equipped: G-Vectoring Control, LED headlights, autolevelling headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector and a dual exhaust are some of the standard highlights.
Top-trim, fully loaded Mazda6s go for about $41,000, which is a bargain because it comes with all the tech, leather, fancy trim and driver-assistance features you could want, such as a head-up display, fullspeed adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, digital gauge display, 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats and more. The Verdict: 2018 Mazda6 The 2018 Mazda6 is an underdog in its segment, but it shouldn’t be this way. Although not as complete a package as the Honda Accord, the Mazda is much more compelling than other competitors such as the Toyota Camry.
The sedan’s combination of upscale styling both inside and out, almost-flawless driving dynamics and fair pricing make it one of my top picks in this segment. So much so that if you were looking for a similarly sized Lexus, Infiniti or Acura, you should consider the more affordable Mazda6 because it gives you much of the same luxury experience for less coin and pretty much no sacrifices.