3 goes into 6 for facelifted Mazda
also one of the most rewarding to drive,’’ says Mazda New Zealand managing director Andrew Clearwater.
Inside the car the changes for 2015 include a new dash layout, and revisions to the design of the front and rear consoles. All grades of the vehicle now have an electric parking brake, ‘Sport’ Mode Drive Selection (petrol models), and MZD Connect with a 7-inch topmounted colour touchscreen, and ‘commander’ dial which is housed in the car’s new dash design.
Front and rear suspension has been reworked and refined, and substantial improvements have been made to NVH via such initiatives as a 25 per cent reduction in cabin noise at high speeds, and installation of a Pullmaflex suspension mat in the front seat backs as well as vibration-absorbing urethane in the seat cushions.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Mazda6 facelift is the improved capability of its i-ActivSense safety system, which is there to help recognise hazards, avoid collisions and reduce the severity of crashes.
The vehicle debuts various brand-new technologies on the Limited model, including adaptive LED headlights which offer glarefree high beams, wide-range low beams which expand the illumination area, and a Highway Mode where the distance of the illuminated area is extended for driving at higher speeds.
Another new feature is LaneKeep Assist which provides both audible warnings and steering intervention if required when the car deviates from a marked lane.
In addition the model has a Driver Attention Alert system which ‘‘learns’’ the driver’s driving style after 20 minutes of continuous driving at 65 km/hour or more.
If the driver deviates from this style, the system will audibly and visually prompt the person behind the wheel to take a rest.
The Mazda6 Limited also gets Smart City Brake Support– Reverse (the opposite of the current Smart City Brake Support–Forward system) which uses a sensor located in the rear bumper to detect obstructions behind the vehicle and automatically applies the brakes and restricts engine torque to help lessen the impact of rear-end collisions. Other features for the Limited include 19-inch alloy wheels with a dark gloss finish and privacy glass on the rear side and back windows. Meanwhile, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Forward Smart City Brake Support are all standard on the GSX grade.