2017 Mazda 6 quick take: The enthusiast's midsize sedan

Styling and sporty driving dynamics set Mazda's midsize sedan apart

July 27, 2017

What is it? The 6 is Mazda's biggest sedan offering a four-cylinder for power, leather and active safety features on upgraded models and 30 mpg combined.
Key Competitors: Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion
Base Price: $31,530 As Tested: $34,530
Highlights: Mazda revamped the look of the 6 a few years ago into its current, handsome form and it now sports a 184-hp, 2.5-liter SkyActiv four-cylinder engine under the hood. It can be had with a six-speed manual, but most people will probably stick with the paddle-shifted automatic.
Our Opinion: I’ve said it a million times: I love the Mazda 6. I love mostly everything about the car. I’ll get to the "mostly" part in a sec but for now I say there isn’t a better non-German, non-luxury midsize sedan on the market.
Mazda’s Kodo design is a welcome change from the competition’s commonplace shapes. Scanning Mazda’s site, there isn’t a car or crossover Mazda offers I don't think looks good. The 6’s long hood and short-ish rear deck, good-looking creases and just the right of chrome help the styling stay new and fresh. The interior looks good, too, and is plenty roomy, comfortable and well built with good materials. Most things within touch range are soft. The brightwork is just a single piece of smooth aluminum-look plastic -- just right. The controls are intuitive and the seats comfortable. Mark Vaughn once wrote “circumstances might force you to buy a car this size and for this cost, but you don’t have to sacrifice sculptural automotive design to get it.”
Right on.
The 6’s four is smooth and responsive and 184 hp feels right. There’s some real poke in Sport mode above 3,000 rpm.
As midsize sedans go you don’t often hear the word "fun." Sometimes, but not always. I submit the 6 is definitely fun. The excellent chassis makes this car among the best front-drivers on the market. It’s that simple. It’s certainly the stiffest front-drive chassis I recall. The ride/handling is excellent -- taut with flat cornering and fine body control around town. The 6 is also a fast, quiet freeway blaster.
I do have one nit: I don’t like head up display. When I jump into a car it’s usually the first thing I turn off. In the 6 if you don’t want the head-up display on, you have to turn it off every time you start the car. I’ve whined about this before. That’s it. Love everything else about it.
That 6s start at about $22,000 continues to blow my mind, even if our loaded tester topped $34K.
--Wes Raynal, editor

 

 

 

 

Car Reviews

Gallery: 2017 Mazda 6 interior

Options: GT Premium Package (i-Eloop regenerative engine braking system, active grille shutters, shifter LED accent lighting, Bright finish interior trim, nappa leather-trimmed upholstery, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, steering wheel w/unique stitch, black headliner) ($2,500), gray paint charge ($300), door sill trim plates ($125), cargo mat ($75)

• Mazda 6

• MSRP

  $21,945

  Sport

  MPG

  24 / 34

  City / HWY

By Autoweek Staff

On Sale: Now

Base Price: $31,530

As Tested Price: $34,530

Drivetrain: 2.5-liter DOHC I4, FWD, six-speed auto

Output: 184 hp @ 5,700 rpm; 185 lb-ft @ 3,250 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,250 lb

Fuel Economy: 27/35/30 mpg(EPA City/Hwy/Combined)

Pros: Perfect driving position, great curb appeal

Cons: Head-up display reinitializes after every startup