2014 Mazda 6 Test Drive
Overview
There are a lot of merits to new technology and one that puts a smile on my face is an end product made cheaper and better. The 2014 Mazda 6 brings the best out of this statement, offering German quality performance without the luxury price tag. The 2014 Mazda 6 has gained significant attention to its engaging driving personality and great fuel economy in the last few years. But the “zoom zoom” campaign hasn’t stopped there as the new 2014 Mazda 6 promises to deliver even better fuel economy, sharper styling, practicality as well as introducing the all new i-Eloop regenerative braking technology.
The 2014 Mazda 6 is a six passenger midsize sedan with vbold and elegant styling. The overall design rivals its prestigious competitors such as the Jaguar inspired Ford Fusion and the Kia Optima crafted by former Audi chief designer, Peter Schuyler. But what brings the new 2014 Mazda 6 above proving grounds is its engaging driving driving experience, quality, and outstanding fuel economy. To keep fuel consumption to a minimal, the 2014 Mazda 6 is equipped with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5L DOHC 16 Valve 4-cylinder engine producing a respectable 184 horsepower and 185 ft.lbs of torque.
Exterior and Interior Styling
Following the “KODO soul of motion” design philosophy bring out the bold and elegant styling in the 2014 Mazda 6. From afar, the 2014 Mazda 6 expresses calmness and serenity. Squint a little reveals the sharp and aggressive contours on the 2014 Mazda 6 body. The large front grill with chrome border trimming and lowered front bumper gives the Mazda 6 a low profile look. From an overall perspective, the Mazda 6 looks and feels very solid and dense. Composure and aggression, the Mazda 6 design is a beautiful piece of art.
The interior cabin space of the Mazda 6 compliments well with its composed exterior styling. The materials used throughout the Mazda 6 is of high quality and the cabin space has excellent sound insulation from road and wind noise. Our Mazda 6 GT model came equipped with leather interior and we found the material to be very comfortable and soft to the touch. Seating position in the 2014 Mazda 6 provides a very cockpit-integrated position, but still provides adequate cushioning for added comfort.
Center console form and function pair in the Mazda 6 is good but not great. The tinted white LCD illuminated climate display gives a very simple and luxurious look while the triple dials provide good ergonomics for fan and temperature control. Button placement for climate mode selection and wind shield defrosting are placed in the lower center console perpendicularly, making it sometimes difficult to push. Overall, the ergonomics is intuitive and easy to use.
The dated infotainment system left a pet peeve impression in our impression of the Mazda 6. As much as I appreciated the talk-show British accent in the navigation system, the miniature 5.8″ infotainment screen size in the Mazda 6 and the sluggish response was unacceptable to our standards. Apart from the subpar infotainment system, the hands free audio and cruise control buttons mounted on the steering wheel provides added convenience to the driver
Powertrain and Performance
Under the hood of the Mazda 6 lies the SKYACTIV-G 2.5L DOHC 16 Valve 4-cylinder engine producing a respectable 184 horsepower and 185 ft.lbs of torque. Torque in the low end of the RPM spectrum remains dull and power only starts to kick in at around 6-7000 RPM. Merging or changing lanes require pre-planning and downshifting to often third or second gear. Renowned to Mazda’s trademark feature, the 6 speed manual transmission equipped on the tested Mazda 6 GT model is buttery smooth and the gear ratios are well spaced.The ride quality of the Mazda 6 is feathery smooth and it’s a luxury feature in midsize sedan segment. As a matter of fact, there has yet to be a mid-level sedan that matches the ride quality of the Mazda 6 we’ve tested. Suspensions on the Mazda 6 provide an excellent balance of comfort and handling. Steering is and handling is exceptionally sharp while the overall vehicle feels very solid. Fuel economy in the 2014 Mazda 6 GT model equipped with a manual transmission scores in at 25 and 37 mpg in the city and highway respectively combining at an average of 29 mpg while the automatic transmission boosts fuel economy by 1 mpg in all three sectors.
Final Thoughts
A few years ago, the typical mid-size sedan could get away with mediocre styling and performance. With the advancement in technology, what used to only exist in the luxury domain has also made its way into the mid-level class sedan sector. The Mazda 6 proves this statement true with top-of-the-class styling, and the ride quality leveled with the upper class midsize sedan segment. Although the Mazda 6 lacks aggressive acceleration, the crisp handling and ultra smooth gearbox still makes the Mazda 6 a very fun and engaging car to drive. In addition to the ride quality with personality, the Mazda 6 wins a spot in top podium when it comes to fuel economy. Torque savvy drivers will be pleased that Mazda will be releasing a diesel version of the Mazda 6 promised to deliver more torque with the same benefits of excellent fuel economy.
Pros:
- Beautiful exterior and interior styling
- Excellent fuel economy
- Ultra smooth acceleration and ride quality
- High quality interior cabin material
- Excellent sound insulation in cabin space
- Solid vehicle handling
Cons:
- Poor navigation screen size and responsiveness
- Subpar vehicle acceleration
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, mid-size sedan
BASE PRICE: GX (Base Model), $25,495, GS, $28,395; GT, $32,195
ENGINE TYPE: SKYACTIV-G 2.5L DOHC 16 Valve 4-cylinder
Power: 184 hp @ 5700 rpm
Torque: 185 lb-ft @ 3250 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic or 6 speed manual transmission
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase/Overall Length: 2,830/4,895mm
Width: 1849 mm
Curb weight 1442 lbs (Manual), 1465 lbs (Automatic)
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 7.8 seconds
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: Manual 25/37 mpg; Automatic, 26/38
404 thoughts on “2014 Mazda 6 Test Drive”
Comments are closed.