2016 Mazda Mazda6 review – Roadshow

The Good The Mazda6’s stellar handling dynamics make it the most engaging vehicle in the segment. Skyactiv drivetrain packs a punch, and delivers impressive fuel efficiency. Features handsome looks both inside and out.

The Bad Firmer suspension tuning and 19-inch wheel and tire package on upper trim levels provides a slightly harsher ride quality. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities are not available on the Mazda Connect infotainment system.

The Bottom Line The Mazda6 is better equipped to appeal a broader audience, while staying true to its sporty roots and remaining the midsize sedan choice for the enthusiast crowd.

For years, I’ve recommend the Mazda6 to anyone shopping the midsize sedan class who wants a vehicle that’s actually entertaining to drive. And with the third-generation model fixing many of the weak points afflicting previous iterations, I can’t help but throw my hands up in the air and wonder why more people aren’t buying Mazda’s midsize sedan.

Last month, Toyota sold 34,039 Camrys, Honda moved 31,526 Accords and Nissan saw 28,484 Altimas find homes. This while only 3,929 Mazda6s were sold in April, peanuts compared to the competition.

A driver’s midsize sedan

A week with a 2016 Mazda6 i Grand Touring again reaffirmed my belief that Mazda builds the most engaging vehicle in the segment. Crisp steering responds nearly instantly to inputs. The tight suspension along with the 19-inch Dunlop SP Sport 5000 tires on my test car keep body motions tidy around corners and through bends, with understeer not showing its ugly head until you push really hard. It feels light on its feet, and, like a well-trained dog, does everything you tell it almost immediately.

The cream of the midsize sedan crop when it comes to handling dynamics.

Jon Wong/Roadshow

It also manages to be the sportiest of the midsize sedan bunch without packing a high dose of power. Its Skyactiv 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque isn’t going to set the world on fire, but is zippy enough to confidently merge onto expressways, and have a good time on twisty back roads. The six-speed automatic transmission smoothly cracks through gear changes, and it’s fun to play with the responsive manual shift feature. However, for the highest entertainment value, a slick six-speed manual transmission is available on base Sport and midgrade Touring models.

The 6’s fuel efficiency game is also strong, receiving 28 mpg city and 40 mpg highway EPA ratings with the automatic and optional i-Eloop brake energy regeneration system, which captures electricity under braking in a capacitor to help power the car’s electrical systems. Best of all, the brake pedal doesn’t suffer from the wonky feeling of many other regenerative braking systems.

Everything comes together in a package that’s genuinely fun to toss around, which isn’t real common in the segment. I honestly believe you can show up at an autocross in this and have a blast, while turning in respectable times. That’s not to say all of the other entries in the class are total snoozers because the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion and Kia Optima are also good drivers, while the efforts Toyota and Nissan have put in to tightening up their cars are admirable. Dynamically, though, all of them still trail the Mazda.

But if you’re looking to win a drag race, the others have the upper hand with available turbocharged I-4 or V-6 engine options, while the Mazda6 is only packing a naturally aspirated four-banger. Mazda previously said a diesel engine was on the way for the 6, but those plans have since been delayed, and there are no signs of it landing in the US anytime soon. Given the diesel headaches Volkswagen has been dealing with, it may be wise for Mazda put those plans on the back burner for a bit, anyway.

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Mainstream struggle

With the class-leading Camry outselling the Mazda6 by a ratio of nearly 9:1 last month, Mazda still has a long way to go before achieving mainstream acceptance. And that’s not for a lack of effort on Mazda’s part, because it has taken steps to broaden the appeal of the latest Mazda6. In addition to its strong fuel economy hand, the flowing Kodo exterior design language is handsome and sharp without being overdone like the previous Hyundai Sonata. It’s easily the most visually attractive entry in the segment, with small styling tweaks arriving during a midcycle update for the 2016 model year that brought a new three-dimensional grille, headlights and fog light surrounds.