2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring Review Australia
2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring Review Australia
2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring Review Australia - The Mazda 6 has long been an enthusiast's favorite among midsize sedans, if not exactly a sales leader in the segment. A complete redesign for the 2014 model gave the car sleeker sheet metal and updated in-dash technology, and significantly improved fuel economy while retaining its trademark "zoom-zoom" quality. For the 2016 model, the Mazda 6 Grand Touring has received a slight refresh that includes a new grille, LED lighting, 19-inch aluminum wheels, and an updated interior.
These upgrades only add to the Mazda 6's standing as arguably the best-looking car in the segment, and inarguably the best-performing one equipped with a 4-cylinder engine. But the Mazda 6 only has one choice of engine, compared with competitors that offer more powerful turbocharged or V6 options. And although Mazda has stepped up its in-dash tech efforts, the touch-screen infotainment system in this car has confusingly complex menus.
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| 2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring |
The 2016 Mazda 6 comes in three trim levels, all with a Skyactiv 184-horsepower 2.5L 4-cylinder engine, and the choice of either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The base Sport trim with a manual transmission starts a $21,495 and includes 17-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights and daytime running lights, power side mirrors with integrated turn signals, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, keyless entry and starting, cruise control, full power accessories, and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 head unit with a 3.5-inch display, six speakers, Bluetooth, a USB port, and an aux-in jack. The Sport trim with an automatic transmission starts at $22,995, and adds a 7-inch touch-screen head unit with HD Radio, Pandora, text messaging, and a rearview camera.
The Touring trim starts at $23,945 for the manual transmission and $24,995 for the automatic, and adds 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a six-way power driver's seat, advanced keyless entry, Mazda's Multi-function Commander infotainment interface, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. The Touring trim with an automatic transmission can be outfitted with two option packages. The Technology Package at $1,675 adds automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rearview and driver-side mirrors, heated side mirrors, a navigation system, and a Smart City Brake Support low-speed collision-avoidance system. The Moonroof/Bose/Satellite Radio Package at $1,325 includes a sunroof, 11-speaker Bose audio system, and satellite radio. If you want the Technology package, Mazda forces you to also take the Moonroof/Bose/Satellite Radio Package.
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| 2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring Review Australia |
The 2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring is easily the standout in styling in the midsize sedan segment, even with such shapely rivals as the Ford Fusion and the Kia Optima. The updated interior looks equally elegant, with the exception of the infotainment touch screen, which has been moved from within the dashboard to an awkward placement on top of the dash.
Connectivity, Navigation, and Interface
The Mazda 6 offers three somewhat similar in-dash apps: Pandora, Aha Radio, and Stitcher. These use a connected smartphone to pull content such as music, podcasts, and social media feeds from the cloud, and worked well in our tests.
The navigation system doesn't have any form of connected search, however. Instead, it has uncommon features such as speed-camera locations and a posted speed limit display that turns yellow and then red when you exceed it. These features are fine, but I really would've liked to see some some form of connectivity.
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| 2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring Review Australia |
In addition to the on-dash display, information is shown on the Active Driving Display (ADD) head-up display (HUD). Instead of using the car's windshield, like most HUDs, the ADD consists of a thin, clear panel that pops up out of the dash above the steering wheel to project information such as MPH, navigation directions, and warnings from driver assist systems.
Media and Phone Support
The Mazda 6 checks almost every box for available media: AM/FM HD radio, satellite radio, CD, USB/iPod, aux-in, Bluetooth audio, and streaming apps. The 11-speaker Bose audio system sounds adequate at low speeds, but gets drowned out by road and wind noise on the highway. The Bluetooth hands-free phone system is straightforward, and it supports text messaging with compatible phones.
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| 2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring Review Australia |
Like more and more mainstream midsize sedans, the Mazda 6 has a host of available driver assist systems. Adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic, and a distance recognition support system all provide alerts, while the Smart City Brake Support system can automatically apply a car's brakes when traveling under 18 mph to prevent fender benders. These assists feature a multitude of settings. For example, the alert for the lane departure warning system alone has settings for Timing (At or Before), Warning (High or Low), Sound (Beep or Rumble), and Beep Volume (High or Low).
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| 2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring Review Australia |
The 2016 Mazda 6 Sedan Grand Touring is not only one of the best-performing midsize sedans among its 4-cylinder rivals, but it also has impressive fuel economy, which is further enhanced by the i-Eloop system on our Grand Touring test vehicle. It earns an EPA-estimated 32 mpg in combined driving, or 30 mpg combined without i-Eloop.
As much as we like the Mazda 6, it's a shame that it doesn't offer an optional—and more powerful—V6 engine like our Editors' Choice, the Honda Accord, or a turbocharged 4-cylinder like the Ford Fusion and the Kia Optima. And while the Mazda 6's firmly tuned suspension makes it more sporty feeling and fun to drive, it doesn't cushion bumps and potholes like more softly sprung rivals. Still, if you're okay with the engine, and can master the tech, the Mazda 6 Grand Touring offers a solid combination of looks and performance that almost any midsize shopper will find appealing, and that driving enthusiasts are sure to enjoy.
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