2014 Mazda 6 Touring review

"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
12/30/2013 at 08:13 • Filed to: Mazda 6, reviews, WillAlibrandi

Mazda has restyled their midsize 6 sedan for 2014, and in the process created an automobile that stands out in the midsize segment for its stylish looks. This segment has historically been dominated by staid designs like Toyota’s Camry and Honda’s Accord, but this began to change a few years back with Hyundai’s Sonata redo and in 2013 with Ford’s restyled Fusion. Mazda is continuing the trend - even upping the ante with its 6 sedan.

Powering the 6 is a new 2.5 liter four-cylinder rated at 184hp and 185lb-ft torque which motivates the 6 from 0-60 in the mid-7 second range while returning an EPA rating of 25mpg city and 37 mpg highway (29 combined). While the test car came with a six-speed manual transmission, a six-speed automatic is available with EPA ratings 1mpg higher than the manual. The four-cylinder is currently the sole engine option as the previous model’s V6 is no longer offered. Later in the model year Mazda’s new Sky-D diesel will be available, and its 100lb-ft (minimum) increase in torque promises to make for an even more entertaining drive, while returning an estimated 40+mpg highway.

The test car is the 2014 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Touring sedan, with a base price of $23,445 and total MRSP of $25,010. Included in the standard equipment is 5.8" color touch-screen display, 19" alloy wheels, keyless entry & ignition, dual zone automatic climate control, blind spot monitoring, hill start assist, leatherette-trimmed seats and a 6-way power driver’s seat. Standard safety equipment includes antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.

Inside, the materials quality and fit & finish level is top notch; controls are well laid out and user-friendly. The touchscreen interface was not as well thought out however, and the functions were not as intuitive as other mfr’s. A dial selector and function buttons below the shifter does simplify most tasks though. The driver’s seat was comfortable even with side bolsters meant for aggressive cornering, which came as a surprise. Head and legroom for the back seat passengers is comfortable enough for a six-footer although the sloping roof may give a bit of a claustrophobic feel for some.

On the road, the 2.5 liter Four motivates the car well enough but must be pushed high into its rev range to offer any kind of sporty performance. Off the line, the car felt a bit sluggish until reaching 3500rpm or so, and then the power came on. Mazda continues to buck the trend by offering a manual transmission where most other automakers have only automatics in their midsize sedans. This is a car that rewards a driver skilled in operating a manual transmission - keeping the engine up in its power band had a great effect on the fast “feel” of the 6. Handling-wise the car feels light on its feet in brisk cornering maneuvers, but rough pavement creates vibrations that are transmitted to the passenger compartment; probably a result of lower-profile tires on the 19" wheels. For less aggressive driving styles, the 6's compliant suspension provided for a smooth ride, and normal cornering resulted in little body roll.

Big picture: the new 6 is an attractive car with a well laid out & spacious interior that’s fun to drive (more so with the manual trans) that comes nicely equipped for $25,000. In fact, it was named Popular Mechanics’ 2014 Car of the Year. Still, the lack of a V6 means owners will have to make do with the base Four until the Sky-D becomes available. What remains to be seen is how much more Mazda charges for the diesel, and its EPA ratings; that model may be the one to wait for. The car as delivered is competent in all areas, but lack of low-end power that the previous model’s V6 offered is evident in around-town driving. It just seems the motor doesn’t deliver on the new sheetmetal’s promise, but Mazda could certainly address this in coming years - perhaps with a Mazdaspeed edition.

For more detailed model information, visit !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

DISCUSSION (13)

Tom McParland > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
12/30/2013 at 10:23

Nice write-up. It's a shame the 6 is a damn near perfect FWD sport-sedan if it wasn't for that underpowered motor. The SKY-D should help but other reviews have said the oil burner doesn't pick it up that much. I'd love to see a 2.0T w/ a 6MT under 33k.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Tom McParland
12/30/2013 at 10:29

Thanks. The 2.5 would definitely benefit from a turbo now that the V6 option is kaput. I'm surprised to see the extra 100lb-ft didn't have much effect; will have to see for myself when that car becomes available.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
12/30/2013 at 10:37

Please read the below as constructive criticism.

I felt like I was reading the text equivalent of a Motorweek review. Very informative, but give me some "feels". Tell me how you like it. Anyone can drive a car, give the specs, and pass on other factual information. What makes a good review great is the personal take of the author. On paper, one car may blow another out of the water, but the subjective opinion of the person driving it is what often matters most to many enthusiasts. See: the GTI.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tom McParland
12/30/2013 at 10:44

0-60 in 7 flat isn't too shabby for a family sedan, but I would love to see a Mazdaspeed version. The Camry V6 will get it done sub-6 seconds, fwiw.

AWD + ~300 horses + manual transmission = an entry on my want list

Make it happen, Mazda. Win me back!

Tom McParland > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/30/2013 at 10:46

It's closer to 8...and Honda does it in 6.6 with the 4cyl 6MT...I so want the Mazda to be quicker.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tom McParland
12/30/2013 at 10:48

I was going off this (auto) - http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/20…

Tom McParland > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/30/2013 at 10:50

That's not bad the last Motor Trend I read was 7.8 or so. Maybe the 6MT could be quicker...but it doesn't feel it. I drove one and was let down.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/30/2013 at 10:53

Fair enough. It was late last night when I finally finished, so I'll go in and make some edits for style.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tom McParland
12/30/2013 at 10:55

Your daily is a Mazda 3, right? I was really impressed with my '05 3s hatch, but moved on to RWD and 400+ horsepower. To get me back, Mazda needs some serious firepower to go with their light weight, manual transmission, and good looks.

I do have high hopes for the new Speed3, though. They have to make it better than the Focus ST, which is no slouch.

Rico > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
12/30/2013 at 11:19

Rode in one of these a few weeks ago. Very nice overall, rear passenger was nicely laid out and roomy enough, but the vibration you are talking about was very apparent and annoying. On the highway with the driver doing about 65-70 mph the ride felt very jerky and kind of turned me off about the car. Sound system was nice but the infotainment system looked janky (but so are most infotainment systems).

JACU - I've got bonifides. > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
12/31/2013 at 09:30

My wife drives a 2014 Grand Touring. Since her's is an auto, she has a "Sport" button that sharpens throttle response and allows it to shift at the upper rpm range. When I drive it I pretty much keep there unless on the interstate. One can shift sequentially in "manual" mode either with the stick or the paddle shifters. The paddles are more responsive than I expected.

For it's class, it has quick turn-in and high grip. Really great directional stability. Understeers at the limit of course, but if you creep up to that limit and go pretty quickly in the twisties. I've driven Camrys and Accords of various ilk and this car feels much better than your average FWD sedan.

Very comfortable for interstate use also.

My wife is a researcher by profession and her purchase had to check a lot boxes. We drove a few others (Accord, Sonata w/turbo, Fusion). This car came the closest to meeting her requirements. She drives it enthusiastically and I hear "I sure do love my car" a lot.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > JACU - I've got bonifides.
12/31/2013 at 09:58

That's great to hear. I like the car's looks, just need to address the power issue IMHO.

JACU - I've got bonifides. > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
12/31/2013 at 12:05

I drive a 2004 Subaru Forester XT MT with some tweaks. When we were discussing the purchase of her vehicle we talked about how great it would be to have AWD and 250-300 hp. She would have been willing to spend another $5k to get that. Her previous car had about 200k miles on it though and was beginning to need some major services, so she decided to pull the trigger on the Mazda.