Mid-sized sedans are truly the family workhorse vehicle. They typically have seating for five, a good-sized trunk, and get good gas mileage. They’re not usually sporty in design or in function, and definitely aren’t built to be taken off-roading as a truck or sport utility vehicle. Yup, the sedan is the right car for making the everyday rounds of suburban life: dropping the kids off at school and the orthodontist, making trips to the grocery and dry cleaners, and then trundling off to work. Ho hum.
So, you wouldn’t expect to get the zip and kick of a sports car in an everyday sedan, would you? Mazda says perhaps not, and offers the all-new 2014 Mazda6 as proof. It has all that you would expect in a family sedan, yet it’s deftly wrapped up in a sporty swoop design that delivers a powerful driving experience and dynamic handling. Nothing ho hum here, folks.
(Above): Interior view of the 2014 Mazda6 GT sedan.
The Mazda6 also offers great gas mileage and pricing that could appeal to the value-minded. Our test car had a base price of $23,445, and with the addition of several optional items, racked up a total sticker price of $25,000. One option, the head-turning “Soul Red” exterior paint, was an extra $300 but it is so bright and lustrous, it’s probably worth it.
While there is much to attract attention here within the Mazda6, the most important feature very well may be Mazda’s SKYACTIV technology. It’s an overall term for a number of components that focus on boosting performance, with a fuel-saving engine, transmission, body and chassis components. It was first introduced with the 2012 Mazda3 models, and then fully incorporated into the 2013 CX-5 SUV.
What does it mean for the redesigned 2014 Mazda6? It starts with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm. That’s quite a kick and it is standard on all three trim levels: the Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. It can be paired with a choice of transmissions: either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. The manual transmission is standard and offers an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 25 for city driving, and 37 for highway driving. The automatic transmission offers a combined fuel economy of 30 mpg. A SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine will be available later this year.
(Above): Exterior view of the 2014 Mazda6 GT sedan.
Safety features on board our test car included blind spot monitoring system, electric power assisted steering, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, dynamic stability control, traction control, hill launch assist, advanced dual front air bags and rear cross traffic alert.
Convenience features included leatherette-trimmed sport seats, six-way power driver’s seat, tilt and telescoping steering column with steering wheel mounted controls, rear view camera, an impressive six-speaker audio system, cruise control, and Bluetooth hands-free phone.
(Above): Exterior view of the 2014 Mazda6 GT sedan.
The dashboard is well laid-out, and visibility to all sides is good. The rear seat bench is accommodating and has good hip and headroom.
Not everyone wants their motoring experience to be ho-hum and boring, but they also don’t need or want a sports car or SUV. The 2014 Mazada6 may be the perfect solution for those looking for a way out of the driving doldrums.
!-- Start Alexa Certify Javascript -->
