The Toyota RAV4 has reached adulthood

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2019 Mazda6

THE AUTO PAGE

By

John Heilig

• MODEL: 2019 Mazda6 Signature
• ENGINE: 2.5-liter turbocharged 4 
• TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manual mode  
• HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 227 hp @ 5,000 rpm/310 lb.-ft. @ 2,000 rpm 
• WHEELBASE: 111.4 in. 
• LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 192.7 x 72.4 x 57.1 in. 
• TIRES: P225/45R19 
• CARGO CAPACITY: 14.7 cu. ft.  
• ECONOMY: 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway/27.3 mpg test  
• FUEL TANK CAPACITY: 16.4 gal.  
• CURB WEIGHT: 3,580 lbs.  
• TOWING CAPACITY: Not recommended 
• COMPETITIVE CLASS: Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata 
• STICKER: $36,560 (includes $920 delivery, $500 options)  
• BOTTOM LINE: The Mazda6 deserves to be on anyone’s list of choices for a midsize sedan, based on its looks, size and performance.

            I’ve always liked the Mazda6. It is firmly in the family of midsize sedans, yet I feel it doesn’t get enough respect. 

            Styling is spot on, with curves in the right places. Test cars rest in my driveway between excursions, and I often stare at them when I’m sitting on my front patio. So I get to compare styling over time. On the 6, the front fenders, for example, could have been lifted from the RX-7 style book, but with more conservatism. 

            Internally, the combination of “parchment” (light grey) leather seating surfaces and black dash is striking. 

            Ride quality is very good. Overall, the ride is smooth, but some of our more energetic Pennsylvania road surfaces did transfer back into the cabin.

            There’s good power from the 2.5-liter turbocharged Skyactive 4. In general, the engine is quiet, more like a 6-cylinder, although on hard acceleration there is some rumble. On good asphalt roads, no noise enters the cabin, either from the engine or tires.

            There are two drive modes in the 6, normal and sport. In sport, the engine holds its speed longer before the transmission shifts. You get the feeling you’re in manual mode and you forgot to upshift. There is a manual mode to the 6-speed automatic, with paddle shifters behind the wheel.

            Front seats are comfortable with some side support. Mazda considers itself a performance car manufacturer (remember “Zoom, Zoom”?) so its seats tend to hold you in place. Front seats are also heated and cooled. The heated rear seats offer good legroom. Rear passengers have their own HVAC controls, as well as individual reading lights.

            For entertainment, there is a good, but confusing, audio system that requires some learning to master. Tuning and volume controls are on the center console, but the “tuning” knob also controls the infotainment screen functions. Additionally, the navigation system was difficult to program. “Search by name” led me, not to my local coffee shop but to a candy store in Connecticut.

            The HVAC system is good, and we’re at that time of year when we use both heating and cooling functions.

            Interior storage consists of a nice large cubby at the base of the center stack. There are the standard two cupholders in the center console plus a small console/arm rest with two USB and one 12-volt outlet.

            There is the conventional rear view camera plus the option to switch it on plus a 360-degree view that is a handy feature when you’re parking in tight spaces. 

            In the back is a very good trunk of 14.7 cubic feet. Cargo capacity can be increased by lowering the rear seat backs - releases are in the trunk - to create an essentially flat floor.

            If you’re in the market for a midsize sedan, the Mazda6 should definitely be on your shopping list. It has all the features you’d want, plus knockout styling that separates it from the pack.

(c) The Auto Page Syndicate 

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