Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

96 |AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

M

azda’s mid-size 6 is
available as a sedan and
wagon. Prices start at $33,490
for the 140kW/250Nm 2.5-litre
four-cylinder petrol/six-speed
automatic Sport sedan. The
Touring is $37,690. GT, with a
170kW/420Nm 2.5-litre engine,
is $44,990 and the top-of-the-
range Atenza is $48,690.
Wagon versions add $1300.
Mazda’s 140kW/450Nm
2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, also
with a six-speed auto, adds an
extra $3000 to Touring and $1100
to GT and Atenza.
Whereas most naturally
aspirated petrol fours just
don’t have the bottom-end and
midrange performance of their
turbocharged rivals, Mazda’s 2.5 is
suffi ciently strong and responsive
across the rev range to work well
in town or on the highway and
returns great fuel economy.
The 6 is a pretty big unit,
though, so the 2.5-litre turbo’s
170kW of power – and a hefty
420Nm of torque -- are close
to Goldilocks numbers for its
layout and purpose.

A broad, muscular delivery,

accompanied by a lovely growly

note at the top end, doesn’t

induce excessive torque steer or

readily overcome front tyre grip

-- though it can do so in the wet,

where traction control is slow to

arrest wheelspin.

It’s a refi ned, effi cient

drivetrain. The six-speed does

its thing without fuss; Sport

mode raises the revs and

paddles are also provided.

Unusually for a turbo,

the 2.5 runs on 91 octane.

It’s reasonably frugal on

the highway, returning

6.5-7.5L/100km, but around

town it can chew through up

to 13L/100km if you leadfoot

it. Mazda’s auto stop/start is

unobtrusive in operation.

Steering is quite slow,

especially on initial turn-in, and

you get little feedback from the

front wheels.

As with any large front driver,

pushing it in to tight corners

generates understeer, but at

speed the 6 feels light and agile,

with tighter body control and

roadholding than previously. It’s a

very easy, relaxing car in which to

cover long distances.

Mazda’s new heated, leather

driver’s seat is absolutely

luxurious, properly supportive

and good for a 1000km day.

Most of the driver assist safety

tech, which includes radar cruise,

allows you plenty of adjustment for

sensitivity and warning thresholds,

and the head-up display is

informative and easy to read. It

is activated every time you start

the car, so if you don’t want it on

you have to go to the infotainment

system and turn it off. Every time.

MZD Connect infotainment is

a fully embedded system, stand

alone navigation and voice,

but it lacks Apple CarPlay and

Android Auto. Voice gets it right

most of the time.

Ample storage includes two

centre console boxes and a

phone tray. Two USB and a 12

volt socket are also provided.

A spacious, comfortable rear

seat, with easy access via light,

wide-opening doors, has suffi cient

headroom for occupants up to

about 185cm. Two USB slots and

vents are also provided.

Mazda has retuned the

suspension, primarily to improve

the 6’s doughy handling, but it

hasn’t sacrifi ced ride comfort. On

MAZDA 6 FROM $33,490 S

THINGS WE LIKE

 Made-in-Japan quality

 2.5 turbo is a just right fi t

 Loaded with gear

 Comfortable driver’s seat

 Compliant ride and secure handling

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

If you don’t want the head up

display or auto stop start, you have

to disable them every time you

start the car

Smallish boot in the wagon

SPEX (GT)

Made in Japan

2.5-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

six-speed automatic/front-wheel

drive

170kW of power at 5000rpm/420Nm

of torque at 2000rpm

0–100km/h N/A

6.2L/100km highway; 10.1L/100km

city; 91 octane; CO 2 emissions

are 192g/km

Warranty: Five years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Six airbags, stability

control, AEB, blind spot

monitoring, adaptive cruise, head

up display, Bluetooth, navigation,

voice control, digital radio, Bose

sound, heated seats, leather, dual

zone air, adaptive LED headlights,

19 inch alloy wheels

Redbook future values: 3yr: 50%;

5yr: 35%

Safety

ANCAP

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

compare with ...

Holden Commodore, Subaru

Liberty, Toyota Camry, VW Passat

STARS

any surface, at any speed, the GT

is fi rm, compliant and quiet.

When you look at the total

offering here, in the context of

170kW of power up front, the

Mazda 6 GT now shapes up as

killer value, not only in its class

but also against base model Audi

A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C

Class, each of which represents a

lot less car for a lot more money.