Her + His Car Reviews
2017 Mazda 6 Grand Touring
There are two sides to everything, right? To keep our car reviews innovative and interesting, we provide an animated, insightful, and detailed POV's on the same car from - Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $34,530 | $34,530 |
| Performance | |
| The 2017 Mazda6 introduces the G-Vectoring Control, which allows for the engine, transmission, and suspension to increase stability and reduce driver workload while simultaneously providing a more comfortable ride. The 2.5 liter four-cylinder SKYACTIVE engine produces 184 horsepower and pick up. All the while, handling with sass and sport. One of our absolute favorites. The one negative comment is there is just one engine option. With the responsive steering and precise braking, I have got to say that the Mazda6 Grand Touring is one of the most fun and delightful cars to drive in the midsized sedan class. |
2.5 liter four cylinder, 184 horsepower engine with a 6-speed SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission with manual-shift and Sport mode. The acceleration in this car is more than adequate for most needs, and it certainly is one of the best handling cars in its class. But that "sport" flavor that comes through loud and clear does not mean that it's a sport sedan per se. Yes, it is sporty. but more than that, this car is clearly a luxury sedan for the masses. Nothing short of that. Best in the business on that score. The handling was quite precise and it is firmly planted at all times. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 27 city miles and 35 highway miles - the top performing fuel efficient car in the midsized sedan category! | Again - one of the best in the field. It is rated at 27 city/35 highway, but we got a couple more miles per gallon in the city than that. And no we did not hesitate to use that accelerator pedal! |
| The Vehicle | |
| In this sedan category, top talk year-in and out goes to the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. No issues there. Due note, though, that Consumer Reports has given "the 6" a "Recommended" the past 3 years in a row. Compared to its rivals, it's reliability scores are lower. It is an impeccable vehicle. The vehicle is billed like a blended luxury - it had a great re-design last year, so the 2017 received a refreshening. The touch points, finishes, quality, interior design elements, and overall design of the car put it a cut above. Napa Leather Trimmed Upholstery, Leather-trimmed sport, heated seats that adjust and have lumbar to help the back on longer trips. 19" Alloy Wheels, Storage space is well arranged throughout the car. The trunk space offers 14.8 cubic feet compared to The Hyundai Sonata which has one of the largest cargo areas at 16.3 cubic. |
It really is hard to define the Mazda6. By fit and finish, materials used, assembly quality, interior fittings and virtually everything else, the Mazda6 really outshines everything in its class. It's really an insult, almost, to call it a family car. There is not a scintilla of the ordinary or mundane about this car anywhere. Not that there aren't some things that cannot be improved upon. The sport mode is really too subtle and doesn't feel much different from any other mode. Our Bluetooth system occasionally stopped working and had to be restarted a couple of times, apparently due to environmental goings-on. The screen for navigation could have been a bit clearer and the print for streets and other items was a bit small. But that's about it. This car is the bomb! |
| Safety | |
| Driver Air Bag, Passenger Air Bag, Rear Air Bag, Side Head and Rear Head Air Bag, Rear Body Air Bag, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Anti-lock Brake System, Brake Assist, ESC, LATCH - Child Safety Locks, Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors, Adjustable Pedals, Telescoping Steering Wheel, Adjustable Seats, Lumbar. Emergency Trunk Release. 24 Hour Roadside Assistance, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane-Departure Warning. Auto-leveling Headlights. Anti-Theft Engine Immobilizer. Tire Pressure Monitoring System. Lane Keep Assist. Rearview Camera and Rear Parking Sensors. Bluetooth hands free phone. Much like BMW provides, only more enhanced is the Active Driving Display on the Mazda6 Touring. What is visible to the driver is the actual speed of the car versus the speed limit, as well as Traffic Sign Recognition Support System. For example, you will be able to see an upcoming stop sign icon or traffic light icon even before you drive upon it. Very cool enhanced safety feature alerting the driver to what's ahead. |
Standard safety features for all 2017 Mazda 6 models include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. A rearview camera, automatic emergency notification and rear parking sensors are also standard. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and forward collision mitigation are standard equipment on Touring and Grand Touring trims. The Grand Touring trim also receives a lane-keeping assistance system, automatic high beams and forward collision warning. One really nifty feature we loved was the Active Driving Display, a clear piece of glass that rises before you and flashes your speed, any approaching stop signs, the speed limit and other items on the clear screen attached to the top of the dash. It includes blind spot monitoring, distance recognition support system, traffic sign recognition support system, radar cruise control, smart city brake support, navigation items and other stuff. I prefer it to the use of projecting images on to the windshield which some cars do. And it is adjustable for height. |
| Technology | |
| The Mazda6 standard features include push button start, rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity for phone & audio, 6 speaker stereo, along with a USB port. It's Connect infotainment system now has a 7" touch screen. Included in our model are 11 speaker Bose Stereo, Dual zone climate control, Head up display, Navigation, Satellite Radio, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Braking, and Power Moon roof. Adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, and forward collision warning with automatic braking. The infotainment system has received positive marks, but the navigation itself has been challenging to use and takes multiple steps to input an address. This must be addressed as consumers are bypassing this functionality altogether - not a good sign. |
Standard features for the Sport trim include 17-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry and ignition, cruise control, full power accessories, air-conditioning, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, cloth upholstery, six-way manually adjustable front seats with lumbar support for the driver, 60/40-split folding rear seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, a rearview camera, the Mazda Connect infotainment system with voice control, text messaging capabilities, a 7-inch touchscreen and a six-speaker CD player with auxiliary/USB input, HD radio and internet streaming radio. The Touring model adds 19-inch wheels, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, advanced keyless entry, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision mitigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery and power driver seat adjustments. Touring options include a sunroof bundled with an 11-speaker Bose audio system and satellite radio, as well as the Touring Premium package that adds adaptive auto-leveling LED headlights, LED running lights, heated mirrors, an auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirror and heated front seats. At the top of the lineup, the Grand Touring includes the above listed options along with LED fog lights, automatic high beams, a rear trunk lid spoiler, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, a lane keeping assistance system, steering-wheel-mounted paddles shifters, a traffic sign reader with speed warnings, a head-up display, a universal garage door opener, a navigation system, leather upholstery and an eight-way power driver seat with memory functions (six-way power front passenger seat). The Grand Touring is also eligible for the GT Premium package that adds Mazda's i-Eloop brake regeneration system that increases fuel efficiency. Also included are active grille shutters, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, premium leather front sport seats, interior ambient lighting, a black headliner and unique interior trim elements. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| Is it possible to engineer a feeling? Hats off to Mazda for even putting the imagination in our head or the rush in driver's body! With Sport, Touring or Grand Touring, it's all a joyful and heart-warming experience. | One of the prettiest sedans I have ever seen, especially with those dark gray wheels. This is not a new design either. It's been around for a while, with its sleek, graceful profile and low to the ground presence. It simply looks more race-horse like from the side and rear than anything else on the road. Score 1 for Mazda. Inside, you will find an incredibly classy interior with a minimum of clutter and buttons everywhere. All that you need is right before you, easy to reach and use. There's double stitching everywhere - around the seats, the dashboard, etc. And this is real thread that looks (and may well be) stitched by hand. I counted a total of five or six different types of materials and fabrics alone for the dashboard and doors! |
| Warranty | |
| 60 Months or 60K Miles Powertrain Warranty. 36 month or 36K Miles Bumper to Bumper Warranty. 24 Hour Roadside Assistance. | 3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty. |
