Let's face it: Most of us, if we're shopping in the midsize sedan segment, just want the safe choice: the car that will get us through three to five years with as few hassles as possible. There are plenty of such cars, all of them optimized to deliver low risk for buyers whose loyalties lean more toward practical than provocative.
The Mazda 6, however, which is all-new for 2014, has something most of its competitors desperately need.
Personality.
It drips with charisma in places where its competitors offer only convention. There's identity in its styling both inside and out. Its front seats alone offer comfort and support utterly lacking in most of its competition. And if there's even one midsize sedan that's remotely interesting to drive, it's this one.
The question, then, is this: Can the 2014 Mazda 6 be both desirable and practical?
Power and Efficiency
The all-aluminum, direct-injected 2.5-liter four-cylinder under the 6's hood follows the same streamlining strategies as the engine used in the smaller Mazda 3 sedan. The big four utilizes balance shafts, which keeps it smooth all the way to its 6,500-rpm redline and an even higher 13.0:1 compression ratio. It's a smooth, slow puller, but one that's every bit as powerful as it needs to be. Sensitive ears will notice the telltale clatter of direct fuel injectors at idle, but overall this engine offers every bit of refinement you'll find in the class leaders.
It cranks out 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. Mazda recommends regular 87-octane fuel and there's an optional regenerative braking system designed to enhance fuel economy, though it wasn't present on our tester. A 2.2-liter diesel will be the optional in the second half of 2013. Expect it to be better performing, more efficient and more expensive.
Still, this gasoline-fired mill is plenty efficient on its own. When equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission, the 6 is rated at 38 highway mpg. Its city rating is 26 mpg and the EPA says it should achieve 30 mpg in mixed driving, which places it ahead of the Toyota Camry in all three categories.
But these are EPA numbers. The real world often tells a different story and it did with our 2014 Mazda 6. We only managed a combined 27.1 mpg in mixed driving.
About That Personality
Though none of the current crop of midsize sedans will arouse honest enthusiasm among driving geeks, the 2014 Mazda 6 identifies itself as the athlete of the group. Though it might not run away from others on a back road, its driver won't want a divorce when the curves end. Traditionally we'd thank Mazda's attention to chassis calibration for this quality, but much of the credit here also goes to the six-speed automatic transmission, which is as penalty-free as any we've driven.
Mazda's automatic transmission manages to be a key component in the car's efficiency and in its engaging driving character, which is a groundbreaking achievement in any segment. Rev-matched downshifts are ripped off with precision, and the torque converter remains locked most of the time. The result is an honest connection between the engine and the front wheels, a situation that's becoming less common as CVTs become the go-to fuel-saving solution.
Shifts are triggered either from a manual gate on the console shifter or using wheel-mounted paddles. Response is immediate, yet appropriately suited to a car designed more for hauling kids than hauling ass. Don't worry. Your mother-in-law will never suspect the subtlety of shifting gears means so much. And should she get anxious, "Drive" is only a click away, achieved by holding the upshift paddle for a few seconds.
Ride and Drive
And when the road straightens, the 2014 Mazda 6 acquits itself with admirable ride quality considering the 19-inch rubber it wears at each corner. Sure, if you want a softer ride, there are plenty of choices: Accord, Camry, even the Sonata. Certainly the 6's ride is well controlled, but it's not likely to draw attention to itself from anyone except the most sensitive passengers.
You'll be reminded that it comes from a group of people who assume driving means thinking about what you're doing, even if it's just getting the kids to school. Possibly it's this philosophy that killed the Mazda MPV minivan and relegated the previous 6 to an also-ran sales position among midsize contenders.
Whatever the case, Mazda's refusal to shy from the strategy is both bold and honorable. There's ample damping to control the chassis during lively driving and the tires are easily the limiting factor in any dynamic maneuvers that matter. Medium weighted steering communicates the 6's modest limits better than that of most of its competitors. But if you're into drop-throttle oversteer, you can forget about it here: a point likely to increase your favor among the in-laws.
Courtesy of Edmunds Review
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