Road Test: 2016 Mazda6 i Grand Touring [Review]

May 28, 2015, 11:45am ET

Mazda\'s midsizer continues to impress.

If there is a fun vs. practicality spectrum for enthusiast-oriented mainstream automobile brands, Mazda traditionally lay somewhere opposite from Volkswagen—prioritizing fun over practicality while still offering enough of the latter to avoid complete obscurity. Does the 2016 Mazda6 carry on that lineage?

What is it?Our loaner is a 2016 Mazda6 i Grand Touring. The 6 is Mazda's midsize sedan—the third to bear the name. The 2016 rides on a chassis which debuted for the 2014 model year and whose modular engineering makes it the workhorse of the Mazda stable. It currently underpins the CX-5 crossover and will likely do the same for the upcoming CX-9 replacement.

With the new 6, Mazda fully embraced lightweight construction and efficient powertrain engineering. While the last-generation Mazda3 was the first U.S.-bound model to feature SkyActiv engines and transmissions, the 6 was the first sedan in the Japanese automaker's lineup to showcase the efficient philosophy from top to bottom, following in the footsteps of the CX-5.

One may opine that the Mazda6 seems to have garnered quite a bit of media attention for a car that is no longer brand-new. In this case, perception matches reality, but for a valid reason. Mazda has been overhauling its entire lineup for the past few years, and even recent debuts have not been immune from significant revisions. Journalists returned to the Mazda trough this year to feed on the 6's overhauled interior and infotainment system--one that is substantially improved even over the already-strong initial effort.

Mechanically, however, nothing has changed. Under the hood, the 2016 still boasts the same 2.5L SkyActiv four-cylinder engine. At 184 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque, it's square in the middle of the segment in terms of naturally aspirated power output. Power goes to the ground via a 6-speed SkyActiv automatic transmission in our tester (Touring and Sport models can be had with a manual).

Normally, the i in Mazda's model nomenclature would indicate that our tester is equipped with the smaller of two available engines, however the 6 breaks with that pattern. The 2.5L four is the only available engine. Whether Mazda intended for the still-AWOL diesel models to wear the up-engine s badge isn't entirely clear, but engineers did insist that the oil burner was not to be seen as the performance engine for the line. Does that mean a "big” engine is still forthcoming? Something has to power the new CX-9 replacement, after all. Could a Toyota V6 be on the way, or perhaps a turbocharged four? Hard to say.

The 6's efficiency party piece is its i-ELOOP capacitor-based regenerative braking and accessory power system. That mouthful basically means there's a large capacitor behind the passenger headlamp that stores juice recovered from braking which is then used to power on-board accessories rather than relying on the parasitic alternator. This means the gasoline-powered 6 can pull 40 mpg on the highway and 28 in the city—a 2-mpg improvement over models without the system.

Outside and inThe 6 is a looker, for sure. Our Grand Touring model doesn't suffer from the proportional affliction brought on by the Sport model's smaller wheels. The 19” wheels on our loaner fill the wells out nicely, finishing off a handsome exterior look that is distinct, attractive and eye-catching. The new 6 falls somewhere in between the sedate 2015 Sonata and the wild looks of the Korean's predecessor—sculpted but not destined to appear dated.

Inside is where the new 6 really shines. While the 2014-15 models boasted a vastly improved interior over that of the car they replaced, Mazda felt it needed to bring the 6's interior up to the bar set by its all-new Mazda3. For 2016, the 6 gets Mazda's now-ubiquitous surface-mounted infotainment screen, ditching the recessed placement found in previous models. Control of screen functions is managed by a multifunction knob in the center console, room for which was made by eliminating the manual parking brake handle in favor of an electric setup.

Finishing off the center control area are a drive mode selection toggle and a volume and power knob for the audio system. It's all very Audi, from the screen to the MMI-like centralized controls and the minimalist center stack. Give us Google Maps navigation and we'll really be going places (forgive the pun).

Does it (still) go?Mazda's previous and long-held mantra was "Zoom-Zoom,” but over the past several years, it has become harder and harder to find the zoom in Mazda's lineup. While the company's engineers have gone to great lengths to extract every bit of power (and efficiency) from its SkyActiv four-cylinders, there was a time not long ago when the Mazda showroom was peppered with cars boasting 200 horsepower or more. Gone are the RX-8s and the Mazdaspeed variants and the CX-7s. Remember the Tribute? That's OK. Most people don't. It left when Ford left, and the turbochargers followed suit. A long (and longing?) glance at the EcoBoost four-cylinders may prompt one to wonder if the Blue Oval took them in the divorce.

200 horsepower isn't that remarkable by today's standards, but it's certainly more compelling than a lineup which—CX-9 notwithstanding—doesn't crest that mark today. Starting with the 2016 MX-5's marketing campaign, Mazda's new tagline is "Driving Matters.” It's an excellent summation of the philosophy embodied by its newest cars, and the 6 is no exception.

Yes, it goes. It doesn't go quickly, but the 6's dynamics are like a shot of 5-Hour Energy after the tall glass of Metamucil that is the bulk of the midsize segment. This is the rare sedan that makes you want to drive, hiding among the many whose forgettable (albeit forgivable) credentials are backed up by substantially larger sales volumes. The 6 turns and brakes and communicates like a proper driver's car. This isn't the sort of machine where every compliment regarding its handling prowess has to be followed by "for a family car.” That's for other sedans--Japanese, German and American alike.

It's almost enough to make one forgive the lack of a bigger engine.

Almost.

Leftlane's bottom lineThe 2016 Mazda6 is everything to everybody but the power-hungry. This is an A+ chassis with a B- powertrain. Bring on the boost.

2016 Mazda6 i Grand Touring, $30,195; GT technology package, $2,180; door sill trim plates, $125; cargo mat, $75