With inventories of the most desirable new utility vehicles getting tight all across the country thanks to the shortages of semiconductor chips, some vehicles might be getting a second look. This can only be good news for sedans such as the 2021 Maxda6, which is designed specifically to be fast both out on the open road and performs well in clogged city traffic.
The 2021 Mazda6 is a nicely balanced sedan with a comfortable interior and advanced technology. It also comes with the robust chassis, suspension overall performance out on the road that Mazda’s engineers take pride in delivering to the brand’s customers.
Originally Mazda’s chatter about “Skyactiv” seemed to be more about marketing than about how the rubber met the road. But it turns out to be genuine — and authoritative — operating system that gives the vehicles more character and more spirit and, ultimately, more value for owners.
Exterior
Mazda’s Skyactiv spirit extends to exterior design, which gives the cars a sport-minded silhouette emphasizing its essential character. It features a sleek roofline that sweeps down into the trunk and culminates in a rear face that adds to vehicle’s overall appearance.
Mazda is one of the first automakers to borrow from the East Asian tradition of distinctive masks and use it to shape a vehicles character. The grille on the Mazda6 is not as extreme or overwhelming as those employed by some manufacturers but it is distinct and fits the car sporty character and has an impossible to miss badge dead center that advertises the car’s brand identity.
The wheels on the Mazda6 that I drove also were quite distinctive and fit well with the car’s overall character and appearance. The Mazda6 Signature also comes with a sunroof.
Interior
At first glance, the interior design of the Mazd6 seems rather spare. But the appearance is somewhat deceptive because the driver-oriented interior is well designed from one end to the other and emphasizes simplicity.
The instrument cluster behind the steering wheel includes an analog speedometer and a traditional tachometer as well a screen in the center that keeps track of information about the vehicle.
The screen in the center stack, which illustrates the smaller screens can be effective, handles the entertainment and directions. The vehicle I drove also was equipped with a head up display tracking vehicle speed right in front of the driver.
The soft material and trim, including Nappa leather on the seats and suede inserts, used around the cabin looks good and serves to set off the interior design and the overall appearance of the Mazda6 interior.
The rear seat in the Mazda has ample room for passengers thanks to the 111-inch wheelbase and the visibility from the driver’s seat is very good. The steering wheel is equipped with controls for entertainment system and cruise control.
Powertrain
The Mazda6 Signature is powered by a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine that is at the heart of the Skyactiv operating philosophy that animates this midsized sedan. The engine is matched up with a 6-speed automatic transmission with a sport mode.
The drivetrain produces 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, which gives the Mazda6 an excellent power to weight ratio. The fuel economy is quite acceptable with a 26 mpg combine rating from the Environmental Protection Agency, which includes 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
Safety and Technology
The safety features on the Mazda6 Signature include five seat belts, dual-stage airbags to protect the driver and passenger in frontal collisions and side-curtain airbags for side impact and rollover accidents.
The Mazda6 also is equipped with a full range of driver assistance features, including frontal crash warning, blind-spot detection, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist as well as rear cross-traffic alert. It also comes with Bluetooth connectivity for a mobile phone, as well as satellite radio, 360-degree camera, parking sensors and high-beam assist and rain-sensing windshield wipers as a driver attention alert.
Driving Impressions
The Mazda6 signature is no sheep in wolf’s clothing. Mazda executives like to say they design cars for people who like to drive and the Mazda6 fits the bill with its impressive driving dynamics that includes crisp steering and a well-tuned independent suspension both front and rear that easily handles curves, hills, and rough road surfaces without much difficulty.
It also has more than enough power thanks to the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine. In addition, Mazda6 is a front-wheel-drive car but it is equipped with a vector control system that helps give the car a better sense of balance out on the road and enhances the driver’s control.
Wrap Up
With the turn towards utility vehicles, cars such as the Mazda6 Signature that are built to deliver a measure of driving pleasure seem to have gotten lost as manufacturers re-shuffled their model lines. However, the impressive driving dynamics built into Mazda6 are hard to beat when put to the test. The car also is equipped with an impressive array of driver assistance features and a first-rate Bose sound system that also helps improve the enjoyment of the time spend behind the wheel. The price of $36,795 dollars also makes it a relatively good value in today’s market.
