AMONG JAPANESE CAR makers Mazda boasts of an above-average record when it comes to penning pretty cars — think Cosmo, the sundry RX generations, and the MX-5s, of course. It currently speaks the most coherent design language among the lot, too, with the brand’s cars consistently curvy and swoopy no matter their size. Little wonder then that the Mazda6 looks quite appealing, with its midsize cut working to its advantage. But also making it more interesting is that a version of it, the 6 2.2 SkyActiv-D, comes with an innovative diesel engine.
+ In Mazda’s signature Soul Red paint job the review 6 car really is pretty. The color highlights every sinew and contour and nuance on its body. Polishing the look further are the requisite LED jewelry and the massive 19-inch alloys. You can tell there’s no scrimping on specs with this car.
The cabin is as well-appointed. While the multimedia system and touch screen panel and all other luxury-car trappings are expected, it’s the execution of these that are impressive. The leather coverings are supple and fragrant; the polished metal-like trim are finely crafted, some of which do seem like they are made of real metal; the various switches and buttons engage crisply, with a few — like the electric parking brake “lever” and infotainment control dial — getting a level of detailing one would expect from cars costing more than twice the 6.
Other nice touches are the easy-to-decipher multimedia and climate control interfaces, as well as the snazzy head-up transparent screen on which the car’s speed and other info readouts seemingly float in space.
Befitting the 6’s styling is its athleticism. On the road the 6 feels smaller than it actually is because it’s quick to shift directions and is light on its wheels. There’s abundant grunt, courtesy of the 2.2-liter, twin-turbo diesel engine, and the torque’s availability from low to mid revs grants the 6 proper sport sedan stature.
Fuel economy is one of the 6’s strong suits, too. While SkyActiv-D — Mazda’s suite of technologies that pursue efficient fuel consumption and clean emissions, this time applied to a diesel engine — may seem like nothing but mere marketing-speak, it actually works in the real world. In about a week’s worth of slogging though Metro Manila traffic, plus some spots of expressway blasts, the 6’s fuel readout barely budged from its “full” position.
– Acoustically, there is no mistaking the 6’s diesel engine as none other but a diesel — contrary to opinions forwarded by other reviewers. While not exactly clattery (the 6’s mill, not the other reviews) it is also not exactly quiet and can be picked out in a line of parked cars whose engines are running as the one that’s diesel-fed. True, the 6’s mill’s racket is no worse than diesels coming from some European brands, but still it can’t be mistaken for, say, a BMW’s either. And for a car that costs a couple of thousand pesos shy of P2 million, the comparison — nor expectation — cannot be all that unfair.
= But the 6’s pluses do outweigh this niggle — it’s just something that needs getting used to. Add to the positives Mazda’s Yojin3 Total Care, a package attached to all new Mazdas that means labor charges and parts purchases related to maintenance are free for up to three years (or until the car travels 60,000 kilometers). It includes as well roadside assistance and a “concierge” service on top of the usual 100,000-kilometer (or three-year) warranty, also at no cost and valid for three years. Now, for anyone shopping for a midsize car, this should tip the scales in favor of the 6. — Brian M. Afuang
Bluffer’s Box
Mazda6 2.2 SkyActiv-D
Price: P1.985 million
Engine: 2.2-liter inline-four, direct-injection diesel; 173hp @ 4,500rpm, 420Nm @ 2,00rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Wheels/Tires: 19 inches, 225/45
Key features: LED head lamps and daytime running lights; smart entry with push-button engine start/stop; automatic engine idle on/off; dual-zone automatic climate control; touch screen multimedia with navigation and MP3, USB, aux-in and Bluetooth connectivity; rain-sensing wipers; electric parking brake; head-up display
