By Derek Price
Automotive Writer
Mazda just reported its best April in 20 years by selling more than 24,000 vehicles — a huge number for this Japanese brand.
Why the record sales? It’s largely because of near-perfect cars like the one I just drove, the new Mazda6.
I’ve been a Mazda fan for longer than I care to admit, ever since I bought my first Miata sports car in the 1990s. But today, more people than ever before are jumping on the Mazda bandwagon, including some big-name magazines.
I’m not surprised in the slightest that the Mazda6 has been named a “10 Best” by Car and Driver, along with “Car of the Year” by Popular Mechanics.
To stand out from the pack as an affordable four-door family car — this one starts at $21,495 — you have to go farther than perfecting the basics. In fact, there’s not a single bad car for sale in this class, from Fords and Chevys to Toyotas and Hondas.
Even in a segment of the car industry that’s packed with quality contenders, the Mazda6 is standing out and winning awards for its sporty handling and handsome looks.
To get attention, a sedan has to look different. It has to perform better. And it has to get the intangible things right, exuding a lively spirit rather than just doing a job.
And the Mazda6 checks all those boxes.
In the notoriously bland world of four-door sedans, its body adds just the right amount of spice with big, dramatic front wheel arches and a gorgeously sloped rear roofline.
Its sprightly handling should be no surprise, since that’s always what Mazda does best, but its fuel economy is an absolute shocker. The Mazda6 drives like a quick, sporty car — not a muscle car, mind you, but certainly far from slow — yet it still manages to eke out a 40-mpg highway rating.
No other car for sale today offers the Mazda’s sense of speed with that kind of gas mileage. It stands alone.
That gas mileage comes not only courtesy of the 2.5-liter, 184-horsepower engine and six-speed automatic transmission, but also because Mazda designed this car to trim weight from top to bottom. As a result, it feels faster from the driver’s seat than one would expect from a 184-horse car.
The Mazda6’s interior is among the best in its highly competitive class. It does a good job integrating technology in a way that is intuitive and simple for drivers to use.
Its cabin feels expensive for its class, too, with a tightness and precision that are usually the mark of pricier vehicles.
But it’s the intangible, spiritual things that make me love this car more than anything else. It has a personality to it, from its puppy-dog eagerness to zip through corners to its playful looks and rewarding sounds burbling from the tailpipe.
In addition to the base Sport model, Mazda sells the better equipped Touring for $23,945 and luxury-oriented Grand Touring for $30,195.
At a Glance
What was tested?
2015 Mazda i Grand Touring ($30,195). Options: Cargo mat ($75), door sill trim plates ($125), GT technology package ($2,180). Price as tested (including $820 destination charge): $33,395
Wheelbase: 111.4 in.
Length: 191.5 in.
Width: 72.4 in.
Height: 57.1 in.
Engine: 2.5L DOHC 4-cylinder (184 hp, 185 lbs.-ft. torque)
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Estimated Mileage: 28 city, 40 highway
RATINGS
Style: 10
Performance: 9
Price: 9
Handling: 10
Ride: 9
Comfort: 9
Quality: 9
Overall: 10
Video Review:
2015 Mazda6
bit.ly/2015mazda6
Why buy it?
It offers sports-sedan handling with a good looking body to match. It has a stellar reputation for quality and is a good value starting at $21,495.