Style Steed

Without a doubt, the affordable mid-size segment is the most competitive and the shop-per's list includes the likes of the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, which are some of the best cars in the world. As competent as they may be, they lack panache - it is almost as if affordable means devoid of style - but for many, the Mazda 6 is the unsung hero in the segment. So this week, we scrutinise the styling, drivability and functionality of the third generation model of the Mazda 6, that has been revamped for 2016.
DESIGN & AESTHETICS
Right from the first generation, the Mazda 6 has been a great looking car with sporty and compact attributes. The second was larger - more family size - yet retained a certain road-going distinction. For 2016, we have a face-lifted version of the most handsome 6 yet, with bold sculpted lines, front to back, lending a rather sporty interjection to a gang of vanilla-flavoured family haulers.
This new Mazda 6 is a large car - 4,870mm long, 1,840mm wide and 1,450mm tall - but it's still not imposing to drive. You certainly don't need to constantly look out for its edges as you negotiate sharp turns in compact basement parking bays.
The front fascia sports a stretched shield-shaped grille, a new Mazda badge and more prominent and shinier horizontal slats. The chrome detail that underlines the grille is now electro-luminescent, and the chrome extends upward and into the headlamps clusters that house LED headlamps - a feature you don't see too often in this segment. We especially like the bulge over the front wheel arch that extends seamlessly into the hood, and the newly added chrome brow over the fog lamps. Altogether, the front view is now less anonymous and more recognisably Mazda.
Family sedans usually don't have side profiles worth writing about, but this one has more bulges and creases than an amateur body builder, which extend into the door panels. The sloped roofline merges with the hood and boot seamlessly.
The base car rides on neat 17" wheels, but the top-spec model has 19" wheels. With a gun metal finish and a twisted metal spoke design, these are also amongst the handsomest of wheels.
The tall rear end is an extension of the sporty front end, with some of that chrome detail from the front leaching into the newly equipped LED tail lamps.
In our opinion, the Mazda 6 is the perfectly poised interpretation of the modern day mid-size saloon. If the pictures aren't doing you any favours, go have a look at one in the showroom.
A click on the slim key fob (or the smart access functionality) grants you access to a rather invi-ting cabin that has been completely reworked. The minimalist dash design emulates the BMW 3-Series, and the horizontal theme is accentuated by a faux leather surface with real stitching, unlike what Mazda's Japanese compatriot Toyota has done in the current-generation Camry.
The Mazda feels a league ahead in materials and finish - you'd be hard pressed not to consider this luxury. When it comes to seating comfort, you have large, well-bolstered seats up front with soft perforated leather upholstery, dual-stitching details, and plenty of padded leather surfaces on the hand rest, on both doors and adjacent to the centre console, again a rarity in this segment.
The 5.8" infotainment system which was often criticised for its miniature proportions is now a Merc/Beemer-style free-standing 7" full colour unit whose on-screen menus are controlled by Mazda's own mock-iDrive system called Comman-dor. Also new is the electronic parking brake that frees up some space for large central cup holders.
The start/stop button gets a prom-inent place on the dash.
The small diameter 3-spoke steering wheel could have been chunkier in our opinion, but then again, this is a family car and doesn't quite require it. Visibility is good overall. Giving you more info whilst keeping your eyes on the road is a heads-up display to go along with the 3.5" LCD screen to the right of the speedo. In essence, most of the controls have a well-oiled feel about it. As for space up front, the higher floor takes away some headroom, especially for those who hover over 6ft, but it's still comfortable.
The rear cabin is large and lavish - comparable to the Honda Accord - and the wide-opening doors help, too. However, the low seat height means that there is less thigh support.
Mazda has also incorporated drop-down armrests with accompanying twin cup holders, and a motorised rear privacy screen. Overall, the Mazda 6's cabin is well appointed, contemporary and functional.
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE

Our test car was powered by an SKYACTIV 2.5L inline 4-cylinder, which is an industry standard displace-ment for the segment, while SKYACTIV technology is just Mazda speak for a direct injection engine with a high compression ratio of 13:1 and a 4-2-1 reduction to the exhaust manifold. It all sounds very high-tech and Mazda say, even with a high compression, the 6 can run on regular gasoline 95, or special, as we call it.
Output is rated at 184bhp, produced at 5,700 rpm, while torque is rated at 250Nm, available at 3,250rpm. Right off the bat, the Mazda seems eager to move, even though the 6-speed transmission seems geared for fuel economy. Drill deep into the throttle and the power comes alive as the revs climb above 5,000rpm. It helped us clock the 100km/h dash in under 9 seconds. Do note that there is mild torque steer, which is overcome easily enough.
The braking distance at any speed is short, thanks to disc brakes all around, but the pedal feel is slightly wooden and doesn't communicate as much as you would want. Mazda 6, over the years has gathered a lot of praise for its engaging road manners, and we ourselves found it hustling through tight bends. The steering is amply light, but we would appreciate better calibration of the steering feel as the speed climbs. And for the first time there is a 'Sport' mode that can be activated via a rocker switch on the centre console. It ups engine enthusiasm by a bit. but use it only if you're in a real hurry, else fuel economy will suffer.
Mazda has claimed to have reduced cabin noise by 25 per cent for this 2016 model, courtesy of some add-itional sound deadening materials. The 19" wheels contribute to some road noise, but generally, the ride is compliant and there are no causes for concern here.
The other aspect about SKYACTIV technology is the theoretical fuel efficiency you can achieve. On the road we averaged about 11L/100km extending the 62L fuel tank's range to about 564km, which is plenty for 4-5 days. And with the drop in fuel prices, you won't be spending much on commuting in this car. If you wish to go cheaper, there is a 2L engine with about 150 horses and better fuel economy. But our guts say, stick to the 2.5L to have a well-rounded road-going affair.
FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
The top of the line model gets the Bose audio unit with as many as 11 speakers that have plenty of bass boom, but have only average middle and treble quality. You do, however, get Bluetooth streaming and two USB ports for music.
For practicality's sake, you have a large 506L boot, which, when you drop the 60:40 folding seats down, gives you a crossover-like vast expanse to accommodate even more luggage.
Winter isn't the best time to test the air-conditioner, but when the sweat starts to drip in the middle of summer, we believe the dual-zone air unit will do its duties well enough.
Keeping you and your family safe, are a host of features including a bunch of front, side and curtain airbags. You also get adaptive cruise control with distance adjustability, blind spot assist and lane change assist to prevent you from clipping neighbouring cars while changing lanes.
Also available is the mandated rear camera. However, it does not come with trajectory lines, which means that you cannot see the direction your car will turn as you turn the steering wheel on the fly. There are also ISOFIX mounts for child seats.
The Mazda 6 is also equipped with ABS, which combines with EBD (electronic brake force distribution) to keep the car steady while braking.
VERDICT
The 2016 Mazda 6 is a car that does everything right and can quite legitimately compete in the luxury space. The bodacious styling and interior appointments are its high points, while the negatives such as resale value aren't much to get hung up on, especially if you plan to own the car for more than a couple of years.