Issue 496(leisure)

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7
2 3 MZD
2.5 Atenza
138 250
1513
G-
Inspired by the Japanese carmakers
KODO: Soul of Motion design philosophy,
the Mazda6 is a work of art and this facelift
plays to the cars strength.
The restyled front grille fins with signature
chrome wing design build on the already
sleek look, with new LED headlamps and
daytime running lights. Side mirrors have been
redesigned, include indicators and are auto
folding.
These additions combine with swooping
front wings, arching roofline and high-set tail
to give the car a more dynamic, stylish, stand
out look.
Whilst much the same from the outside,
the interior has undergone design refinement
to now is more elegant, functional and
upmarket. Thicker windows and better
sealing mean more silence inside.
Conventional stereo display with knobs
and buttons made way for a tablet-like 7-inch
colour touch screen, higher up, taking pride of
place on a sleeker dashboard.
Said display houses the same MZD
Connect multimedia system seen in the
Mazda2 and Mazda3, user-friendly with its
easily accessed functions and bright, clear
graphics.
Driving position is almost spot-on, but
shorter drivers will need to adjust the seat to
fully view another new feature – a head-up
display.
My test car was the premium 2.5-litre
Atenza, producing 138kW power and 250Nm
torque. It supplies plenty of punch across its
smooth rev range.
The six-speed automatic continues to be
the star of the show, and pretty much perfects
the way it intuitively grabs gears to keep the
1,513kg sedan on the ball. There is also a
Sport mode for the auto now that keeps
the engine revving harder.
The engine can sound a little raucous
when revved hard.
The new G-Vectoring technology
performs very quick, unnoticeably minute
engine torque reduction and resumption
operations whenever the steering wheel
moves, seesawing extra downforce between
front and rear wheels, to improve grip,
traction, handling and driving smoothness.
This is to be introduced across Mazda's
range.
Also, regenerative braking stores braking
energy in capacitors, then helps power the
car's electrics, reducing fuel use as in electric
cars.
Apart from that, Mazda has taken the
opportunity to introduce advanced active
safety technology usually found in premium
cars, such as Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane
Departure Warning, which gently nudges the
steering wheel on detecting the car wandering
out of lane, and Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM),
greatly enhancing driving safety.
As before, the electric power assisted
steering remains largely direct and enjoyable,
and is quick and well-weighted, providing
decent driver feedback.
Suspension setup is notably softer, better
suppressing the effect of large imperfections
and dealing with rapid road surface changes.
Whilst the changes have added a new
dimension to the Mazda6, they have not
upset its sharp responses or light-footed
demeanour. Around bends the car handles
very well and feels eager to change direction,
with the nimble feel of a smaller-sized car.
Mazda's improvements to its mid-sized
sedan have stepped up levels of luxury and
refinement to another level, making the new
Mazda6, especially the premium Atenza,
almost appear like a packed German sedan,
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ISSUE 496
23.9.2016