CAR MAZDA 6 IS VERY SPECIAL

    After all, the utilitarian segment is known better for its ability to handle the demands of everyday life than the demands of a twisty canyon road. But not all is bleak for single 20-somethings outgrowing their Mazda 3 hatchbacks by becoming married 30-somethings. The 2017 Mazda6 offers plenty of space for the demands of a growing family without making the family’s primary members feel like they’re giving up. The latter is no surprise for a Mazda, as the company continues to infuse its offerings with a splash of fun-to-drive character. Of course, if you’re reading this, you’re probably not a typical midsize customer and welcome the firmer ride and more dynamic behaviors that tend to come with the territory. The sportier suspension means less body roll and improved cornering control on interchange ramps and mountain roads alike, while the precise and responsive steering, which offers just the right amount of weight and resistance, will keep you confident you’re pointing the wheels in the right direction.

    Mazda says the behavior will “largely go unnoticed.” Though it’s impossible to determine how significant the benefit to handling feel is without having a similarly-equipped 2016 6 on hand, one thing is certain: the handling feel of the 2017 6 is quite good. Even if you’re just navigating traffic, giving the wheel a tug to change lanes is a smile-inducing affair. “That felt good” or something to that effect will flash through your mind as your lips form a smile once you complete your maneuver. Because of the 6’s dynamic nature, the normally vestigial shift paddles are actually worth using. Or the manual shift gate, if you prefer that; in traditional Mazda fashion, it uses a pull back/push forward configuration. Either way, the 2.5-liter I-4 works best when the transmission is in the gear you want it to be in rather than the gear it thinks you want it to be in. The engine makes good use of its 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque, but with 3,304 pounds of car to pull, acceleration can hardly be described as spry, with the 6 needing 7.9 seconds to hit 60 mph. Once going, it will regain scrubbed speed fairly quickly, but even in the more-aggressively shifting Sport mode, you may miss that opening in traffic if you didn’t pre-select the right gear. If safety is a primary concern, it’s all great stuff to have except for one glaring flaw: the adaptive cruise control cuts out once you slow to 15 mph, leaving you at the mercy of the laws of physics, which will send you slowly coasting into the car in front unless you’re paying close attention. If you’re eyeing a car with ACC to make your commute less painful, decide accordingly. That said, Mazda is rolling out a full stop-capable adaptive cruise control system starting with the 2017 CX 5. We’ll be surprised not to see it show up on the 2018 6.

    Another cool bit of Grand Touring-only tech is the head-up display. It shows information like speed, adaptive cruise control settings, navigation directions, speed limits, and other safety alerts. We’d add a gear indicator to that mix to make the HUD more useful during spirited driving. It’s a neat piece of tech to have, but hardly special enough to be dealmaker or breaker. A mostly cosmetic equipment group that adds Nappa leather-trimmed upholstery, heated steering wheel and rear seats, a black headliner, bright finish interior trim, LED accent lighting for the shifter, and active grille shutters. The system uses an electric double-layer capacitor to capture recovered energy during braking and supplies electric power to the car during acceleration instead of using the battery. As cool as the concept sounds, the practical benefit is a nearly negligible, additional 1 mpg city.

PRINCE                   : $31,570/$34,530 (base) (as tested)

ENGINE                  : 2.5L DOHC 16-valve I-4/184 hp @ 5,700 rpm, 185 lb-ft @ 3,250 rpm

TRANSMISSION   : 6-speed automatic

LAYOUT                 : 4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine, FWD sedan

EPA MILEAGE       : 27/35 mpg city/hwy 

L x W x H                : 191.5 x 72.4 x 57.1 in

WHEELBASE         : 111.4 in

WEIGHT                 : 3,305 lb

0-60 MPH                : 7.9 sec

TOP SPEED            : N/A