The 2016 Mazda6 Review

WOW!! What a smooth ride I had this past week! I had the complete and utter joy of driving the 2016 Mazda6 Grand Touring. Once again I want to remind you that my automobile reviews are from the Mom/NaNa point-of-view.

This car is AWESOME from bumper to bumper! Starting with the bumpers (well, sort of anyway) The Mazda6 has earned a superior rating, the highest possible from the IIHS, for Front Crash prevention, equipped with available Smart City Brake Support.

The Mazda6 Grand Touring is a mid-sized 4 door sedan with a 2.5L SkyActiv four-cylinder engine. The Mazda6 has 184 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque with a 6-speed SkyActiv automatic transmission.

The Mazda6 looks so sleek!! This car is an eye catcher for sure. The lines of this car make it really stand out! The car I reviewed was meteor gray with parchment leather interior with 19″ alloy wheels.

However, I am most excited about the inside! (Y’knew that was coming right?) First, the infotainment screen stands up on the center dash, not recessed like other models. Controlling the screen is a very easy to use multifunction knob (The all-powerful Commander control dial) in the center console. Very cool!! Right next to the control knob is the electronic brake, just a small little switch that you pull up. You can actually hear the brake set. Also in the center console is the drive mode selection toggle.

I love that I can easily switch from audio, navigation, phone and more all with the twist of the knob.

My favorite feature of the Mazda6 Grand Touring though has to be the pop-up panel. When you put the Mazda6 in gear a small clear screen pops up and displays not only your speed but turn by turn help when you are using the navigation!! You’ll know in x amount of feet which way to turn. COOLEST feature EVER!! This is a screen that isn’t distracting while you drive, but really keeps your eyes ON the ROAD!! You don’t have to look over at the navigation screen!

Gas mileage is fantastic for a sedan! 32MPG with 28 city and 40 highway. Y’all know me, my goal is to go through a full tank of gas on these cars. I didn’t make it this time. I ended out with 31.5MPG. I’m impressed! I’ve told you before I live in Southern California; we go fast, then stop, then speed up to 10 miles per hour and repeat. So 31.5 is great gas mileage.

MORE TO LOVE
LED headlights with automatic on/off, Adaptive Front-lighting System, Moonroof with one-touch open, 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar adjustment, Variable heated front seats, Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio capability, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry System, Rearview camera*, Mazda navigation system, Bose® Centerpoint Surround Sound system with AudioPilot® 2 and 11 speakers (including woofer), Dual-zone automatic climate control system, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED Daytime Running Lights, Auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink®, Leather-trimmed seats, Rain sensing windshield wipers. WHEW!! What a car!!

Comfort! From the driver’s seat to the passenger seat this is a comfortable smooth ride. The ride was so smooth that literally EVERY-SINGLE-TIME I had 4-year-old Alice in the car she zonked out within 10 minutes. EVERY. TIME.

This car is amazing. Inside to outside!

2016 Mazda6 i Grand Touring, $30,195; GT technology package, $2,180.

EVEN MORE TO LOVE
FEATURE 1 OF 9
MAZDA RADAR CRUISE CONTROL WITH CLOSE PROXIMITY WARNING Judges the relative speed and distance to the car ahead, working within a set speed range to help maintain a safe following distance, making highway drives less strenuous. The system’s Close Proximity Warning provides audible and visual warnings when it senses your vehicle fast approaching another ahead.
FEATURE 2 OF 9
SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT Helps minimize or possibly prevent frontal collisions when driving between about 3 and 18 mph. The system automatically applies the brakes if it determines that a collision with an obstruction ahead is unavoidable.
FEATURE 3 OF 9
SMART BRAKE SUPPORT WITH COLLISION WARNING Smart Brake Support helps minimize or possibly prevent frontal collisions when driving at speeds over approximately 10 mph. The system automatically applies the brakes if it determines that a collision with an obstruction ahead is unavoidable.
FEATURE 4 OF 9
DISTANCE RECOGNITION SUPPORT SYSTEM Using a radar sensor, the Distance Recognition Support System (DRSS) measures the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead when traveling at speeds of 19 mph or faster. DRSS will recommend a comfortable following distance, and if you encroach upon this recommended distance, a visual warning shows in the Mazda6’s information display.
FEATURE 5 OF 9
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM Alerts you when the system senses the car drifting unintentionally from its current lane.
FEATURE 6 OF 9
REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT Alerts you if a vehicle approaches your Mazda6 from the side when you’re backing out of a parking space or driveway.
FEATURE 7 OF 9
BLIND SPOT MONITORING Alerts you if a vehicle or object is in one of your blind spots and it’s unsafe to change lanes.
FEATURE 8 OF 9
HIGH BEAM CONTROL Automatically switches from high to low beams when it detects oncoming traffic or a vehicle ahead, and then back again when it’s clear.
FEATURE 9 OF 9
ADAPTIVE FRONT-LIGHTING SYSTEM Headlight beams turn using input from the vehicle’s speed and steering angle to improve visibility around corners.

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WHINES

Same whine as the last car……. they made me give it back!! I WANT the baby sleeping machine back!! My CRV does NOT have that feature!! Smooth comfortable ride that just screams “Take me on a road trip!!”

Disclosure I received a complimentary week driving the Mazda6 Grand Touring from DriveShop , for the purpose of my review. (They aren’t letting me keep this one either I checked AGAIN!!) No other compensation was provided. The opinions are mine and 100% honest. I have not been influenced in any way.