Test Mazda 6 SKYACTIV-D 150 CV, exterior and interior design

Mazda, in an effort to increase its market share, has presented and will present in the coming years a large number of new models. Its renovation began with the Mazda CX-5, but this week we tried the Mazda 6, his new medium saloon, with motor SKYACTIV-D 150 hp and manual change.

The saloon, which is now in its third generation, arrives stronger than ever, with attributes that respond to quality, technology and efficiency. Although we cannot deny the design, the presence and the size as hallmarks.

Mazda 6, ode to KODO design

I think that few can criticize the aesthetic direction that Mazda is taking for its latest releases. However, to date, the Mazda 6 is the one that best fits this design language, becoming one of the most attractive sedans in the segment.

Part of the fault is its design, but also its size. Play close to 5 meters in length, and that is Meters long 4,86 make it a sedan with more character. In other words, it could very well pass through a segment E. A higher category.

Along with this, a fluid design as well as muscular, especially for some very marked front wings that emphasize the design of the nose, where the enormous grille takes center stage wrapped by the chrome molding in the form of wings that reaches the headlights, with LED daytime running lights.

The silhouette of the Mazda6 stands out for the fall of the roof, very similar to what we would find in a coupé body and that opens the way to a significantly marked third volume. The “6” is offered with a 4-door body and family. There has also been speculation with an expected coupé variant.

The rear shows a marked personality, with quite aggressive torn pilots joined by a chrome strip. End with a double exhaust outlet, one on each side, which does not hide the model's powerful range of engines. The wheels can be up to 19 inches in the top of the range finish. Our unit was content with elegant inch wheels 17.

Sober but well finished interior

The interior of the Mazda 6 is a Japanese interior. It was already happening with the CX-5 that we tested a few months ago, the design is simple, very horizontal and does not seem to dare with any differentiating detail to make it more eye-catching. The range of colors is also not wide in our case, and black barely finds a partner.

This does not mean that we sit in a low-quality passenger compartment, on the contrary, the interior of the Mazda 6 distills solidity and good finish on all four sides, a very careful issue in the new generation. The upper part of the dashboard is fluffy material, while the lower one relies on harder plastics.

Therefore, only the design, somewhat bland especially due to a too discreet color combination, is the point to criticize. All the elements are at hand and the browser, with a fairly large touch screen, crowns the central part of the dashboard making it easier to read while driving.

El scorecard once again delights us with its simplicity, a positive point for an element that requires easy reading, something from which it benefits, especially for the digital screen that we find on the right and that will inform us of everything that happens in the car.

The steering wheel or the change offer us a really comfortable and pleasant driving position, I would even say with a sporty touch. In addition, both enjoy a touch close to the exquisite that will reward your driver every time he enters the cabin.

Space and comfort, essential conditions

The Mazda 6 is a large car, perhaps too large for an average sedan, but this affects a spacious interior. Of course, accommodating 4, even 5 passengers inside is not going to be a complicated task.

And it is not complicated by the ease of entering the interior that the “6” offers us. Once inside, the passengers in the front row will have no problem making the slightest journey. I prefer the seats, comfortable, with a more than successful subjection and, although covered in fabric in our unit, with a really high quality of finish.

Back, the space will be the dominant trend. It is one of those few cars that I could say three passengers would travel comfortably in the back row, although the center seat is intended to screw up the idea. Due to its hardness, size and shapes, it will not be the most grateful. The central tunnel does not help either, but it is a latent option in case of reaching the maximum capacity of the vehicle.

The storage compartments take good care of the passengers, finding plenty of holes in the front. In addition, intelligent and usable holes, although those of the doors are too small. The central armrest for those of smaller stature will be, as usual, useless, for a little longitudinal regulation.

489 liter trunk

The trunk of the Mazda 6 is another of those details that reveal space as a primary point in its design. It is true that 489 liters capacity they do not catapult it to the top positions, in fact there are more compact sedans with more space, but they will always be enough to load.

The trunk stands out for two things, its loading mouth, quite accessible for not having a large gate, and for stand out more in depth than in height. To access the deepest part, it will be necessary to stretch the body quite a bit, although the alternative is to fold down the rear seats.

And speaking of folding down the rear seats, these do it in 60/40 ratio when we activate two handles located in the trunk. The problem is that they do not fold down automatically and you will have to move to the rear seats to finish the task. However, once done we will have a completely flat space.

We finish for today analyzing the new Mazda 6. For now we have seen that it is a tremendously attractive and practical car, if the exterior size is not a problem. Tomorrow we will resume our test studying the impressions of the 150 horsepower SKYACTIV-D engine and 6-speed manual transmission, in addition to its behavior.

More information – Mazda will have 5 new models in the next 3 years, Test Mazda CX-5 SKYACTIV-D 175 hp