The Mazda 6, the largest sedan available in the Japanese carmaker’s model lineup is the fastest model which sells more than a million units, and after the Mazda 3,the fastestto achieve three million units of sales.
The third-generation Mazda 6 was first unveiled to the public in 2012, and received a facelift at end-2017. Bermaz Auto Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia, introduced it locally in August last year
We recently took the 2018 Mazda 6 2.5LSkyActiv sedan for a spin and found it as one of the most well-equipped sedans in Malaysia.
The Mazda 6 2.5L SkyActiv sedan is powered by a 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine, mated to a six-speed SkyActive Drive automatic transmission. The mill produces 192hp and 258 nm of torque.
Mazda claims that the Mazda 6 2.5L SkyActiv sedan can sprint from zero to 100kph in 7.8 seconds and has a top speed of 209 kph.
It cames in at 4,800mm long, 1,840mm wide, 1,450mm high with a wheelbase of 2,750mm, the car weighs 1,456kg and has 62-litre fuel tank capacity, as well as 474-litre boot space.
Fully imported from Japan, Mazda 6 2.5L SkyActiv is equipped with selfleveling automatic LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED taillights, G-Vectoring Control (GVC), multi-function leather steering, 8-inch full colour touchscreen, MZD Connect infotainment system with voice command support, heads-up display, paddle shifters, speed-sensing auto door lock, sunroof, walk-away lock function, 360-degree view monitor, and 11-speaker Bose audio system.
Safety features available in the Mazda 6 2.5L SkyActiv include six airbags, anti-lock braking system, stability control, electronic brake distribution, brake assist, traction control, emergency stop signal, hill launch assist, auto hold, blind spot monitoring system, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, driver attention alert, smart city brake support and ISOFIX child seat anchor points.
The 2018 Mazda6 2.5L SkyActiv sedan is priced at RM201,078.47 excluding insurance and taxes. It is covered with a five-year or 100,000km which ever comes first warranty and a five year unlimited mileage free maintenance package.
The Drive
The facelifted Mazda 6 2.5L SkyActiv sedan is comfortable, sophisticated and powerful. It has features and technologies that are available in premium luxury brands.
Its exterior has been refined to look more sporty, aggressive and bold. The interior is finished with leather accompanied with silver stitching and trims to add some elegance. The design of the dashboard is stylish with good quality material used.
The 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine is powerful and smooth, while the six-speed transmission changes gear quickly.
On high speed corners, the sedan sits firmly on the tarmac, giving accurate and precise road feedback to the driver. The ride comfort for the driver and occupants have been further improved, thanks to the GVC system. The system reduces the angle and frequency of steering corrections.
It also smoothens the transition between G-forces during lane change and corners. The system reduces the swaying of the body and head when the vehicle is changing lanes or taking corners.
The Mazda 6 2.5L SkyActiv easliy tackles most rough, pothole filled and damaged road conditions. The dampers soaks up most conditions, only the bigger, deeper and sharper potholes were felt.
There is generous legroom and shoulder room for all occupants. The 474-litre boot space is able to swallow in a large tandem stroller with room for another one or two golf bags.
Mazda’s engineers have done a fantastic job in keeping the cabin of the Mazda 6 2.5L SkyActiv sedan quiet. At most speeds, the engine, tyre and wind noise are very well kept away from the cabin. We could only hear some engine sound when we were driving the Mazda 6 at full throttle.
The MZD Connect infotainment system with voice command support and the 8-inch full colour touchscreen are user-friendly. The 11-speaker Bose sound system plays strong bass sound quality but the treble is short of sharpness and clarity. Audiophiles may want to consider an upgrade for live concert-like sound quality.
We drove the Mazda62.5L SkyActiv sedan for almost 1300km through cities, rural roads and highways. A mixture of city and highway driving managed to clock 13.2 to 14.5 km per litre (km/l). Cruising on the highway within legal speed limit resulted to 16.8 to 18.6 km/l. After some maximum acceleration, it recorded 10.4 to 11.5 km/l. Not bad for a 2.5-litre engine.
Overall, the Mazda 2.5L SkyAc6 tiv sedan is a wonderful car, with lots of features and technology to give its driver and occupants peace of mind. There are also some features that can be improved.
The Mazda 6 should come with the central locking button to lock or unlock the car doors with justapress of a button from the inside. Currently, the driver needs to unlock the door by flicking the lock latch.
It would also be great if the Mazda 6 comes with ambient lights to further enhance the elegant of the car and adaptive cruise control to lessen the fatigue for long-distance driving.
