AMONG JAPANESE CAR makers Mazda boasts of an above-average record when it comes to penning pretty cars — think Cosmo, the sundry RX generations, and the MX-5s, of course. It currently speaks the most coherent design language among the lot, too, with the brand鈥檚 cars consistently curvy and swoopy no matter their size. Little wonder then that the Mazda6 looks quite appealing, with its midsize cut working to its advantage. But also making it more interesting is that a version of it, the 6 2.2 SkyActiv-D, comes with an innovative diesel engine.
+ In Mazda鈥檚 signature Soul Red paint job the review 6 car really is pretty. The color highlights every sinew and contour and nuance on its body. Polishing the look further are the requisite LED jewelry and the massive 19-inch alloys. You can tell there鈥檚 no scrimping on specs with this car.
The cabin is as well-appointed. While the multimedia system and touch screen panel and all other luxury-car trappings are expected, it鈥檚 the execution of these that are impressive. The leather coverings are supple and fragrant; the polished metal-like trim are finely crafted, some of which do seem like they are made of real metal; the various switches and buttons engage crisply, with a few — like the electric parking brake 鈥渓ever鈥 and infotainment control dial — getting a level of detailing one would expect from cars costing more than twice the 6.
Other nice touches are the easy-to-decipher multimedia and climate control interfaces, as well as the snazzy head-up transparent screen on which the car鈥檚 speed and other info readouts seemingly float in space.
Befitting the 6鈥檚 styling is its athleticism. On the road the 6 feels smaller than it actually is because it鈥檚 quick to shift directions and is light on its wheels. There鈥檚 abundant grunt, courtesy of the 2.2-liter, twin-turbo diesel engine, and the torque鈥檚 availability from low to mid revs grants the 6 proper sport sedan stature.
Fuel economy is one of the 6鈥檚 strong suits, too. While SkyActiv-D — Mazda鈥檚 suite of technologies that pursue efficient fuel consumption and clean emissions, this time applied to a diesel engine — may seem like nothing but mere marketing-speak, it actually works in the real world. In about a week鈥檚 worth of slogging though Metro Manila traffic, plus some spots of expressway blasts, the 6鈥檚 fuel readout barely budged from its 鈥渇ull鈥 position.
– Acoustically, there is no mistaking the 6鈥檚 diesel engine as none other but a diesel — contrary to opinions forwarded by other reviewers. While not exactly clattery (the 6鈥檚 mill, not the other reviews) it is also not exactly quiet and can be picked out in a line of parked cars whose engines are running as the one that鈥檚 diesel-fed. True, the 6鈥檚 mill鈥檚 racket is no worse than diesels coming from some European brands, but still it can鈥檛 be mistaken for, say, a BMW鈥檚 either. And for a car that costs a couple of thousand pesos shy of P2 million, the comparison — nor expectation — cannot be all that unfair.
= But the 6鈥檚 pluses do outweigh this niggle — it鈥檚 just something that needs getting used to. Add to the positives Mazda鈥檚 Yojin3 Total Care, a package attached to all new Mazdas that means labor charges and parts purchases related to maintenance are free for up to three years (or until the car travels 60,000 kilometers). It includes as well roadside assistance and a 鈥渃oncierge鈥 service on top of the usual 100,000-kilometer (or three-year) warranty, also at no cost and valid for three years. Now, for anyone shopping for a midsize car, this should tip the scales in favor of the 6. — Brian M. Afuang
Bluffer鈥檚 Box
Mazda6 2.2 SkyActiv-D
Price: P1.985 million
Engine: 2.2-liter inline-four, direct-injection diesel; 173hp @ 4,500rpm, 420Nm @ 2,00rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Wheels/Tires: 19 inches, 225/45
Key features: LED head lamps and daytime running lights; smart entry with push-button engine start/stop; automatic engine idle on/off; dual-zone automatic climate control; touch screen multimedia with navigation and MP3, USB, aux-in and Bluetooth connectivity; rain-sensing wipers; electric parking brake; head-up display
