Photo: Mazda
Looking at the new MX-5 and the Mazda6 sedan, we think you'll agree that there aren't any two vehicles from one brand that are more dissimilar. However, the 6 has something in common with the little roadster – the fact that it's very good. We drove it a few years back and found there's very little reason to buy anything else from this segment. And now, at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, they've unveiled a refreshed model that's even better.
That's right, only two years after the car's debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Japanese company is launching updates at the same venue.
The sedan which is known in Japan as the Mazda Atenza has received subtle but affective nip and tuck treatment and a new set of headlights we rather like. The biggest change at the front is an increased use of chrome, for the horizontal slats of the grille, fog light surround and a much bigger wing motif that visibly connects to the headlights.
We think the most significant change are the new LED headlamps and an LED signature for the taillights. Not only can you not get these on a Toyota Camry, you shouldn't even expect them from a Lexus ES. Other smaller changes include a BMW-like shark fin antenna, darker 19-inch aluminum wheels with high-gloss paint, and two new colors, Sonic Silver Metallic and Titanium Flash Mica.
For now, we only know about one engine, the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G. It continues to be available with either a six-speed manual Skyactiv-MT or six-speed automatic in America and delivers 184 horsepower at 5,700rpm. Mazda say they've worked with the powertrain to make it feel like a luxury car. The amount of noise transmitted into the cabin has been reduced by 10 percent when driving on rough roads and by approximately 25 percent on highways. It's also one of the most efficient non-hybrid engines on any mid-size sedan. With the i-ELOOP regenerative technology, the 2016 Mazda6 can get up to 40 mpg.
On the safety front, the 2016 Mazda6 now boasts i-Activsense advanced technologies that detect the usual hazards and can work the brakes if needed, avoiding crashes altogether or minimizing damage.
The sedan which is known in Japan as the Mazda Atenza has received subtle but affective nip and tuck treatment and a new set of headlights we rather like. The biggest change at the front is an increased use of chrome, for the horizontal slats of the grille, fog light surround and a much bigger wing motif that visibly connects to the headlights.
We think the most significant change are the new LED headlamps and an LED signature for the taillights. Not only can you not get these on a Toyota Camry, you shouldn't even expect them from a Lexus ES. Other smaller changes include a BMW-like shark fin antenna, darker 19-inch aluminum wheels with high-gloss paint, and two new colors, Sonic Silver Metallic and Titanium Flash Mica.
For now, we only know about one engine, the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G. It continues to be available with either a six-speed manual Skyactiv-MT or six-speed automatic in America and delivers 184 horsepower at 5,700rpm. Mazda say they've worked with the powertrain to make it feel like a luxury car. The amount of noise transmitted into the cabin has been reduced by 10 percent when driving on rough roads and by approximately 25 percent on highways. It's also one of the most efficient non-hybrid engines on any mid-size sedan. With the i-ELOOP regenerative technology, the 2016 Mazda6 can get up to 40 mpg.
Cabin refresh
The changes to the interior are probably more bold than the ones on the outside. The built-in navigation unit of the old car has been replaced with a freestanding 7-inch screen. Another thing we liked is that they've nipped the head-up display from the Mazda3, because every Mazda should have it. Another update is the Electrical Parking Brake (EPB), the first of its kind for Mazda and a feature that reminds us of the VW Passat.On the safety front, the 2016 Mazda6 now boasts i-Activsense advanced technologies that detect the usual hazards and can work the brakes if needed, avoiding crashes altogether or minimizing damage.
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