Test Drive: 2017 Mazda6 dressed up and buttoned down

The Mazda6 has fluid lines and refined driving manners.
The Mazda6 has fluid lines and refined driving manners.
photo The Mazda6 interior looks a class above its price point.


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Fast facts

* Model: 2017 Mazda6 Grand Touring * Exterior color: Machine Gray Metallic * Interior color: Parchment Nappa Leather * Engine: 2.5-liter, four-cylinder * Horsepower: 184 horsepower * Transmission: six-speed automatic * Fuel economy: 35 mpg highway, 27 mpg city * Local Dealer: Tim Short Mazda, International Drive * Price (as tested): $34,530 * Area dealerships: Tim Short Mazda, Chattanooga; Gray Epperson Mazda, Cleveland.

If the Mazda6 were a garment, it would be a tuxedo.

Its classic design, tasteful use of contrasting colors, high quality materials and durability combine to make it - still - our favorite mass-market, midsize car.

And the buying public seems to be catching on. We see more and more Mazda6s on the road, breaking through the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion iron triangle of midsize-sedan dominance. Those three excellent cars still sell more copies - partly because of their larger dealership networks - but the Mazda gives away nothing in the quality department.

Our tester, part of the Mazda press fleet, is a machine gray metallic 2017 Mazda6 in Grand Touring trim which retails for $34,530 including an $835 delivery fee.

According to dealership websites, Tim Short Mazda in Chattanooga had eight Mazda6s in stock this week, and Gray Epperson Mazda in Cleveland had 18 copies.

STYLING AND FEATURES

It's been four years since the Mazda6 was redesigned as a 2014 model, and the exterior architecture hasn't changed much over time. It still has that beautiful, molded-from-clay flow that distinguishes it from its more conservative competitors.

Most midsize sedan buyers want a car that looks a class above. The Mazda6 is a perfect example of this phenomenon. Put in simple terms, it's a car that sells for about $30,000 that looks like a car that sells for about $40,000. That fact alone is enough to entice a test drive.

The nose of the Mazda6 features a six-bar grille underlined by a wide strip of chrome that dips and rises like a smile. The edges of the grille launch character lines that form a terraced hood. Recessed several inches back from the grille are swept headlights with LED eyelashes.

A low roofline and undulating shoulder lines give the Mazda6 a long, low look. The result is that the car looks as if it's sitting back on its rear wheels like a big cat waiting to pounce. The rear is nicely tailored, and the spoiler lip on our tester proves to be a nice topping.

The Machine Gray Metallic paint on our tester has a deep luster that sets off the car's lines. The metallic paint is a $300 option. We like the gray - a lot - but the iconic color of modern Mazdas is Soul Red, a translucent color that seems to add dimension to the brand's curvaceous designs. If you're too introverted for a red car, the gray, in our view, is the next best option.

In Grand Touring trim with the optional "Premium Package" ($2,500), the Mazda6 feels like a near-luxury car. Creature comforts include Nappa leather upholstery, heated seats front and back, 8-way power driver's seat, 7.0-inch color touchscreen, heads-up driving display.

The interior design is modern, and frankly reminds us of the best work of BMW. Three old-school, analog dials tuck into a hooded instrument cluster, and the 7-inch color touch screen is mounted in the middle of the horizontal dash. The perforated parchment leather in our tester provides an attractive contrast to the dark-gray exterior paint.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS

It's interesting that a Wcar brand that has traditionally been lauded for its mechanical engineering is now known more for its design prowess.

Consumers get two assets in one. The Mazda6 is still the best-driving midsize sedan, in our view, although it does not offer a six-cylinder engine or a turbocharging option.

The 184-horsepower, normally-aspirated four-cylinder engine in the Mazda6 is a sweet motor that gets 35 miles per gallon on the highway, putting it in near-hybrid territory. It has plenty of passing power. When we found ourselves hemmed-in by an 18-wheel truck on Highway 127, the Mazda6 was happy to rev up and put the big rig in its rear-view mirror.

A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, and goes about its job with silent efficiency. Steering is a little heavy for our taste, but plenty of drivers will probably appreciate the planted feel of the car.

The cabin is spacious and the seats are comfortable. Rear-seat passengers have plenty of leg room.

BOTTOM LINE

The Mazda6 may be a little more expensive than some of its competitors, but, as we mentioned, it feels like it's a LOT more expensive. That makes it a compelling value, which is the Mazda6's real claim to fame.

Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.

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