Choosing a family car may not seem like a huge decision for
some people but in my family, we actually take it pretty seriously. We would
sit around the dining table after dinner one night and have a discussion about
our options.
This was always a practice, even back in the days before my
sister and I got our driving licences. Although we could not drive the cars
then, our parents still chose to involve us in the conversation because the car
was still a rather significant part of the family.
The Mazda 6 sports
a similar face and a bold waistline
The car would be there every day in our lives, getting my
parents to work or getting us from school. Hence, it was to be a unified
decision so we could all be comfortable with this “additional member” of the
family. The basic requirements were straightforward – four doors, comfortable,
fuel-saving. Due to budget constraints, our choices have more often been a
Japanese sedan.
Recalling the different family sedans we have had in the
past, including the likes of the Toyota Corolla, Mitsubishi Lancer and Honda
Accord, we have witnessed how the typical family sedan has evolved over the
decades.
The traditional family car segment is one that is highly
competitive with an ever-increasing list of top options from car brands all
over. Every day we see new developments in design and technology as more models
are released. Take the latest Mazda 6 for example.
The cabin of the
Mazda 6 is very clean and neat, making it a nice place to be in
When I saw it for the first time, I found it really
handsome. Sporting the new Mazda family face, the Mazda 6 has the signature
wing grille, LEDs and what they call the ‘glinting eyes’ with halo ring light.
Embodying the ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ design theme which is inspired by
movements of the cheetah in the wild, the new Mazda 6 is stylish with an
attention-grabbing appearance.
Updated with this fresh design, the Mazda 6 also gets a new
engine along with a host of modern technologies to keep up with the full-size
sedan segment of the market. Second in the new generation of Mazda models to
have the Sky Activ technology, the Mazda 6 has been made lighter as a result.
Lighter does not mean weaker, as it has been made stronger with an increased
amount of high-tensile steel.
The Sky Activ technology consists of a high-compression
13.0:1 direct injection engine, strong chassis and efficient gearbox with a
lightweight body. With 187bhp and 250Nm at its maximum, coupled with a
six-speed automatic transmission, the 2.5-litre Mazda 6 I test drove here
handled responsively and retained a decent rev-happy attitude. It’s not a car
that will invoke an adrenalin rush in you but this is not meant for outright
speed and thrill anyway.
With Mazda's
SKYACTIV technology and i-ELOOP (short for 'intelligent Energy Loop'), we
managed to attain 8.6km/L - rather far from its stated 15.2km/L
The new Mazda 6 has a regenerative braking system that uses
a capacitor to store electricity recovered during deceleration and convert it
into reusable energy to power the car’s electrical systems after. This energy
recovery system called the i-ELOOP (intelligent Energy Loop) combines with the
i-STOP – an idling stop system that shuts the engine down when the car is
stopped – to improve fuel economy by up to 10 per cent. Once stopped at the
lights, the engine will stop and then restart when you step on the gas. All
these energy-saving features have contributed to the Mazda 6 qualifying for
rebates under the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS) – for example,
the 2.5-litre one gets $5,000 off.
The ‘i’ innovation does not end there. The new Mazda 6 comes
with i-ACTIVESENSE – a host of advanced sensor-based active safety technologies
such as Smart City Brake Support, lane departure warning system, rear vehicle
monitoring system, high beam control system and adaptive front lighting system.
Shod with 19-inch
wheels, the Japanese sedan certainly strikes an imposing stance
The Smart City Brake Support essentially senses the distance
of the vehicle ahead and automatically engages the brakes if you get too close.
While these are commonly found in European vehicles, they are not often offered
in Japanese cars.
The interior of the Mazda 6 is functional and simple, with a
lot of room for the family and a boot of 438 litres. Overall, I would use the
word ‘sophisticated’ on the new Mazda 6 with all the advancement that it holds.
It shows the direction of the future and how the traditional family car segment
is evolving continuously.
