In fact, U.S. News ranked the MAZDA6 (MSRP 20,990) ahead of the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, Volkswagen Passat and Toyota Camry. The success of the MAZDA6 can be chalked up to a number of factors, including its unique blend of style, quality, luxury, performance, fuel efficiency and overall affordability. It’s also among the few vehicles to earn “Top Safety Pick+” status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
The 2014 MAZDA6 comes in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trims, and it’s the second Mazda vehicle to offer a complete suite of SKYACTIV® technologies – a number of individual innovations all working together for maximum performance and efficiency.
At the top of the MAZDA6 line, the five-passenger, front-wheel drive MAZDA6 Grand Touring (MSRP $29,695) is powered by a SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 hp and 185 lb/ft of torque. It rewards drivers with an impressive EPA-estimated 37 mpg highway with a SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission, or a segment-leading 38 mpg highway with the SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic, making it one of the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid sedans you can buy.
This coveted balance of power and efficiency comes through a race-car-like 13.0:1 compression ratio that also delivers outstanding throttle response and acceleration. With a 7.6-second zero-to-60 mph time (as measured by Edmunds.com), the MAZDA6 is one of the quickest four-cylinder engines in its segment.
Like every Mazda, the 2014 MAZDA6 Grand Touring is built from the ground up with handling performance in mind. Thanks to its ultra-lightweight unibody construction and an advanced suspension proven on the tarmac of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the MAZDA6 Grand Touring handles with the athleticism of a bona-fide sports car.
The MAZDA6 Grand Touring is a pleasure to look at, with a sophisticated, wind-swept appearance that might be mistaken for that of European sedans costing thousands more. Taking design cues from the Mazda TAKERI Concept car, the MAZDA6 Grand Touring features an extremely aerodynamic 0.26 coefficient of drag that improves fuel efficiency and also reduces cabin wind noise at freeway speeds.
Step inside and be welcomed by a cabin with high-quality polished aluminum trim and sharply executed design. The interior is spacious enough to compete with some full-size sedans. Even occupants in excess of six feet tall will feel comfortable, and a trunk with 14.8 cubic feet of space swallows a lot of luggage.
As the top-of-the-line trim in the MAZDA6 lineup, the Grand Touring comes standard with a long list of features that includes exclusive 19-inch Platinum Silver wheels, High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps, Advanced Keyless Entry, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a power moonroof, leather-trimmed sport seats, heated front seat heaters with power control, and a 5.8-inch TomTom® in-dash navigation system with an 11-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound System and Bluetooth HandsFree Phone and streaming audio.
The MAZDA6 Grand Touring is equipped with a suite of advanced safety innovations like Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and an Adaptive Front-lighting System – all standard features typically listed as expensive options on higher-priced midsize competitors. Lane Departure Warning System, Forward Obstruction Warning and High Beam Control are also available.
Another Mazda innovation is i-ELOOP, the world’s first capacitor-based brake energy regeneration system. This fuel-saving feature generates electricity as the vehicle slows, recovering kinetic energy to power electrical components and thereby save fuel, depending on road conditions and driving habits. When equipped with i-ELOOP, the MAZDA6 Grand Touring can achieve an amazing 40 mpg highway.
SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY is more than just about fuel efficiency and lightweight design; it’s also about providing industry leading safety performance. The high-tensile-strength steel SKYACTIV-Body and SKYACTIV-Chassis of the 2014 MAZDA6 deliver superior crash test performance, as evidenced by its selection as a 2014 “Top Safety Pick+” by the IIHS.
Inspired design, athletic handling, impressive performance, a luxurious and roomy interior, industry-leading fuel efficiency and safety, and a sub-$30,000 price tag – the 2014 MAZDA6 Grand Touring hits all the marks.
Stop in today and get behind the wheel of the new 2014 MAZDA6.
