Review Mazda 6 2016 well-developed, new and modern engine

Review Mazda 6 2016 well-developed, new and modern engine

For 2016, the Mazda 6 sees a number of incremental changes. The Grand Touring trim gets revised front and rear styling along with new LED headlights that replace the previous xenon headlights. All versions except the base Sport with a manual transmission get a larger (7-inch) touchscreen and a Sport mode for the automatic transmission. Finally, every Mazda 6 receives an electronic parking brake and upgraded trim on the dash, center console and armrest.

The 6 has what sounds like a meager powertrain lineup. Mazda's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is standard across the lineup, and it's a well-developed, new and modern engine. It's fitted with direct injection, variable valve control, and a very high 13:1 compression ratio (unleaded gas is just fine).

By the numbers, it makes 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque, and it's rated for as much as 40 mpg on the highway when stop/start and a regenerative-energy system called i-eLoop is grafted on the drivetrain. All versions have front-wheel drive, and the engine is fitted to either a six-speed manual, or a six-speed automatic which gets driver-selectable modes for 2016.

New safety features on the 2016 Mazda6 include blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and what Mazda dubs Smart Brake Support, a system that automatically engages the vehicle’s brakes if a collision is deemed imminent. Safety features on all models include advanced dual-stage front-impact airbags, front side-impact airbags, front and rear side air curtains, antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, dynamic stability control, traction control, tire pressure monitor, LATCH child safety seat anchors and hill hold assist. A rear view camera is standard on all models except for the Sport with the 6-speed manual.