Mazda 6 Grand Touring 2018 Review

As one of the popular choices in the D-segment sedan market in Malaysia, the 2019 Mazda 6 SkyActiv-G 2.5L Touring has long attracted family users and quality-conscious consumers with its "balanced strength." Recently, I conducted an in-depth test drive of this car with the primary aim of verifying whether its actual performance in power, features, and space lives up to its price and whether it holds any differentiated advantages over competitors in the same class.

At first glance, the 2019 Mazda 6 Touring still boasts a high degree of recognition for its Kodo design language. The front features a shield-shaped grille with chrome accents that connect seamlessly with the LED headlights on both sides, visually widening the front end; the side profile is sleek, with a waistline extending from the hood to the rear end, giving the body a long and elegant look. The 19-inch multi-spoke wheels enhance the sporty feel. The rear features smoked LED taillights, complemented by a dual-exhaust layout, achieving an overall style that is both stable and youthful.

Sitting inside the car, the first impression is the quality of the interior materials—the dashboard is covered in soft-touch materials, and the inside of the door panels is wrapped in leather, with fine stitching details enhancing the sense of luxury. The center console layout is simple and intuitive, with an 8-inch touchscreen positioned at the top, supporting CarPlay and Android Auto with smooth operation. Physical buttons are retained below for ease of use while driving. The feature highlights are numerous: a HUD head-up display shows speed, navigation, and other information, reducing the need to look down; the front seats support electric adjustment, with the driver's seat offering 10-way adjustment plus 2 memory settings and the passenger seat 6-way adjustment, making it easy to find a comfortable position. The Bose 11-speaker audio system also delivers impressive sound quality, clear enough for everyday music listening.

The space performance is sufficient for family needs. The vehicle has dimensions of 4800mm×1840mm×1480mm and a wheelbase of 2750mm. For a 175cm occupant, there is a one-fist clearance of headroom in the front seats, with spacious legroom. In the rear, legroom measures about two fists, headroom one fist, and the middle floor hump is not too high, so the middle passenger won't feel too cramped even with three people seated. In terms of storage capacity, the door storage pockets can hold two 500ml water bottles, the central armrest box is sufficiently deep, and the trunk offers a capacity of 522L, which can easily fit multiple suitcases or a baby stroller. The rear seats also support a 60/40 split-fold configuration, providing good expandability.

In terms of power, the 2.5L naturally aspirated engine delivers a maximum power of 192PS and a maximum torque of 252N·m (parameter justification goes here), paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. During takeoff, the power response is smooth without the abrupt feel of a turbocharged engine. During daily urban driving, the transmission's shifting logic is clear with aggressive upshifts, keeping the RPM mostly below 2000rpm. When stepping harder on the accelerator to accelerate, the RPM rises above 3000rpm, and the power output becomes more robust, providing enough confidence for overtaking. There are three driving modes to choose from: Normal, Sport, and Eco. In Sport mode, the transmission delays upshifts, maintaining high RPMs and offering more responsive power.

Handling and chassis performance are Mazda's strengths. The steering wheel is precise, with minimal play and clear directional accuracy, giving the driver enough confidence when cornering; the suspension system adopts a front MacPherson and rear multi-link independent suspension, tuned for comfort while retaining a certain level of support. When passing over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension filters out most minor vibrations, and the body does not sway significantly. During high-speed cornering, body roll is well-controlled, providing good stability. Regarding braking, the brake pedal has a linear feel, and the braking force is evenly distributed. In emergency braking situations, the vehicle's posture remains stable.

The fuel consumption meets expectations. During the test drive, primarily in urban and highway conditions, the combined fuel consumption was approximately 7.8L/100km, slightly higher than the official figure of 7.1L/100km. Considering the heavily congested urban roads, this result is slightly above average among naturally aspirated models of the same class. As for noise control, the cabin is very quiet at speeds below 60km/h, with minimal tire and wind noise. At speeds exceeding 100km/h, wind noise increases slightly but does not disrupt conversations inside the car.

In specific tests, the 0-100 km/h acceleration was measured at approximately 8.3 seconds, close to the official figure of 8.1 seconds. In braking tests, the stopping distance from 100 km/h to 0 was about 38 meters, showcasing stable performance. Additionally, the safety configurations are comprehensive, with standard equipment including six airbags, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and autonomous emergency braking, offering sufficient safety protection for both drivers and passengers.

In summary, the core advantage of the 2019 Mazda 6 SkyActiv-G 2.5L Touring lies in its balance: smooth and adequate power, solid handling, rich configurations (particularly safety and comfort features), and sufficient space for family needs. Its interior quality also stands out in its class. Compared to competitors such as the Toyota Camry 2.5V or Honda Accord 2.4VTi-L, the Mazda 6 surpasses in handling and interior refinement, with no apparent shortcomings in configurations, offering decent value for money.

This car is suitable for two types of consumers: first, users who prioritize practicality for family use, as its space, safety features, and comfort can meet daily needs; second, young drivers who enjoy driving quality, as its precise steering and solid chassis provide a satisfying driving experience. If you are looking for a D-segment sedan without significant weaknesses that balances practicality and driving enjoyment, the 2019 Mazda 6 SkyActiv-G 2.5L Touring is worth considering.