Mazda 6 Series II 2015 Review

As probably the most eloquent example of the company's KODO "Soul of Motion" design language, the current-generation Mazda6 is far removed from its 1970s roots as the basic, mid-size 626 family sedan.

Not only is it substantially bigger than the original rear-drive Mazda 626 that first saw the light of day in 1978: The current-gen Mazda6, at its introduction in 2012, was also the recipient of a painstaking development programme that lifted its status to the point where it could be mistaken as a participant in the prestige class.

Thoughtful design, well-resolved dynamics, fine attention to detail, and the belated arrival of contemporary SKYACTIV-G engine and SKYACTIV-Drive transmission technology elevated the Mazda's status in so many ways that it's now considered a class benchmark.

There might be one or two things about the Mazda6 that niggle, but the recent update that arrived early this year takes a big stab at addressing those.

It's a lot more than just a fiddle with the nose and new interior trim. The upgrades run from the obligatory external changes affecting the grille, head and tail-lights, to interior refinements including a re-designed dash – and continue right through to a rework of the suspension that is aimed at improving ride quality and handling. There's also an insulation programme that is said to lower cabin noise levels by as much as 25 per cent.

On top of that, there's plenty of new technology, all standard at top-shelf Atenza level. This includes lane-keep assist, driver attention alert, an electronic parking brake and adaptive LED headlights to complement existing systems such as Smart City Brake Support and Pre-Collision Throttle Control – which has been further developed to detect vehicles travelling behind, as well as in front – blind-spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert function.

There's also a swag of in-cabin electronic gear including Mazda's new MZD Connect connectivity system with a new, stand-alone LED display, plus the availability of heated rear seats. The seats themselves are redesigned too, with the aim of improving passenger comfort.

For all this, a week spent in a Mazda6 Atenza was simply a reminder of how good the big front-drive sedan was in the first place.

Unless you step straight from a pre-update model into the new one, and you've a strong eye for detail, you're unlikely to detect any significant changes other than the new instrument panel.

And while some would argue the new dash shapes don't flow visually quite as well as before, the free-standing 7.0-inch LED touch-screen is delightfully concise and easy to use in conjunction with the console-mounted control dial, and all the major hard points – air vents, climate-control – are located pretty much in the same positions, with similar functionality.

As for the renewed focus on fit and finish, the Mazda6 has long been an exemplar in properly screwing a car interior together, meaning that any improvements are difficult to pinpoint.

Suffice it to say the Mazda6 – particularly in leather-trimmed Atenza spec – is a car that enables all passengers to stretch out in comfort as they are soothed by the more-compliant ride and the decreased noise levels in the cabin (the 25 per cent improvement in highway noise levels still don't mean it's the quietest in its class), while the driver comes to grips with the sharp handling and the subtly vocal response from the 138kW/250Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

The six-speed auto, which activates in-gear lock-up over a wide range to almost mimic a dual-clutch automated manual, is brisk-shifting, intuitively responsive and clearly contributes to the Mazda6's efficiency with a claimed combined fuel economy of 6.6L/100km – which we came within cooee of matching in our week-long test with a figure of 7.1.

But while the Mazda6 is a satisfyingly brisk performer on the road it is still in arrears of many of its competitors in terms of actual power outputs.

It is well behind the 177kW and 345Nm of the 2.0-litre turbocharged Mondeo, not to mention the 3.5-litre V6 used in the Toyota Aurion (200kW and 336Nm), the Nissan Altima (183kW and 312Nm) and the Hyundai Sonata Turbo (180kW and 350Nm). Granted, the Mazda is significantly more fuel-efficient than any of these competitors – particularly the Toyota and Nissan – but a touch of low-blow turbo to up the torque would still be nice.

And though the Mazda6 is responsive, compliant and smooth in terms of ride/handling, some of the new technology is slightly disturbing in its intrusiveness. For example the proactive lane-keeping system results in a weird, if subtle, nudging of the car's line on even relatively gentle curves when it's actually firmly on track. We've driven other lane-keeping systems that are equally as effective but far more subtle.

But that's only a mild spoiler for a car that, for all its luxury image, remains undeniably attractive to the driver.

The Mazda6 is a balanced combination of dynamic abilities and passenger comfort. As well as having a big cabin, the Mazda's boot is pretty useful with a capacity of 474 litres – although it's not the biggest in class (the Mondeo by way of example offers a massive 557 litres).

Passive safety for the five-star Mazda is attended to by the body structure and six airbags – dual front and side, plus a full-length curtain airbag. The driver's knee bag that is beginning to appear more frequently at all levels of the market is a notable exclusion from the safety armament.

The 2015 Mazda6 is an ambitious update for a car that is barely more than two years old. It seems to signal the company's intent of maintaining the Mazda6's position in its segment, where it is facing off against long-anticipated newcomers such as Ford's just-launched new-generation Mondeo.