The IT Nerd

What you’re looking at is the 2.5l 4-cylinder Skyactiv engine that powers the 2017 Mazda6 GT. It puts out 184 horsepower and 185 pound feet of torque through a six-speed automatic that is very smooth. There’s no V6 option, nor is there a turbo 4 cylinder option, and you won’t miss either. It has plenty of power regardless of where you need it. Be it merging onto a highway, passing transport trucks or just getting off the line. And it sounds great when you put your foot down thanks to engine note that sounds sporty without being over the top. And if you want all of this amped up, simply hit the sport mode switch which changes the throttle response, transmission behaviour and engine note all for the better. All of this means that Mazda has made a very convincing case that the V6 has no practical need to exist in the mid-sized class and likely puts those car companies who use turbo 4 cylinder engines in their cars on notice as well. It has an acceptable level of road noise and no wind noise to speak of. In terms of handling, the big news is the addition of G-Vectoring Control. This works behind the scenes to achieve a smoother, less fatiguing drive for you and your passengers by subtly adjusting engine torque and intentionally optimizing vehicle weight transfer during everyday commutes and spirited drives alike. The result is steering that is more precise and a ride that is more comfortable for drivers and passengers.

Here’s a video that shows the difference between a Mazda with and without G-Vectoring Control:

Let me tell you that G-Vectoring Control works exceptionally well. In short, it takes a car that already handled very well and kicks it up to the next level. You can change lanes and carve corners and look like Mario Andretti in the process. Besides the fun aspects of what G-Vectoring Control can do, it adds an extra level of safety to your driving experience as it will keep you from getting into bad situations as well as helping you to keep better control of the car by minimizing the amount of steering corrections that you have to make while driving. This is a welcome addition that you need to experience first hand to appreciate. One thing that hasn’t changed is the fact that you can feel exactly what the vehicle is doing underneath you, which is something that someone who wants an engaging drive will appreciate. You also get a suspension that is firm enough to be sporty without loosening your fillings, but compliant enough to give you a comfortable ride.

Fuel economy as usual for Mazda is a strong point. I am currently getting 9.6l / 100 KM’s and I expect it to get better as the week goes on.

Part three of this review will cover the interior of the Mazda6 GT. It’s a pretty nice place to spend time in as you’ll see tomorrow.

This entry was posted on November 1, 2016 at 10:00 am and is filed under Products with tags Mazda. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.