Review | 2016 Mazda6 | Slow and Steady 

I've owned my 2016 Mazda 6 for a year now. It is a great car. I love the driving dynamics, fuel efficiency, and the looks.

"welcome... SHUT UP BIRDS" .. im dead

I just purchased a grand touring 2016, and I am in love. It isn't supremely powerful, but is still enough. more then enough. and the interior and exterior make you feel special. Love this car.

So I've owned the iGT (with tech package) for over a year now. Here are my thoughts/observations: Overall the 6 continues to grow on me. I've been a Mazda guy for over 25 years and have owned 3 Proteges, 2 Mazda 3's (one was 2008 Mazdaspeed), a Mazda 5, 2010 Mazda 6sGT with the 3.7 liter V6 and a 2010 Mazda CX9 GT. I also took a detour with a 2013 VW Golf R which, while fun, wasn't as balanced as anything Mazda. Other Honda's and Toyota's I owned are but a footnote. The only memorable amongst them was my 86 MR2; from a time when Toyota knew what uncomplicated fun looked like. The new Skyactiv designs are by far the best of the litter. Previous Mazdas were fun yet compromised cars- IMO mostly stemming from the Ford relationship and parts bin engineering. By comparison my Ford Edge-based CX9 feels old with a cheap interior from a materials and construction POV (still, Mazda's engineers managed to tune this chassis in a way that makes it a fun drive). It's also been dead nuts reliable. This new Mazda 6 is a huge departure from the Ford years and if you study Mazda's history and car philosophy is less about straight-line power and more about BALANCE. As SG mentions in his reviews, Mazda has really stepped up their interior design and the more I live with the 6 the more I appreciate the well-thought-out and attractive cockpit. After a year of New England weather and roads the car is rattle and buzz free. The infotainment system is also quite good; I don't care that it doesn't support Carplay- yet. I also find the UI intuitive and usable. Sure the screen resolution is a bit on the low side, but the bones of the system are quite good IMO. Vehicle dynamics are as SG states- steering and chassis tuning are spot on and even better once you dump the factory Dunlops for better tires. As part of my sales deal I upgraded to Michelin Pilot AS/3's. The Michelins fixed the road noise issue and made a noticible improvement to ride and handling. As a daily driver this car is a joy to navigate to work after dropping the kids at school and confirms to me that Mazda's "jinba ittai" ("horse and rider" design philosophy) isn't empty marketing hyperbole. Now when I first test drove the 6 the engine was my biggest concern. Such a large car and small engine didn't compute from an enthusiats POV. But after a year I'm finding that this engine is quite good, with plenty of power to have fun for enthusiats who don't have a race track nearby. I think the major difference is that it takes time for the ECU to learn the driver. Reading several articles on the Skyactiv 2.5 reveals that it has pretty extensive engine managment as well as stout build with forged components. And after a year of "learning" has done a good job complementing my driving style. I do think this car is much better when you (as SG indicates) use sport and manual mode together and wind the engine out. Like other Mazdas I've owned (save the MS3 which always acted like a hungry dog pulling at the chain) the 6 has a very Jeckyll and Hyde personality. You can either leave it in Normal and get excellent efficiency (I've seen close to 40mpg consistently on the highway) and comfort. Or let a bit of Hyde out by selecting sport and using the paddles to keep the engine at a boil. The most fun is twisty roads in 2nd or third gear between 3 and 5K rpm. Another observation... I think the problem with reviewing a press car is the ECU's lack of learning one particular driver's habits over the relatively short time the reviewer has with the car. This is also the rub when you test drive a brand new car. This one detail maybe the difference between loving or dicounting a car like the 6. I'm not saying the 6 is a race car- it isn't. But over the year I have defintely found it to be an extremely well-engineered and BALANCED package that offers enthusiats an option over appliance autos. FYI, to those who wonder if there are "tunes" for the Skyactiv. I'm considering a tune from Orange Virus to improve the low RPM response and leverage better performance via high octane rather than the 87 tune from the factory. Part of me wonders why Mazda just doesn't offer a Premium fuel tune like they do on the CX-9 so people have a choice. As I commented on SG's CX9 review, I don't think dropping the new Skyactiv turbo into the front wheel drive 6 would be a good thing. Having owned an MS3, I know how bad torque steer can be. Also take a look at SG's review of the 2016 Kia Optima and see what too much power to the front wheels can do. Not my cup of tea. Burn-outs are best on RWD. :-) FWIW

I have to pause this video tell you that you have the best car review style I've ever seen. It's so cinematic like, that it sort makes me want to grab some popcorn and play this RU-vid video off the big screen and enjoy. Keep up the good work!

The still shots you posted in the beginning of the video helped me decide on buying a used 2016 Reflex blue mica AT Touring plus Mazda6. Thanks for the images in varying lighting.

Own the 2014 since it came out. Awesome car, no issues. Joy to drive every day.

I'm not surprised this video looks so good. I didn't know JJ Abrams knew this much about cars!

What an interesting guy. Just stumbled on this channel. I think I'll watch it more often.

You really are an amazing reviewer. I wish you had 10 times more subscribers like you deserve

Just bought a Mazda 6 yesterday and I love it. Can't stop thinking about driving it haha.

Just got a 2016 Mazda 6 for my wife. This guys hits all points perfectly. The exterior is awesome! The car handles great. The stock Dunlop tires make some noise but those will be replaced with Michelins. The car could use more power but it definitely has more torque than the Fusion (N/A 4cyl) and the Chrysler 200. Over all it will a great family car for my wife.

The animations turn your channel into something totally different than ANY car reviewer I’ve ever watched. Turns it into such a learning experience on a much deeper, less superficial level. Car jargon for people who aren’t CAR people can be off putting but using jargon with an explanation adds so much depth

When you compare the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times on the base competition in this class, the Mazda 6 is at or near the top, yet reviewers often dog the acceleration. Why? I think it's because the Mazda is so good looking that people think it should run like a Mustang GT. People praise the base level Camry yet it's a second slower to 60 than the 6. The transmission on the 6 is silky smooth. Google Mazda 6 and Altima transmissions and see what you find. One of them has endless complaints of failure, the other doesn't. Yet??? reviewers love the Altima. I think there is a double standard out there among the "experts". Thanks for the review.

One of the best Mazda 6 review i have seen to date.

Your honesty is refreshing and appreciated. Thank you and a great review as always.

Best review we have seen on a Mazda6 in a long time. Great job, we subscribed.

Great vid! Well edited, sweet cinematography, and good info. Thank you!

This design imo looks much better then the newer madza 6 version

I only found this after watching all other major reviews. This is by far the best overview of them all. Thank you for an incredibly thorough review touching on the pieces that really matter. Excellent work.

Your reviews are hilarious and very slick. Your sense of humour is very Australian. I particularly like your review of the 3 when you talk about dandruff and psoriasis. Bloody brilliant Mate!

Greatest Cinematography I have ever seen on any car review!

I like to watch car reviews and no one has done a good review as you did here. Very objective and useful. Great job!

Excellent video review. Wow lots of honest details.

I originally got here looking through multiple reviews for the Mazda6 and yours is not only in-depth but refreshingly unbiased. Ended up watching multiple vids of yours and still on the fence between the Mazda6, Optima, or Subaru WRX. Subscribed.

Love the Cinematography in your videos. Great Job!

This is the best car review I've ever seen. Well played young sir, well played.

You car reviews are like movies, so beautiful.

Wow what an awesome review! I'm thinking about picking one of these up!

Still take this over the Altima CVT!

Wow I just found this channel and it screams PASSION. There is no routine, both reviews I watched seem so different it is an adventure of its own. Great work, you seem to be also very knowledgeable about cars. You sir have earned a new subscriber and I wish you the best!

Thank you for an inciteful and knowledgeable review of the 2016 Mazda 6. Your non biased delivery is very fluid and natural. You have really found your calling. You are able to do, what as a kid, I dreamed of doing. You can blame the August of 1984 issue of Motortrend magazine for that. Ever since buying that magazine, I have never been able to get enough of anything and everything car related. Just wish I had the finances to be able to indulge in the enthusiasm more. Looking forward to many more auto reviews from you. Keep up the good work.

This is a lovely review, with amazing camerawork too

Props for your comment about wind noise. Something a lot of reviewers tend to forget to mention, and it's something I put a lot of weight on. Thanks!

Beautiful review!

Great points! Not your typical car reviewer that's for sure. First video of yours I've seen, subscribed

Just got the mazda6 and your review is ABSOLUTELY ON POINT!! Its a great car and i value functionality over performance. together with a beautiful design, inside and out, i love it..Your review helped me decide and is the closest one to how i feel about the car, before and after i bought it...Thank you!!!

You deserve an Academy Award for your videos, they're really that good.

I love the Mazda6 so much! My first car was a Mazda 626 1996 with 90hp and never I had problems! My Mazda 626 is standing in my garage! Now I'm 21 years old and buy a 2016 Mazda6! Forever Mazda!!!

I've been a Mazda fan for 3 years now. The speed3 was always my favorite but this year it has to be the 6. The craftsmanship they layered into the lines of this car is amazing. I can't believe the price is that low. I want this car because it is ergonomically correct and still shines the brightest not only in its segment with the Accord and the camry but also with the lexus's. This is a way for Mazda to make its name if it hasn't already. Thank you for the review because I've seen this car a couple of times around town and I'm just astonished.

These reviews are well written and the transitions are seamless. Geese power.

Great video and great review, subscribed!

Great review. Fair criticisms. This is my current car, but I have the Touring trim, so no iffy heads up display. I love it. My next car will be an updated 6 with the turbo.

impressive production value. we done, great review.

Great review. No bullshit. No sugar coating. You focus on what the car will be like to live with over the years. "Car of the year awards" are all well and good...a car may be great new, but what will it be like in 5, 10 or 20 years? Also, dry, sarcastic and hilarious! You should do stand up!

Really digging the USS Nostromo hat. Solid review broseph stalin.

I just bought a 2016 Mazda6 Grand Touring w/Tech Package and it is just as you explained here in your review. I was actually beginning to think that you wouldn't do a review on this car. I am happy that you did. It's very accurate and true. Great review and please please please PLEASE keep up the good... ahem, the GREAT work. Jason G.

Honest and fun review. Subscribed!

Great review, and two thumbs up for Between the Buried and Me

very spot on on the interior. its what makes me want to get the 3 or the 6 compare to others

I got this mazda6 about 9 months ago influenced by your genuine review. I have loved it so much. except it's navigation which is very pain ful to use. wish Android Auto coming soon.love your channel. keep up your good work.

Very good review. Have a real interest in this car. Thanks.

Thanks for actually testing and discussing the manual mode of the tranny....this alone makes it a better review than all the others I've watched. I'm actually cross-shopping the 6 with a used M37S and drive in manual mode nearly all the time, so I'm curious which one will suck less. Keep up the great work

u really make the best videos here ... yes ur right that they messed up with the center arm rest and the ariel atom windshield/hud display !!! i have the 2009 mazda 6 sport model - its a hidden hatchback thats got tons of space with a boyish (yet functional) spoiler for down force. the model's not available in the US but only in Europe, Asia and the gulf . theres an excellent spring loaded flip cover for 2 huge big gulp sized cup holders and an excellent center arm rest that has a button adjustment for forward and aft placement. wonder y they changed that for newer models? but you're spot on with steering feel (as awesome for EA), the long brake pedal that i dislike too (as preferred is a quick brake feel) and nothing happening unless TC is off . But the car corners neutral and wouldnt be far tp say its a FWD BMW ! Great review !!!

+savagegeese thanks for the review. Have you driven the 6 with a manual? what was the experience like?

That camera work and the jokes.....You have my subscription :D

Kick ass, like always. How do you not have more subscribers?

Excellent review of the Mazda 6. Open, honest, knowledgeable, and detailed. Subscribe to this guy now.

What a great review, thank you!

I had M6 2,5l for test drive in 2015 and I absolutely loved the design, interior, handling...and the reason I didnt buy it was it really feels VERY sluggish for 192HP. It felt like it takes forever to get to speed. I hope M6 will come with 2,5T to my dealer.

After driving one I learned to love the steering & handling; this is such a tossable car. The feature content is great as well & the Premium tester feels like it is punching in a class above (e.g. Acura & Buick). The biggest complaint I have really is the utter lack of power, something of a common trait on all current Mazda products as of late (after the RX-8 & Speed 3 got axed). The Mazda 6 especially would benefit from the 2.5 turbo from the CX-9. It is a real shame Mazda doesn't sell more of these 6 as Accords, Camrys & Fusion sells.

Great review. Love the format and your editing skills. What cars are you going to review in the near future?

all the german car reviewers should take some ideas from this guy! i watched so many german reviews and no one of them was so detailed like this one.... keep it up guys! well done

nice review, very well done sir... clear, concise and feels very objective...

I just bought a 2016 Mazda 6 Itouring. I just found out it actually doesn’t have i e loop tech. Only the grand touring model has it.

You and Motormouth are the best reviewers in the planet .

I don't know that I'd exactly call the 6 "slow" but I agree with your general impressions about the 2.5L combo with the automatic. I had the same setup in my 2014 Mazda 3s GT that was totalled a few weeks ago, and the transmission is definitely tuned for maximum economy. The only way to get spirited performance out of the car was to put it in Sport mode, which is MUCH more aggressive about holding gears and downshifting, or go "M" mode and do the shifting myself. That having been said, if I did that, the 3 would haul the mail, remembering that it was a compact-segment car and not really aimed to be a serious performance car. Still, both the 3 and the 6 just scream out for Mazdaspeed versions. The interiors on both cars are so good and the basic chassis setups are so dead-on that it's criminal not to have at least one of those cars with a bootful of turbo or V6 power under your right foot and AWD putting it to the pavement. I just bought a 2016 6 Touring to replace my wrecked 3, so far I love it. The interior refresh is amazing, even on the "leatherette" seats in the Touring and minus some of the bells and whistles from the GT trim. I need to take it out on a serious mountain road jaunt soon and see how it handles things. The 3 was a complete blast, I expect the 6 to be a little less zippy because it's bigger, but it's also a lot more comfortable.

Hey savage. What do you recommend Mazda 6 or Toyota Camry? Thanks!

Quality video and a great review. You sir, have a new sub

This is an awesome review! I bought my 2016 Mazda 6 Touring in November of 2015 and I've enjoyed it so far. I agree with a lot of what you said in this review, especially the engine and lack of power. The one thing that really irritates me and I know it's probably silly, I do not understand why Mazda put in blind spot monitors on the side mirrors but didn't invest in heated mirrors. My previous 2012 Chrysler 200 base model had heated mirrors and here in Oklahoma, we get a lot of frost in the winter and it blows my mind that they didn't include this. Aside from that though, I'm pretty happy with it!

As much as I hated your video why you ditched the mazda3, I admire this video/review. Great work.

Honest review. I am considering the 2017 Honda Accord Sport Manual or the 2017 Mazda 6 manual. Which one would be the most fun to drive? Which one would have the better transmission? Keep up the good work.

Nice review overall and I couldn't agree more especially about the interior styling. I test drove the 2016 Mazda 6 yesterday and the interior is exactly as you describe; classy. Also agree about the lack of engine choices but for a 'family sedan' I do think it strikes a reasonable balance between economy and sportiness. Nice video work as well.

Yes! The armrest and heads-up! Tragic! Great review.

Great review!

You are so good at this

Not sure why you got thumbs down. This is actually a great review. Thank you.

I was pretty happy in my 2015 CX-5 but I was missing the manual transmission I had in my 2010 Mazda 3. I happened to look at the 2016 mazda 6 interior and I was sold. I traded my myCX-5 for a touring 6MT Mazda6. If I had a moonroof it would be perfect car.

got a 2017 Touring and liking it so far. I assume this is the reflex blue model? how do you like that color? when i first saw it at dealer i thought it was good, but seems like the light makes the color look slightly different. i ended up going with jet black because i couldnt deal with this one. Interior really sold me on the car. the dunlops do suck though. Engine seems fine to me but im not looking for massive power. they just released the 2018 with 2.5 Turbo but your going to pay 3K more than touring. so if you are already in the 29k to 30k price range then go for it but i was looking for more mid-20s. i drove a couple other cars and just kept coming back to this one. exterior and interior were very good. engine adequate and gets good mpg. the only issue again is the tires. not a deal breaker though as you say.

wow is this channel growing I remember when he had a lot less subs , he's atleast grown over 100 thousand since then

I would love to see Mazda take everything to another level and create a new higher end line...

Good review, thanks very much

I love your reviews, they are excellent. I'm torn between a 2016 Mazda6 Touring and a 2016 Subaru Legacy 4cyl. Having driven both, which one would you pick?

Thanks. Great review. We're one of the VW owners looking for a replacement vehicle. There is truly NOTHING like a Jetta Sportwagen TDI. I just hauled 1,300lbs of albums 60 miles and got 42 MPG doing so. I really wish Mazda offered the Mazda6 Wagon here in the US. Or even better, the Mazda6 Diesel Wagon!! The Mazda6 is our top pick. Do you think the IELoop technology is worth the approximate $2k price tag? Or about $1500 used or CPO.

Loved it.. awesome review and youtube personality:p

“Or I can physically break it so it will never go up” that comment had be dying laughing 😂

GREAT review. I'm curious as to your thoughts on the '6' vs the '16 Optima SX-Limited? I'm debating between the two as well as the Accord.

Between the legacy 3.6, optima, Sonata and mazda 6 which one would you choose as a daily driver? or recommend for the more comfortable and fun drive?r

Great review. Just curious, for its price point, is there a competitor in its class that you would recommend over this? (Preferably one not named Honda)

I love that blue reflex colour on that Mazda

Thank you; that was sooooo helpful!!!

After 21,567 miles on my 2015 Mazda6 I have averaged 30.1 mpg. That's with a 3200 mile road trip.

You are brilliant! I subscribed.

Hi'. What is a difference in consume into mazda 3 2.5 y mazda 6 2.5. Is it big? Thanks

How differenet mazda 6 compre to mazda 3? on paper its only 27cm but you feel it while driving?

Now this is what you call class review......

He always seems sad

Thanks for the review. Here in Aust we have a choice of motors. I test drove the 2.5L petrol and it's definitely under powered. But the 2.2L twin turbo diesel is beautifully matched to this car and so torquey and responsive. And better fuel economy than the petrol.

That HUD does look super annoying and would be a deal-breaker for me. Ever find any sort of way to just disable it entirely?

Need help making a purchase decision. Thinking about getting a Acura TL 2013 or the Mazda 6 grand touring 2016. Need it to be reliable and easy on the maintenance cost. Overall a good all around car.