The mid-size sedan segment used to be very big, it’s still pretty big, but with the popularity of SUV/CUV’s, the segment has shrank a bit. But lately, mid-sized cars are making a comeback thanks to an ever extended lineup of good looking cars being offered by foreign and domestic manufacturers. The segment used to be dominated by cars like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry but now there are a lot of other cars to choose from, most of which look a lot better than those two and offer quite a lot of equipment.

The mid-size sedan segment has been known for some very boring or “vanilla” cars, the above-mentioned cars are prime example of that. But fortunately, there are some good looking cars in this segment, like the Optima, Sonata, Fusion, Mazda6, and a few others. We’ve already reviewed a couple of versions of the Ford Fusion; this week we had a chance to review the very handsome looking 2015 Mazda6 GT sedan.

The 2015 Mazda6 sedan starts at $24,495; our car came with an as tested price of $35,295 plus $1,695 for freight and PDI. Our test vehicle had the optional Technology Package ($2,800), which consists of satellite radio, smart city brake support, forward obstruction warning, radar cruise control, high-beam control, lane departure warning, and the i-ELOOP regenerative braking system. The car was also painted in optional “Soul Red Mica” ($300).

The 2015 Mazda6 is the 3rd generation this car; the car was originally introduced in 2002. I was a big fan of the first generation “6”, it looked very European and looked much better than the competition. The 2nd generation car was alright, nothing spectacular, but the 3rd generation is again a class leader in terms of styling. In my opinion, this is one of the best looking FWD mid-sized sedans, on par with the Ford Fusion, which I really like.

Styling

The 2015 Mazda6 GT also makes use of the KODO design language and you can see sexy written all over this car. The styling is very European and the car has a very curvaceous body, with moving lines at the front and back, giving it that “coke bottle” look. The styling would fit right at home on a European sports sedan, but I do wish there was a bit less gap between the tires and the fenders.

The car looks absolutely stunning with the optional “Soul Red Mica” paint; the $300 is definitely worth it. The color really pops on a sunny day; unfortunately, it wasn’t sunny on the days we were photographing the car. The pictures in this post look great but if there was a bit of sun, you would’ve really seen the beauty of this car.

Performance/Driving

The 2015 Mazda6 GT is powered by the direct injection 2.5 liter 4-cylinder SKYACTIV engine; also found in the Mazda3 and CX-5 we reviewed recently. This engine produces 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 pound-feet of torque at 3,250 rpm. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission (our car had the auto transmission), which comes with a sport mode and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. However, if you want the “Technology Package”, it’s only available on cars with the automatic transmission.

The SKYACTIV engine does a pretty good job in this car, it’s pretty sporty and loves to be revved; it felt more sporty than in the other two cars we reviewed. The 6-speed automatic transmission is very smooth and gears shifts are quick. If you want to really have fun with this car, driving it in the “sport” mode is a must. The sport mode holds the gears longer and the throttle feels lighter and more responsive.

Personally I would’ve liked another 40 or so horsepower, to make it perform closer to the Fusion 2.0 EcoBoost, with the added horsepower, the Mazda6 would be an amazing car. Also, I think if our GT test car came with the manual, it would’ve made it quite fun.

According to Mazda, the Mazda6 GT with the i-ELOOP system (more on that later) consumes 8.4 L/100 km (28 mpg US) in the city and 5.9 L/100 km (39.9 mpg US) on the highway, that’s an improvement from 8.8 L/100 km city and 6.1 L/100 km highway over cars that are not equipped with the i-ELOOP system. We were able to get 8.1 L/100 km (29 mpg) on normal city and highway driving (65/35 city/highway).

The Mazda6 will also come with a diesel engine, which has been delayed and I’m not sure when it’ll be available. In European trim, that engine produces 175 HP and 310 lb-ft of torque, if the specs stay the same for North America, with a decent price, that car is going to sell like hot cakes! While we’re on this subject, the Europeans also get the Mazda6 in wagon format, which I think looks absolutely fantabulous! Hopefully Mazda brings that car here; pictured above for reference.

The Mazda6 does have the “zoom-zoom” DNA, its very fun to drive with a sporty suspension. Like the Mazda3, the 6 has a stiffer suspension than the competition, giving the car more a sports sedan feel. The suspension is pretty comfortable on normal roads but on very rough roads, it’s a bit on the choppy side, but that’s to be expected. The steering feel is also good and it’s fun to weave in and out of traffic. When it comes time to stop, the brakes are pretty average.

Interior

As much as I like the exterior styling for its sportiness and curves, I like the interior for its simplicity. The interior uses lots of black and grey soft-touch materials; however, it isn’t boring looking and very well laid out. The GT comes with black leather seats with tasteful red cross stitching, giving it the “European” look. “Off-White” leather seats are also available through special order.

I really liked the interior’s layout and the materials used; the car has a very premium feel to it. The gauges are very simple and easy to read and the buttons for all the gadgetry are laid out in a simple fashion that takes a few minutes (or less) to get used to. The interior is similar to the Mazda3 and CX-5, but taken a few steps further into the entry level luxury cars. The only complaint I have is about the size of the 5.8” touchscreen, which is too small and needs a more modern display.

The inside of the Mazda6 GT is a pretty comfortable place to be in. The driver and passenger get 8-way power adjustable seats with three-level heating and two memory settings (driver only). The back seats are also very comfortable with plenty of leg room; the roof is very sloped to give the car a sporty look, but there is plenty of head room. There isn’t too much engine noise making it into the cabin, except for under heavy acceleration. There is however, tire noise on the highway, I found the Ford Fusion to be much quieter than the 6.

Technology/Safety

The Mazda6 GT also comes with the latest technologies found on other cars in this segment, and some added tech features. The car comes with dual-zone climate control, 11 speaker BOSE audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, USB and auxiliary audio input, hands free calling, voice activated navigation system, keyless entry with auto lock, push-button start/stop, auto on/off bi-xenon headlights with auto levelling, auto-dimming mirrors, and rain sensing wipers.

Our car came with the i-ELOOP system, which is approximately 10% more fuel efficient in city traffic than a comparable Mazda6, according to Mazda. It’s kind of like a hybrid system; it uses kinetic energy recovered on deceleration and uses that energy to power some of the systems. Unlike a hybrid system, the power is not used to drive the car; instead it’s used to power the audio, climate control, other electric components, and even charges the car’s battery.

Also, unlike a hybrid system that uses heavy batteries to store the regenerated power and an electric motor, the i-ELOOP system uses a capacitor (a first for an automaker), which can quickly be charged and discharged. The capacitor recovers energy as soon as the car starts decelerating; electricity is generated at up to 25V and then converted to 12V and sent to the vehicle’s electric components. Pretty cool system, if I may say so.

For safety, you get the Blind Spot Monitor system (BSM), which works like a normal system, but if there’s someone in your blind spot and you still signal to switch lanes, the system beeps at you to re-warn you of a vehicle in your blind spot.

Other safety equipment includes rear camera with cross traffic monitor (rear parking sensors cost an extra $591), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control System (TCS), Tire Pressure Monitory system (TPMS), Lane Departure Warning, Radar Cruise Control, and Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW).

Overall Impressions

I think the 2015 Mazda6 is a very good looking car with a premium feel to it, form the outside, the car doesn’t look any different in base trim or top of the line (except for the wheels), so you can have the same good looking car for around $24k, if you don’t care for all the gadgetry. The interior is refined and a great space to be in. The car does have the “zoom-zoom” DNA and is really fun to drive. For these reasons and more, the Mazda6 won the AJAC (Automobile Journalist Association of Canada) 2014 car year award.

For more information on the Mazda6 and other Mazda vehicles, check out Mazda Canada’s official website.