Hey there. I am Aaron Telitz, professional racecar driver currently competing in the Indy Lights Series presented by Cooper Tires. I’m also a Morrie’s Automotive Group brand ambassador. I have been riding around in a 2017 Mazda 6 for the past month and thought it would be fun to give a little review of what I think of the car!
Thinks I Like Most About the Mazda6:
- Upscale interior
- Sporty handling
- Excellent fuel mileage
Appearance:
What I really like about the look of the Mazda6 (or any Mazda) is the distinct lines and curves used to give the car a unique look. You don’t get confused about what kind of car you’re looking at when you see a Mazda. The car looks sporty, yet elegant at a stand still. In my opinion a great balance for a modern sedan.
Interior:
The first thing you notice when you get into the car is how the seats sort of “hug” you. This gives you a feeling right off the bat that you are part of the car now. It’s easy enough to adjust the seat and wheel to get you into the perfect driving position As you look around inside the car you feel like you’re in an upscale sedan. The trimmings on the dash and wheel all look extremely handsome. The dash is crisp, clean, and simple. The entertainment and climate controls are very intuitive and easy to adjust. Once you connect your phone to the car every time you get in the phone automatically connects so you can immediately play your own music or answer a phone call from the steering wheel. The back seats are very comfortable and there is plenty of legroom for your passengers.
Handling:
Once you get out on the road you immediately feel how responsive the car is. The feel of the car through the wheel and seat is incredible. The brake pedal is easy to modulate, and the stopping power is excellent. It doesn’t feel big or bulky at all. Yet, when you’re on a long trip it’s also very comfortable riding bumps on the highway. I can’t say enough about the balance of the car. Most front wheel drive cars just go to a massive understeer when you try to attack a corner. Not the Mazda 6. It’s so well balanced it has a very neutral feel when attacking corners. It is an excellent handling machine yet the ride is smooth to enjoy long trips.
Engine Performance:
Now, to be fair, my weekend car is a Dallara Indy Lights race car that weighs just 1,400 pounds and is propeled by a Mazda-AER engine delivering 500 horsepower with push to pass. So, by comparison, the Mazda6 doesn’t quite have the pep that I’m used to, but for most any other driver its 2.5 liter 4 cylinder with 184 horsepower gets the job done.
There is a “Sport” setting that improves throttle response and acceleration which is nice when making a pass on a two lane road but doesn’t increase the power. While the car might lack a little power it more than makes up for it with excellent fuel mileage. I have averaged 34 mpg over the month I’ve been driving the car and this includes some city driving and highway driving. I find that figure very impressive for being a sedan with no hybrid system.
