Mazda’s direction towards a more premium image continues with the unveil of the 2018 Mazda6 at the 2017 LA Auto Show. Yet another refresh of the existing model that’s been in the market since 2013, the newest iteration brings forth “Mature Elegance” for Mazda’s executive sedan.

Mazda is set to present yet another update for its executive sedan, the Mazda6. Set to be unveiled globally at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 29, the re-designed Mazda6 is getting enhanced aesthetics and more grunt thanks to a turbocharged engine.

Mazda has been steadily rolling out G-Vectoring Control or GVC throughout its entire line-up. In fact, their entire passenger car range from the cheeky Mazda2 to the sleek Mazda6 all have it now. The mission of GVC is to unite the different components of Skyactiv: Engine, Drive (transmission), and Body into one seamless package. Think of GVC as Mazda’s version of torque vectoring, only better. Instead of being reactionary which is typically the case, GVC is proactive, working the moment the driver moves the wheel. Of course, all this GVC talk questions whether it’s made every Mazda drive the same way now.

Executive sedans were once considered the de facto upgrade for those looking at something more luxurious and sophisticated than a compact car. However, with the proliferation of other choices out there, not to mention the increased specs of the compact cars they’re meant to upgrade from, the executive sedan segment is dying. Today, opting for one of these Japanese mid-sized sedans likely means you’re looking for something chauffeur-driven or something cushy after a long day’s work in the board room.

Be that as it may, there are two executive sedans that don’t fit this norm. Though they’re pretty good sampled as a passenger, they’re best savored from the driver’s seat. These are the 2016 Honda Accord and the Mazda6. The Accord has long been the standard when it comes to sporty mid-sized sedans. Throughout the years, it has always produced a sportier flavor, but still managing to balance fun and comfort. But there’s a new challenger out there, hungry for its throne. Known as the Mazda6, it’s now imbued with style, power, and poise. The question is: can it finally beat the Accord in a head-to-head brawl? Well, it’s time to fire the driver and find out.




Exterior

In their current guise, neither the Honda Accord nor the Mazda6 could be considered as new. Both have been around for a while, with the KODO-fied Mazda being the first to appear in showroom floors in 2013 while the Honda arriving about a year later. Of course, it’s a given that both of these cars have seen substantial tweaks to modernize its styling.

First up is the Mazda6—a car that Mazda designers believe they have struck gold with. Apparently, the design is working (and aging) well that updates were brought in just to unify its look with the rest of the Mazda line-up. Some are arguing though that the designs coming out of Hiroshima are starting to look the same, and rightfully so; but there’s no arguing that it still looks great. It’s especially true with the Mazda6 which happens to look athletic and graceful. In fact, the subtle elements such as the headlights, bumpers, and grille have managed to make it look wider than the Accord—a feat considering it’s actually 10 millimeters narrower than the Honda.

Honda has pretty much done the same thing with the Accord, though this time, it’s not for trying to create a unified look across the product range. Sure, there are elements like the Solid Wing face, but the tweaks have been done to actually clean up the aesthetic mess that the Accord once was. And boy, did Honda get it right this time. The cleaned up look makes the Accord look more regal and believable as an executive sedan than a body racer trying to grow up. That said, there’s still something off with the way it looks. There are lots of needless gashes and lines sprinkled around. It also looks top-heavy, emphasized further by its smallish 17-inch alloy wheels.

Winner: Mazda6





Interior

As captains of industry serving as its primary market, both of these cars have refined interiors that easily justify their price tags. Yet, they’ve also been re-worked, answering to criticisms that they’re offering an experience that too close to that of their small compact sedan siblings.

This year, Honda has swapped certain interior trims to make the Accord look and feel more modern. The faux wood accents have now been minimized; now only found as an insert on the steering wheel and dashboard. Piano black inserts with metallic flakes have taken its place elsewhere from the switch bezels, center console, and even the area surrounding the gear lever. It’s not as scratch-prone as the one found in the Mazda6, and that’s already a plus. The paneling aside, the biggest change here is the new infotainment system. It still uses a dual screen set-up but this new Android-based system is light years better than the old set-up. There’s still some lag to the response, but overall it’s not too bad. And speaking about the dual screen, the larger 8-inch screen is better utilized now and acts as a display for the Lane Watch blind spot, and rear parking camera. Things like navigation are displayed in the slightly smaller 7-inch touchscreen.

Next to the re-worked Accord, the Mazda6’s interior is less fussy and more driver-friendly. It actually feels more upgraded compared to when it first appeared in the market three years ago. Though both of these cars have their share of hard plastics, the Mazda at least has had all its touch points improved. Anything that could be touched or controlled now has soft-touch plastics on them and being matte, they never cause unwanted glare. The new interior palette: black and brown leather with small slithers of aluminum isn’t to everyone’s liking—some found it too muted and dreary—but there’s no doubt it imparts a more Teutonic than Japanese feel. The Mazda Connect with its rotary controller is also far easier to master than the Honda’s system and the response is way snappier. Perhaps the only thing Mazda needs to work on is a new instrument cluster. Though they’re legible, it doesn’t look too differentiated from a more pedestrian Mazda3.

Winner: TIE





Space and Practicality

For potential buyers, this is probably the first and only thing they’ll look at. After all, executive sedans should be as comfortable in the back seat as it is from the driver’s, right?

This is where the Accord makes big gains over the Mazda6. Remember that top-heavy design? Well, the squared-off roofline, upright pillars, and lack of a standard sunroof create better ingress/egress and headroom. Aside from having more room for headwear and funky hairdos, there’s also more available shoulder room—something very evident between the driver and front passenger. However, the high set dashboard and low set seats do compromise the driving position a bit. Despite the wide array of adjustments plus more usable legroom upfront, it rarely feels comfortable next to Mazda’s get in and go set-up. Towards the back, the Accord shines not only because it’s got cushier seats, but because you can actually fit three adults there with enough room to spare for another kid. And for those who find themselves regularly playing golf, the Honda does have a wider, deeper, and longer cargo space. It’s only limited by the single-piece folding rear seat. In this day and age, a 60/40 split-fold mechanism should be standard.

Meanwhile, there’s no question where Mazda put the center of attention in the Mazda6. Compared to the cavernous space offered by the Accord, the Mazda6 feels “just right”—a surprise given it’s dimensionally not far off from the Honda (the Mazda even has a longer wheelbase). It doesn’t feel spectacularly spacious, but it’s not cramped either. The front allows just enough space to stretch legs or spread them apart, but get too comfortable and the padded knee bolsters will get in the way. The other parts of the driving environment from the controls, the seats, the exterior visibility—they’ve been carefully calibrated towards becoming a sharp driving tool. With that, the rear seats are certainly a downer in the Mazda. Not only does the sweeping roofline cause banged heads upon entry or exit, but the seat support isn’t that good and the space isn’t as generous. In addition, the trunk space is limited. Though a split-folding mechanism does supplement it somewhat, the Mazda6 will find it hard to swallow a week’s worth of groceries or luggage for four adults.

Winner: Honda Accord





Performance and Fuel Economy

This is easily the meat of the matter: how does it perform? How does it handle? Which is more fuel efficient? Well, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you think ever since Mazda made the gutsy move to offer the Mazda6 sedan solely with a diesel engine. That’s right, with the 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G moving exclusively to the Sports Wagon variant, this becomes an interesting case of Honda versus Mazda, diesel versus gasoline.

And like any gladiator match, there could only be one winner. In this case, it’s clearly the Mazda6. Some may decry that this match-up is a bit unfair, but consider the numbers: both have four cylinders, both have similar displacements, and both even offer 175 horsepower on tap. The big advantage of the Mazda is that it’s a diesel and as such, it has a Civic’s worth of more torque than the Accord. Lightning quick reactions in stoplight situations, locomotive-like acceleration, and power on demand are a given. But the Mazda6 is more than just a Soul Red-colored Road Runner. It’s also mighty quiet and smooth. It’s mighty efficient too—doing 10.20 km/L in the city (average speed 12 km/h) up to 25.11 km/L on the highway (average speed 86 km/h). Apart from its straight line performance, the Mazda6 also betters the Accord in the way it conducts itself through corners. It eats transition movements for breakfast, only occasionally spitting out hints of understeer. It also feels much more confident under heavy braking. On the flipside, the ride is far less cushy. It’s controlled, but firm. Jolts are largely absorbed, but tire noise is abundant at higher speed. Plus, there’s an obnoxious knocking sound from the front suspension—something that’s become commonplace with the Mazda6.

When not being pushed or carved through traffic, the Accord pretty much matches the Mazda6 in all but perhaps the less than stellar visibility. But roads aren’t made solely of EDSA and as soon as traffic clears up, the Honda begins to show its limits. Though it’s noticeably quieter, smoother, and plusher than the Mazda6, the overall feel is that of isolation. It’s numb all the way from the steering to the chassis; the pedals to the engine; the driver to the car. Don’t get it wrong, it is capable, but the car doesn’t simply communicate well to the driver. Nonetheless, the engine lets out a positive, but muted sound while the accompanying power and acceleration is brisk, especially from mid-throttle onward. The five-speed automatic, though a cog down the Mazda6 is well-suited to the engine. The steering itself is progressive and natural while the brakes still bite well. However, there’s simply no emotion attached to the entire experience. It has, for all intents and purposes, become the appliance of sporty sedans. And once you’re compared to a refrigerator, it’s not exactly a compliment. Further rubbing salt in its wounds, the Earth Dreams engine under the Accord’s hood has really affected fuel mileage which rests at a dismal 5.71 km/L (average speed 11 km/h) going up to 9.48 km/L as the speeds go up (average speed 16 km/h) topping out at 14.37 km/h on the highway (average speed 67 km/h).

Winner: Mazda6





Value for Money

With compact sedans and crossovers now offering increasingly competitive specs, there’s pressure to actually kit-up the executive sedans even more. Both these vehicles offer a substantial upgrade in terms of comfort and convenience technologies, some of which weren’t available in this price range before. That said, around P 200,000 separates the Mazda6 and the Accord with the Honda still coming out as the more affordable of the two. The question is: can Mazda justify its price difference?

When the Accord first came out in 2014, Honda played it conservatively, offering about 90 percent of equipment at 10 percent less cost than the competition. Today though, Honda has rectified this and has begun offering much more equipment at roughly the same price point. Apart from the de rigueur features such as powered leather seats, a fancy infotainment system, GPS navigation, and so forth, the new Accord does add things like cruise control and front proximity sensors to supplement the rear ones. A multi-angle parking camera is also standard on the 4-cylinder variant as well. Even the much vaulted, but equally unnecessary Lane Watch blind spot camera has been added too. It also receives a full complement of LED lighting front and back. What’re missing would be larger alloy wheels and perhaps, rain-sensing wipers. Apart from those, the Accord is looking to be a more complete package.

As good as the Accord is, its biggest problem is the Mazda6. With Mazda opting for a more simplified line-up, the Mazda6 has been kitted to the roof in terms of features; features that easily justifies its higher price tag. Adaptive LED headlights? Check. Gunmetal 19-inch alloy wheels? Check. Sunroof? Check. Powered driver’s seat with memory? Check. An 11-speaker Bose sound system? Check. Heads-up display? Check. Lane Keeping Assist? Check. Lane Departure Warning? Check. Game set and match.

Winner: Mazda6





For the executive who still longs to drive himself, it’s clear that there’s only one real choice. This matchup between the Honda Accord and Mazda6 has produced a new executive sedan king. And in this case, the Mazda6 rules the roost. Although the Accord still manages to strike a good balance between sportiness and comfort, it’s starting to veer too much already to becoming more of a chauffeur-driven car as opposed to an owner-driven one. It’s plush and luxurious, spacious and comfortable, but it’s also largely numb. In the end, it simply cannot match the fun-to-drive qualities of the Mazda6. The Mazda does trade a bit in terms of space and riding comfort for a better driving experience, but in the end, you know which one you’ll be willing drive on a long trip.

Winner: Mazda6

There’s more good news from Mazda Philippines. After confirming the arrival of the CX-3 subcompact crossover sooner rather than later, Berjaya Auto Philippines, the exclusive distributor of Mazda vehicles in the country, is also rectifying the single and glaring missing thing on its vehicles equipped with the Mazda Connection infotainment system: GPS navigation. Yes, Mazda owners, you can now activate turn-by-turn navigation.

You’ve read our first impressions on the new Skyactiv-D equipped Mazda6 and CX-5 AWD. If not, you can check it out here. Meanwhile, if you’re interested in all the specs, well, you came to the right place. Just remember two things: first, the price for both models is P 1,985,000; second, stocks, particularly for the CX-5 AWD Skyactiv-D are limited (due to allocation). So if you’re in the market for a top-end compact crossover, decide now. Anyway, the specs continue after the break.

What a difference a letter makes. Though it doesn’t look it, the two Mazda vehicles you see here: the Mazda6 and CX-5 AWD are very different from the models introduced last year. No amount of squinting will help you see the changes, because the only discernable difference is found on a trunk badge that reads, “Skyactiv Technology D”. Yes, Philippines, the Skyactiv-D is now here and it’s going to transform how you’ll drive.

“Be a driver” is a slogan adopted by Mazda to showcase the fun-to-drive attitude of its entire line-up. And it showed what could be done to give their line-up that extra edge at the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon. Although most were left wanting a proper Mazdaspeed version of their cars (this is well and covered by the other exhibitors), Mazda did give racing concept versions of the MX-5 (Roadster in Japan), Mazda6, CX-3, and the Mazda2 (Demio in Japan).

Photos by Ulysses Ang

Every car enthusiast loves a wagon. Whether or not he’ll admit that in public is another matter, but ask him what comprises his dream garage and 100 percent of the time, there will be a wagon in that list. The common folk now see them as something dorky, especially since you’ve got butched-up wagons called crossovers offering more ‘bang for the buck’. But whatever they put in these raised, cladded wagons, they’ll never be as beautiful to look at or drive. The wagon is essentially the best all-around in the automotive world. It’s a car with all the benefits and none of the side effects; it handles tidily, doesn’t take the space of an entire continent, and offers practical and usable space.

Mazda Philippines just brought out the all-new Mazda6 Sports Wagon. And there’s no denying it’s a thing of beauty. It’s certainly a different choice than your typical luxury crossover or executive sedan. Mazda Philippines President Steven Tan says, “It’s like you combined the best elements of the Mazda6 sedan and the CX-5.” You can’t say it any better.

Photos by Ulysses Ang

It’s been a long while since you last saw the Mazda6. At two years, perhaps that’s too long a time. So given the chance to get reacquainted with her once more, you don’t say no. You free up your schedule and make sure you spend time with her. After all, how can you resist? Yes, her siblings are all fascinating, but there’s something alluring with the Mazda6. She’s hands down, the sultriest and sexiest one in the family, especially if she comes wearing that tight-fitting Soul Red Dress. She’s the four-wheeled love affair that makes wives jealous and friends envious.

Mazda Philippines’s sprawling and intimidating 1,000 square-meter space at the Manila International Auto Show is a strong show of force and for very good reason. Just last year, Mazda achieved a milestone with overall sales almost doubling that of 2013. The end tally shows them selling more than 3,200 units overtaking Subaru in the process. Of course, the giant showcase isn’t just for celebration. They’ve used the occasion to strategically launch 13 all-new or significantly updated new models for 2015. In short, if you’re buying a car that’s not a Mazda, you better hold off that purchase.