Mazda 6 Grand Touring

Mazda 6 Grand Touring – Overview

Known as the Mazda Atenza in Japan and China, the Mazda 6 is available in two body styles: sedan and wagon. Both have been offered since the first generation, and this 5-door wagon body style is commonly known as the Touring. In some markets, like North America, Touring and Grand Touring are simply trim levels on the Mazda 6 sedan, since the wagon is no longer on sale there. 

However, in most other markets, the Mazda 6 Touring and Grand Touring denotes the wagon body style, and not just trim levels. This body style is also called the Tourer in some markets. This wajon style has always been less well-received than its sedan counterpart and so is no longer offered in many markets – a major one being North America, and it is not on sale in Malaysia either.

The latest and third generation Mazda 6 was launched in 2012, with a major mid-cycle refresh in 2018. The most current version in Malaysia is a model year update for 2021 that sees two CBU sedan variants from Japan, each with a 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre engine respectively. The wagon, or Touring and Grand Touring versions, are not available anymore since this model year update.

Mazda 6 Grand Touring – Exterior

In place of the more normal lines of the sedan, the Mazda 6 Grand Touring has the elevated rump of a wagon. Aside from this and the roof rails, the wagon and the sedan have the same exterior features. Dominating the front of the car is one of the best noses in the business, where the Mazda emblem floats on a blacked-out grille, and a line of silver stretches under it across the entire section.

Here LED DRLs are matched with LED headlights, and the tech is featured in the taillights as well. Another trim of silver runs across the rear of the car too, and along with the twin tailpipes, visually widens the Mazda 6 Grand Touring attractively. 18-inch alloys or 19-inch alloys adorn the car depending on the trim level, and and at the highest trim levels the Mazda 6 Grand Touring comes with a power sliding and tilt glass sunroof as well.

Mazda 6 Grand Touring – Interior

There are options for burgundy, brown, and even white seats, depending on the trim of the car.
Storage spaces are at easy reach as well. There’s a little cubby in front of the gear lever, cupholders hidden under the panel behind the same lever, decent door bins that can hold average bottles, and another cubby under the arm rest.

All switches and buttons are appropriately clicky and pleasingly damped, depending on its application, and almost all surfaces near your hands and arms are soft and padded. However, it’s a little tighter at the rear for taller adults, with less than optimum legroom here. 

Having said that, it’s not a bad place to be, and there are map pockets behind both front seats, rear air conditioning vents, a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, and bottle holders at the doors too. The soft, nice-touch materials enjoyed in front make it back here too. With the the seats up, boot space measures at 506 litres, and with them down, extends to a humongous 1,648 litres.

Mazda 6 Grand Touring – Features

In the infotainment side, the latest update has brought the Mazda 6 Grand Touring into the 21st century with Android Auto compatibility to match the already-compatible Apple CarPlay. There are a few display sizes as well, with the largest being a 7.0-inch TFT LCT but the software is slightly slow and is a little laggy when given any input. There’s also an optional Bose sound system with 11 speakers available.

In terms of safety equipment, the usual passive suite is on hand – 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, DSC with TCS, and Hill Launch Assist. More advanced equipment were also added in the mid-life update, like the Adaptive LED headlights, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Keep Assist System, Drive Attention Alert, Smart City Brake Support for both the front and rear. There’s also a reverse camera with aid lines, with the option for a 360-degree system. The more advanced equipment only makes it to the higher levels of trim.

Mazda 6 Grand Touring – Powertrain

Moving up a notch is the 2.5-litre mill with 195 PS at 6,000 rpm and 258 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Finally, the latest engine to join the lineup is the 2.5-litre turbocharged engine that is used in other SUV siblings like the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9. This forced-induction engine makes a superior 231 PS at 5,000 rpm, and 420 Nm of torque from a low 2,000 rpm.

These engines all feature direct injection tech, and are mated to a silky 6-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available in some markets, but the Mazda 6 Grand Touring in most markets will only be pulled by the two front wheels.

Mazda 6 Grand Touring – Driving Performance

The Mazda 6 sedan is one of the best handling vehicles of its class, with a certain delicacy and accuracy in the way the suspension handles its business and rewards spirited driving. This character of the sedan is better matched with the naturally aspirated 2.5-litre, which is adjustable and doesn’t ruin the balance of the car with a heavier nose. With a slightly heavier weight that is distributed differently on the Mazda 6 Grand Touring, it loses that delicate balance, which makes a blunt instrument like the turbocharged mill a better companion to the wagon.

Mazda 6 Grand Touring – Ride Comfort

Mazda 6 Grand Touring – Fuel Economy

Mazda 6 Grand Touring – Conclusion

We may never see its like again, unfortunately, and we’re all the sadder for it. Every part of the car works in its favour, like the new turbo engine, the excellent chassis, the extra room, and even the great interior. There only bad about the Mazda 6 Grand Touring is that it the wagon is not an SUV, and that is perhaps the most damning weakness of the excellent vehicle.