QUALITY | 8 out of 10
If you've spent any time in the new Ford Fusion, or even the new Nissan Altima or Honda Accord, it's likely you'll concede—like we did—that the Mazda6's interior appointments aren't quite on the high ground that those models set.
The seats in the Mazda6 are the exception. They're excellent. You get sport seats with a little more side support than you might expect in an affordable mid-size sedan, even at the base Sport level, and there's more thigh support than typical, which helps tremendously for longer-distance drives.
In back, the bench feels somewhat high up, and that conspires to make getting in a little more challenging than you might expect. Even once you’re in you may find your head surprisingly close to the roofline—made worse if you decide to sit in the middle by a sort of upward hump. Although we appreciated the fold-down center armrest with cupholders.
Trunk space is plentiful, with a wide load opening, and the split-folding rear seatbacks fold forward for more space; although there are some sharp edges that may snag items that brush the top of the cargo space.
Ride quality is impressive, but not quite luxury-car quiet. There's a little more road noise than you'll find in some models in this class, but the ride is about perfect for most roads—firm, yet absorbing the most jarring impacts. Our drive was during some particularly strong crosswinds, and it’s worth noting that the 6 seemed unflustered, tracking well and blocking out the sort of wind noises we might have expected. The coefficient of drag is as low as 0.26, which probably helps with that.
Conclusion
A firm but composed ride combined with supportive front seats altogether make the 2014 Mazda 6 a joy—although the back seat may be missing a tick or two of headroom for taller guys.
