RD Reviews the Mazda6 Touring: Still Worth Buying in 2023?

The Mazda6 Touring is one of the rarest cars you see on the road today simply because it’s not on top of many must-buy lists. When choosing a vehicle for its spaciousness and utility, the SUV almost always get the trophy. But if you’re looking for a vehicle that could carry loads more than a sedan and still enjoy the dynamism that sedans offer, then the wagon is a good choice.

At present, only Volvo and Mazda offer the wagon body style in their lineup. Where Volvo could cost you upwards of RM300,000, the Mazda6 Touring’s RM218,000 is friendlier to the bank account while still giving you all the features expected of a modern car.

On the front, the Mazda6 Touring mimics the Mazda6 sedan in looks, inheriting all the good genes from the car company’s Kodo design language. The car looks just as stylish as it did when the covers were pulled off a decade ago. And perhaps it looks even better now with a slimmer headlight profile, retooling of the grille and reshaping of the front bumper.

The differences happen once past the windscreen. While the rear lights mirror that of the sedan, an entire glasshouse is extended to the tail end to replace the sedan’s boot lid, earning you the ability to load taller items. The taller roofline, something not immediately noticeable, expands the volume to make the cargo area more useful.

Inside, the principles of minimalism echo throughout the cabin. Media controls are placed on the transmission tunnel – a popular place chosen for its ergonomics – and displayed on the 8-inch monitor at the top of the centre stack. Functions are chosen and selected via a rotary wheel. Your selection highlights the icons and texts on the screen; pushing the dial down engages the function. There are other physical buttons that add convenience to the controls such as a back button, a radio station favourite button and a media button. By far, this system is the simplest and most intuitive to use.

The air-conditioning controls are simple push-buttons that can be easily accessed and speedily engaged, unlike some manufacturers that prefer to bury air-con control deep in some menu on the touchscreen.

The slim air vents enhance that cabin’s sleek, minimalistic approach without sacrificing airflow. In any case, there are two more air vents at the end of the centre box to service the rear passengers. All seats are wrapped in leather and feel comfortably supportive. Both front seats feature power adjustments, 10-way for the driver and six for the front passenger, with the driver having seat-position memory.

In the cockpit, you’ll notice the Touring isn’t short on safety features. You can see switches that toggle the safety systems placed strategically around the cockpit and all work without having to long-press. The vehicle comes standard with all the now-required systems that help you prevent a crash, such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane-Keep Assist System, and Smart City Brake Support; to name a few.

A 2.5-litre, SkyActiv engine powers the Touring, producing 192hp and 258Nm. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic with manual shift mode, which sends power to the front wheels. Acceleration is brisk with a kind of smoothness that can only be accomplished with a properly tuned naturally aspirated engine. The engine drives the Touring to highways speeds quickly with plenty left in the tank to get the vehicle to the high hundreds. Even when you’re not pushing it, the engine happily settles around 2,000rpm while turning over speeds of over 130kph.

You won’t realise you’re travelling that fast. External noises of wind and road are expertly checked at the door for a hushed cabin. Meanwhile, the firm spring and dampers excellently absorb the road to present a stable, confident and comfortable ride.

While it is good on the straights, the Touring is better when touring the old roads to get to popular destinations. The feel-some and eager steering come together with the firm chassis that’ll make you wish the winding road never stops.

The Mazda6 Touring lets you enjoy having a vehicle that injects satisfaction with every weekend drive without giving up the space required for your lifestyle. Having a large boot does not mean you have to drive a tallish vehicle that works harder to rein in body rolls.