[ĐÁNH GIÁ XE] Mazda 6 2020 - Still the optimal choice

Mazda 6 2020 is an upgraded version that Vietnamese users have been waiting for a long time. The car is priced from 889 million to 1,049 billion VND.

Mazda 6 2020 is a mid-life upgraded version of the 3rd generation of this car model, launched in June 2020 in Vietnam. In this year’s improvement, the Mazda 6 2020 has a strong innovation in design, many modern technological equipment, and although it still uses the old engine and transmission block, it also has more agile refinement. However, is the Mazda 6 facelift “old wine in a new bottle”?

Kodo 2.0 design

In the same style as the new “junior” Mazda 3 2020, the Mazda 6 2020 omits almost all additional decorative details to achieve the most streamlined appearance. The design of the Mazda 6 2020 is mainly created with flexible and lively KODO “soul of movement” lines, giving a very fashionable and luxurious feeling.

If Honda Accord is like a poised veteran, Toyota Camry is like an elegant gentleman, VinFast Lux A2.0 is like a handsome man, then Mazda 6 is like a modern, hot, extremely attractive guy with neat, elegant but no less attractive design lines.

The front of the car has the most changes compared to the 2019 version. The 2020 version’s LED headlights have a thinner design. Like the Mazda 3, the Mazda 6’s “eyes” are now sharper and more confident than the previous generation. Mazda cars that carry the new Kodo language all have the same look. The LED light cluster of the Mazda 6 Signature Premium version is not only beautiful but also very smart, it can automatically balance the projection angle and has smart adaptive headlight mode ALH.

The Mazda 6’s shield-shaped steering wheel is also much more sophisticated than the old model, with the highlight being the meshes with a multi-dimensional design, much more modern than the horizontal style of the previous model. If you pay closer attention, you will see that the Mazda logo is also placed on a clear plastic sheet. This design looks more beautiful and luxurious than the old one and the clear plastic also creates space for the i-ActivSense system’s sensors to work.

Other details at the front of the car such as the “Signature Wing” chrome splint or the extremely stylish front bumper also contribute to making the Mazda 6 have the most dashing face in the segment. Exterior design is always Mazda’s “money-making” point.

The body of the Mazda 6 2020 still has the same curved and sophisticated design as the previous generation. The difference is not much, except for the new 19-inch wheels with a fan-shaped design. The tail is the same, the biggest difference is that the LED light cluster has a more sophisticated and attractive 3D design. Looking at the car as a whole, I just want to analyze one special thing about Mazda compared to its competitors: the beautiful Soul Red Crystal red paint!

The most beautiful red color in the world

Mazda’s history is associated with red paint colors. From the R360 Coupe – Mazda’s first commercial car launched in 1960, to Mazda cars wearing the Soul Red Crystal color, red has always been Mazda’s signature color. Red has always been an important color in Japanese culture, it is considered the color of strength, passion and is also the color of the sun in the Japanese national flag.

Mr. Keiichi Okamoto, the leading expert in the project to create the first Soul Red Metallic and Machine Gray Metallic paint colors, said that he wanted to “creates the most beautiful red color in the world”. “The CX-5 is the first car model to have the new generation Soul Red Crystal paint color. This is a car model that represents the philosophy of ‘less is more’, so we did not try to cram prominent lines into the car design. For that reason, Mazda needed a special paint color that could express the flexibility of the car’s body. I wanted to create a beautiful red color like a ruby.”.

Takakazu Yamane is responsible for realizing Mr. Keiichi’s request. Takakazu played a key role in inventing the unique 3-layer wet painting method and Mazda’s Aqua-tech painting process, which is considered one of the most effective and environmentally friendly painting processes in the world. “To realize Mr. Keiichi’s idea, we had to turn that idea into measurable numbers.”Mr. Takakazu shared.

Takakazu and his colleagues used a specialized optical instrument on satellites to measure and detect minerals on the earth’s surface. He placed the instrument at Mr. Keiichi’s eye level and measured the spectra of rubies, red crystals, and many other red objects that he believed represented the red color Mr. Keiichi wanted.

There are many different types of red. The “perfect” red that the Mazda team is aiming for will give an area of light that sparkles a little orange like lava. Meanwhile, the dark area will have to be a pure red color that can emphasize the strong shape of the KODO language.

When we look at a very dark red color, most will see a slight blue tint. However, Takakazu’s team measured and found that the blue color was just an illusion created by the human brain, and there was no blue dye in the red paint. They also found that if they added any color, it would make the red color cloudy and no longer sparkle. Therefore, the Mazda team’s goal was simple: to create the purest red possible. “Less is more is also true with car paint color”Mr. Keiichi said.

However, the biggest challenge that the Mazda team had to overcome was how to mass-produce this pure red paint color with machinery and the 3-layer Aqua-tech painting process. To create the red paint color true to Mr. Keiichi Okamoto’s idea, they needed 4 layers of paint. This requires the car to go through two rounds of the paint line, which wastes time and effort, reduces paint productivity and increases environmental damage.

“We could not accept that, and difficulties gave rise to new ideas”Mr. Keiichi shared. We mixed high-brightness aluminum particles and light-absorbing particles into a single coat. These particles are carefully calculated in both size and shape to make the paint layer look as beautiful as if it had just been hand-polished by a skilled artisan, even though in reality, the paint layer was done by a robot. “The smallest particle size that the human eye can distinguish at a viewing distance of 30 cm is about 25 microns. We use glitter particles that are only 12 to 15 microns in size.”Mr. Keiichi revealed. The result is the most beautiful red paint in the world.

Exquisite interior

Looking at the whole picture, the interior of the Mazda 6 gives the impression that this is the space inside a luxury car, not a popular car. The interior of the Mazda 6 thoroughly applies the human-centered philosophy and places driving comfort as the top criterion. For that reason, even the smallest details are meticulously calculated to bring satisfaction to both the driver and passengers.

If there is an adjective that can describe my impression of the Mazda 6’s interior, it would be “exquisite”. Sophistication appears in the smallest to largest details. Let’s start with large details. It is a set of leather seats with a design as beautiful as BMW or Mercedes seats. The seats are covered with high-quality nappa leather, have very good softness and breathability, and the chair design also hugs the body, providing good support but not too restrictive like a sports chair.

In particular, the front seats also have a cooling vent feature – extremely useful equipment in the summer. The driver’s seat can be electrically adjusted in 10 directions and has 2 memory positions. Mazda is also very sophisticated when they engrave the words on the memory button according to the driver’s top-down view and arrange plastic spots at the memory position of seats 1 2 – they are the only car company that is so observant! In addition, the front passenger seat is also electrically adjustable, the rear seats have an extremely wide armrest, integrated with 2 USB charging ports.

The sophistication is also shown in the materials that make up the interior compartment. Every position you touch, from the steering wheel, dashboard, door panel to the gear lever, is covered with soft material. Mostly it is soft leather, only the remote places like the top of the dashboard or hidden corners are soft plastic. In general, the Mazda 6’s interior compartment materials are on par with all competitors in the same segment, from Camry to Optima.

Next, we will learn about the small but no less important details. Those are the buttons and knobs. What surprised me was that every button on the car had the same compactness, every knob was grooved and had the same rotational force! In fact, this level of attention to detail is unprecedented in the popular car world.

Other details such as the 8-inch central screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, wireless charging dock, head-up display, beautiful dashboard or borderless rearview mirror all contribute to creating a truly impressive experience.

Not only is the Mazda 6 2020 beautiful inside and out, it is also the car with the most active safety features in its segment. This is Mazda’s comprehensive technology package, equivalent to Honda Sensing or Toyota Safety Sense. On Mazda 6, i-ActivSense includes the following technologies:

– BSM blind spot warning system
– Vehicle warning system when reversing RCTA
– LDWS lane departure warning support system
– LAS lane keeping assistance system
– SBS smart brake support system
– SCBS-F/R front and rear smart brake support system
– Adaptive cruise control
– DAA driver attention reminder system

Realistic experience

From the beginning of the article until now, perhaps readers will have the impression that “Mazda 6 is the most perfect car in its segment!”. That was almost true for me – until I directly drove a Mazda 6. This highest version is equipped with a 2.5L naturally aspirated I4 engine for a maximum capacity of 188 horsepower and 252 Nm. This is a suitable power level for a D-class sedan and is very similar to its competitors (Camry 2.5Q is 184 horsepower, 235 Nm; Honda Accord is 188 horsepower, 260 Nm).

When stepping on the accelerator gently, the engine responds quite quickly and pulls the car forward smoothly. The 6-speed gearbox also works at a good level, not too quick when shifting gears but in return, they are also very smooth. The car is equipped with 2-layer glass doors (only 2 front glass) and high-quality Bridgestone Turanza T005A tires, so the Mazda 6’s soundproofing ability is also among the top in the segment.

However, what disappointed me most was the feel of the car’s steering wheel. Mazda is always famous for prioritizing driving experience over smoothness, but the light, superficial steering wheel feel of the 2020 Mazda 6 is more suitable for a Camry! The Mazda 6 2020 steering wheel is even less firm and confident than the old one and to me, that is unacceptable for Mazda, the car company that uses the sound of the engine as its symbolic slogan – “zoom zoom company”!

Conclude

However, I am in the minority. Not many people buy a D-class sedan and put driving experience as the highest criterion! When evaluating the Mazda 6 through the eyes of a mass car buyer, this car is very attractive. It has a stunning design inside and out, lots of convenient technology, good build quality and a smooth, comfortable experience. In addition, Mazda 6 is much cheaper than its competitors and this is what makes Mazda 6 always sell well in Vietnam. Mazda 6 cannot satisfy steering wheel addicts – but this is an almost perfect sedan in the eyes of Vietnamese consumers.

Vi Pham (Tuoitrethudo)