Since becoming a parent twenty two years ago I’ve almost exclusively driven minivans and SUVs. In the beginning it was because we needed space for all the stuff that went along with having two kids. After that we just got used to being up a little higher and having the extra space. I’ve never considered going back to a sedan, but thanks to Mazda Canada, I got to play with the 2021 Mazda 6 Kuro Edition for a week to see if I’d consider making the switch from my current SUV.
Exploring the city with the Mazda 6 Kuro Edition
What Is The Mazda 6 Kuro Edition?
The Mazda6 first landed in Canada in 2004 and has gone through a few design changes over the years. For 2021, consumers have the choice of upgrading the GT model to the new Kuro Edition trim levels for an extra $3000. For this additional cost the Kuro Edition gets a more powerful 2.5 litre turbo engine and a slew of black trim items such as front and rear panels, dash, mirrors, and 19-inch alloy wheels. Kuro means black in Japanese which could explain the new trim colour.
This enhanced engine produces 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on 93 octane fuel, but is reduced to 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87-octane fuel.
The Kuro Edition trim is also offered in Mazda’s CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs. One thing to keep in mind though is that Mazda has announced it will be discontinuing this midsized sedan in Canada and the U.S. at the end of the 2021 model year.
There are two exterior colours available in this trim level: Polymetal Grey Metallic and Jet Black Mica. I had the Jet Black Mica for this review and personally I preferred this over the Grey Metallic.
19 inch alloy wheels.
Interior
Inside the vehicle, consumers will find a Garnet Red interior with matching red stitching in the middle dash and door pads as well as a grey contrasting thread around the centre console. This model of the Mazda 6 has been designed with high quality materials to give the driver and their passengers the most comfortable and luxurious ride. The dash is very clean and uncluttered, and I’ll go into a little more detail about that later on.
There won’t be any complaints about this vehicle not having enough storage, making it a great contender for families. In the front there’s a small platform just in front of the gear stick and a couple of cupholders in the centre console. There are also storage bins in the doors that will easily hold water bottles and a few snacks for kids. If that’s not enough storage there’s also a pretty sizeable storage bin under the front centre armrest.
In the back there’s room for three passengers with good leg and head room. The middle seatback folds down and it has cupholders, seat warmer buttons, and two USB charging ports, great for those long family road trips. Unfortunately those features aren’t accessible if there are three people in the back.
The Garnet Red seats of the Mazda 6 Kuro Edition
Why Should You Consider The Mazda 6?
Admittedly, the current market for sedans isn’t as robust as past years but there are three main reasons for choosing a sedan: comfort, fuel efficiency, and cost.
The Mazda 6 is the only midsize sedan in Mazda’s vehicle lineup, but don’t let the word “midsize” fool you. As mentioned earlier, the GT version is packed with features and the Kuro Edition trim pushes it into a new level of stylishness. The sporty look and interior make it appear much more expensive than it really is. The Mazda 6 Kuro Edition comfortably fits five people with 42.2 inches of legroom in the front and 38.7 in the rear. My family of four was very comfortable on our road trip, and fitting extra bags or car seats would be no problem.
For fuel efficiency, sedans will always outperform SUVs but that’s usually because SUVs are larger and heavier vehicles. For people who do a lot of driving a sedan might just be the vehicle for them. As someone who remembers ferrying their kids back and forth to after-school activities, this would have been a great option.The Mazda 6 Kuro Edition uses 10 L/100 km in the city and 7.5 L/100 km on the highway.
The Mazda 6 that we tested retails for $39,800. While it’s not the cheapest one out there, it’s definitely cheaper than some SUVs that offer similar levels of luxury and comfort.
Design And Features
The Mazda 6 Kuro Edition boasts a body with some lovely sleek lines. Even though it has been around for a number of years, the design has been updated regularly enough to keep the car looking modern and rather sharp.
Since the Mazda 6 Kuro Edition is built on top of the Mazda 6 GT you know that it comes with most of the bells and whistles. Some of the features in that model include a power-operated glass moonroof, heated steering wheel, front wiper de-icer, Apple CarPlay/Android Audio, LED lighting, Bose audio system with 11 speakers, power mirrors, 10 way power driver’s seat, front and rear parking sensors, and heated/ventilated seats, more than enough to keep every member of your family happy and comfortable.
Whether you have family or not, safety features are always one of the most important aspects to consider when buying a car, so let’s talk about those. To start, the IIHS was so impressed with all that this car had to offer that they awarded it their Top Safety Pick+ designation. Some of the features that impressed them was the autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind spot monitoring, adaptive lighting system, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, object detection at both high and low speeds, and a whole lot more!
The uncluttered dashboard of the Mazda 6 Kuro Edition
The dashboard is not cluttered at all, I’d even say it’s a bit minimalist. The only feature on the dashboard, (apart from the instrument panel), is an eight inch colour infotainment display. I did the interface to be a bit dated though and not as clean as other manufacturer’s vehicles.
Another complaint I have about this display is that you’re prevented from using the touchscreen when the car is in motion. I get it, the driver should be 100% focused on the road, but not even the passenger can use the touchscreen. If you need to use any of the features shown on the touchscreen while driving you have to use the rotary control knob in the centre console. Personally I thought that this was more distracting than using the touchscreen itself.
Driving Experience
Mazda is known for giving its drivers a fun experience and the Mazda 6 Kuro Edition is no exception. Like some luxury vehicles out there, having little cabin noise is essential and Mazda did a great job in reducing it in this vehicle. I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet it was as we were flying down the highway. We were more than able to carry on a conversation, and for anyone who’s hoping their kids will fall asleep on those long car rides, you definitely won’t face any obstacles here (at least from the car’s end!).
The 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine provided a nice bit of power and the six-speed transmission was very responsive. When the Sport mode was engaged it made driving that much more enjoyable. I was impressed with the car’s handling on curvy roads. It felt like it was gripping the road when going into a sharp turn.
Final Thoughts
Overall I had a great time driving this car. I’ve reviewed a few vehicles before but this was the first sedan in quite a while and I was very impressed. From the sporty exterior with it’s sleek lines, to the all black Kuro Edition trim, this car was very pleasing to the eye.
On the inside the eye catching features continue with the comfortable Garnet Red seats, the uncluttered dashboard, and the spacious interior. While I do wish the infotainment system didn’t look as dated, it’s was still very easy to use both in ‘P’ark and in ‘D’rive. The sporty handling and quick acceleration also added to the driving experience.
As I mentioned before SUVs have been taking away more and more of the market from other vehicles and sadly the Mazda 6 has also fallen victim to this trend. If it was still available after this model year I think that this car should definitely be considered if you were planning on adding a new vehicle to the family.
The Mazda 6 Kuro Edition was loaned to me by Mazda Canada for the purpose of this review however all opinions expressed are my own.
