Redesigned 2014 Mazda 6 gets slight price increase

The redesigned 2014 Mazda 6 sedan carries a base price of $21,675 including shipping charges. That's a $155 increase over the 2013 model.

Mazda redesigned its midsize sedan and incorporated the brand's SkyActiv fuel efficiency technology.

The SkyActiv suite includes a 2.5-liter gasoline engine that can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The engine is rated at 184 hp at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm.

With the manual transmission, the Mazda 6 is rated at 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway/29 mpg combined MPG. The automatic does slightly better at 26 mpg city/38 mpg highway/30 mpg combined.

Those numbers put the 2014 Mazda 6 amid the crop of redesigned midsize sedans launched for 2013, including the redesigned Nissan Altima that achieves 27 mpg city/38 mpg highway/31 mpg combined when equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission.

Mazda will make the SkyActiv 2.2-liter diesel engine available in the Mazda 6 in the second half of this year. Final specifications and pricing will be released then.

The gasoline-powered 2014 Mazda 6 is on sale now and available in three trims.

Standard equipment on the base i Sport includes the manual transmission, push-button start, air conditioning with pollen filter, power windows with a driver-side one-touch up/down feature, a tilt-and-telescopic adjustable steering column, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control functions, 17-inch alloy wheels and auxiliary and USB connection ports.

With the optional automatic transmission on the i Sport, added features include Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a 5.8-inch color touchscreen display, a rearview camera, HD radio, Pandora Internet radio compatibility, SMS text message receipt and delivery, automatic emergency notification and voice commands.

The mid-level i Touring trim is $25,290 with shipping charges. Additional equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear-seat vents, leatherette-trimmed sport seats, a six-way power driver's seat and a switch for operating functions on the 5.8-inch display screen.

The Touring Technology package, a $2,000 option, adds a navigation system, Bose 11-speaker surround sound system, keyless entry, automatic on/off headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, an auto-dimming driver's side outside mirror, heated outside mirrors and the new brake support system that reduces brake pedal travel if a potential collision is detected when traveling at speeds less than 19 mph.

The top-of-the-line Mazda 6 trim is the i Grand Touring, which is $30,290. It builds on the i Touring with Touring Technology package and adds platinum silver 19-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof, a rear lip spoiler, bi-xenon high-intensity discharge headlights with auto leveling, leather-trimmed sport seats with heated front seats, an eight-way power driver's seat with power lumbar support, a four-way power front passenger seat, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifter and Sirius satellite radio with four months free.

Two package options are available with the i Grand Touring. The Mazda Radar Cruise Control and Forward Obstruction Warning package ($900) adds those safety features. The Advanced package will be available in the second half of 2013 and adds those safety features and lane departure warning, high beam control and a braking energy regen system, named i-ELOOP, for a fuel-efficiency boost. Pricing has not been released.

By Angie Fisher