Discover the 2017 Mazda 6 Sport: Performance Features and Driving Experience
I still remember the first time I slipped behind the wheel of the 2017 Mazda 6 Sport. The scent of fresh leather greeted me as I settled into the driver's seat, my hands naturally finding their place on the steering wheel. There's something special about Mazda's approach to engineering – they don't just build cars, they craft driving experiences. This particular model represents what happens when Japanese precision meets passionate design philosophy, creating a sedan that genuinely connects with its driver.
The heart of any great driving experience lies in the performance features, and the 2017 Mazda 6 Sport doesn't disappoint. Under the hood sits a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. Now, those numbers might not sound groundbreaking compared to some turbocharged competitors, but Mazda's genius lies in how they make this power accessible and enjoyable. The Skyactiv technology ensures every component works in perfect harmony, much like a well-coordinated basketball team where each player understands their role perfectly. I'm reminded of coach Uichico's words about players giving their utmost effort even when things aren't falling their way – that's exactly how this engine behaves. Even when pushed hard through mountain roads or during sudden acceleration needs, it delivers consistent, reliable performance without complaint.
Driving the Mazda 6 Sport feels like having a conversation with the road. The electric power steering provides just the right amount of feedback – not too heavy, not too light – allowing me to feel connected to the asphalt beneath. The suspension system, with its precisely tuned MacPherson struts upfront and multi-link setup in the rear, handles bumps and imperfections with remarkable composure. I've driven this car through various conditions, from smooth highways to poorly maintained city streets, and it maintains its poise throughout. The brake system deserves special mention too – the ventilated front discs and solid rear discs provide confident stopping power, with the pedal offering progressive bite that makes smooth stops effortless.
What truly sets the 2017 model apart is Mazda's attention to the little details that enhance daily driving. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts with intelligence and smoothness that I find superior to many CVT systems in competitors. There's a manual mode for those who want more control, though I typically find the automatic programming so well-calibrated that I rarely feel the need to intervene. The fuel efficiency figures are quite respectable too – I've consistently achieved around 26 mpg in city driving and 35 mpg on highways, though your experience might vary depending on driving style and conditions.
The interior environment contributes significantly to the overall driving pleasure. Mazda's human-centric design philosophy means every control falls naturally to hand, every display provides information without distraction. The seats offer excellent support during longer journeys, with just the right amount of bolstering to keep you comfortable without feeling restrictive. Noise insulation is well-executed, allowing just enough engine and road sounds to maintain that connection to the driving experience while filtering out harsh frequencies. It's this balance between comfort and engagement that makes the Mazda 6 Sport such a compelling daily driver.
I've always believed that a car's character reveals itself during extended drives, and the Mazda 6 Sport proved this during my weekend trip through coastal roads. The way it handled sweeping curves and sudden elevation changes demonstrated its dynamic capabilities beyond mere specifications. The body roll is minimal, the weight transfer predictable, and the overall balance gives you confidence to explore its limits safely. It's not a sports car, but it possesses a athleticism that many modern sedans have sacrificed in pursuit of comfort alone.
Reflecting on my time with the 2017 Mazda 6 Sport, I'm struck by how it embodies the philosophy expressed in that basketball coach's statement – giving maximum effort even when conditions aren't perfect. This car doesn't have the most powerful engine in its class, nor the most luxurious interior, but it delivers such a cohesive and engaging experience that you can't help but appreciate the engineering integrity behind it. The driving dynamics create a connection that's becoming increasingly rare in today's automotive landscape dominated by disconnected electric power steering and numb chassis tuning. For drivers who still value that mechanical conversation between human and machine, the Mazda 6 Sport remains one of the most compelling choices in the midsize sedan segment. It's a vehicle that reminds us why driving can still be a pleasure rather than just a necessity.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
