Ergonomics and leather comments on the Mazda 6
Most of the ergonomics of the Mazda 6 — especially the driver’s position, stick-shift, steering wheel (which tilts and extends), seating, etc. — are right on and nearly perfect. Whenever I buckle into the car, I feel like it envelopes around me. It is bliss.
The annoyances come in everyday tasks which sometimes drives me a little nutty. The integrated display at the top of the center panel of the Mazda 6 is beautiful and well thought out. So why did the designers screw up the buttons and their placement? Instead of icons, they use large, ALL CAPS lettering in a boring commercial font. Then they go and place two buttons you will use regularly (TEMP for temperature and DIM to change the lighting) furthest away from the driver. They put the two least regularly used buttons (to change the clock settings) next to the driver. So I’m constantly reaching, awkwardly, over to those two buttons. (And, while we’re at it, how come the display doesn’t just automatically show the outside temperature when you turn off the climate control system? If it was showing the climate control temperature, it will show nothing when you shut it off. Another button press.)
I also am not a big fan of leather. I would’ve preferred the Mazda 6 I wanted not be available in leather, as it requires more maintenance and to my eyes, wears more noticeably than high-quality cloth seating. Instead I’ve got leather in my 6, and although it seems to be holding up well after a year, the driver’s seat is noticeably more worn than any of the others. The steering wheel leather hasn’t been holding up well at all. Granted, it takes the most abuse, with dirt, oils, etc. from hands. But I already have one spot which is dirty and worn, just from regular everyday use. I’ve tried cleaning it and keeping the wheel conditioned, but it’s a losing battle.
It’s time for a spring cleaning and possibly some tinting (as this car gets very hot in the summer!), so I’ll let you know how those go. We’ll see if I can get the mats clean after this long winter we’ve had!