From the ArcaMax Publishing, Automotive Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/automotive/s-554077-855009
Like yin and yang, there is an endless struggle between the forces of
practicality and the desire for fun - at least, when it comes to
designing cars that are both emotionally appealing as well as
functional enough to get people to buy them.
Mazda balances the two polar opposites better than most (especially
for the money) and the latest example of this is the just-updated
Mazda6 sedan.
WHAT IT IS
The 6 is Mazda's mid-sized sedan but has always been a little bit
smaller - and a lot more sporty - than the mainstream (and
best-selling) mid-sized Japanese brand sedans like the Toyota Camry
and Honda Accord. But though it performed well as an enthusiast's
sedan, it didn't perform as well in the marketplace as Mazda would
have liked. Hence the decision to make the new 6 bigger on the
outside, roomier on the inside - and hopefully, broaden its appeal and
increase sales.
WHAT'S NEW
Everything. The Mazda 6 is completely redesigned for 2009. Prices run
from $18,550 for base four-cylinder SV models with manual transmission
to $28,260 for a top-of-the-line Grand Touring with V-6 and automatic
transmission.
WHAT'S GOOD
Exceptionally fun to drive; high value for the dollar. New, larger
interior makes it more practical.
WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD
Thirsty optional V-6; heavier than before.
ENGINES & PERFORMANCE
Like other cars in this class, Mazda offers both four and six-cylinder
engines in the 6 sedan. But the 6's optional 3.7 liter V-6 is now the
largest and most powerful engine of its type in this class - although
just barely - with 272 advertised hp. Camry's optional 3.5 liter V-6
comes in at 268 hp; the Honda Accord's optional 3.5 liter V-6 is rated
at 271 hp; the Nissan Altima's 3.5 liter V-6 rates 270 hp.
The 6's standard 2.5 liter four is also quite powerful - 170 hp. This
puts it just under the Accord's four (177 hp) and well above the
Camry's four (158 hp), power-wise.
The 6's 2.5 liter engine is available with either a six-speed manual
transmission or five-speed automatic; the V-6 engine comes only with a
six-speed automatic. All versions of the 6 are front-wheel-drive.
Acceleration with either engine is among the best available in this
class. V-6 versions can reach 60 mph in about 6.4-6.5 seconds. This is
a solid half-second to three-quarters of a second quicker than the V-6
Camry and Honda Accord - and about half a second quicker than the
spunky Nissan Atima V-6.
The four-cylinder will get you there in just under - or just over - 8
seconds, depending on transmission and how you drive it.
Gas mileage is slightly under par with the optional V-6, which is
rated by the EPA at 17 city, 25 highway vs. 19 city, 28 highway for
the V-6 Camry and 19 city, 29 highway for the V-6 Accord. The
four-cylinder version does better, nailing down 20 MPGs in city
driving and 29 MPGs on the highway. The automatic-equipped version
(with the four-cylinder engine) is actually easier on gas than the
manual-equipped version - topping out at 21 MPGs in the city and 30 on
the highway.
RIDE & HANDLING
Compared with the marshmallowy Camry (and similarly soft Hyundai
Sonata) the new 6 is still reasonably sporty-feeling, although there
is more body roll than you'd expect from a Mazda. However, grip is
high and even with the traction/stability control off, you can push
this car a lot harder than a Camry without being guilty of mechanical
abuse. The Accord feels tighter, but - in my opinion - its ride isn't
as cush the rest of the time. Mazda did a good job improving the new
6's bread-and-butter appeal, without turning it into a boring car to
drive.
STYLING & UTILITY
Looks are in the eye of the beholder, but to my eye, the 6 is a
well-proportioned, handsome-looking car. Much more attractive than the
weird-looking, heavy-set Camry - which could have been modeled on a
sturgeon. Or the blocky, hunched-up Accord.
The Mazda's interior is another high point, with minimal clutter and
immediately comprehensible controls - including rotary knobs for the
AC system and an easy to read pod of analog gauges with LED
backlighting. (The one flaw with them being no indicated redline on
the tachometer. Like all modern cars, you can't overspeed the engine
thanks to an electronic rev limiter - but I'd still like to know when
I' getting close to max revs before I actually get there.)
Also, it's roomier up front in the Mazda 6 than in the best-selling
Camry - 42.5 inches of front seat legroom and 39.4 inches of headroom
vs. 41.7 inches of legroom and 38.8 inches of headroom in the Toyota.
Oddly enough, the Camry's got slightly more backseat head and legroom
than the Mazda - 37.8 inches and 38.3 inches (respectively) vs. 38
inches and 37.3 inches for the 6.
Compared with the Accord, the 6 has noticeably less front seat
headroom (41.4 inches for the Honda vs. 39.4 inches for the Mazda),
identical front seat legroom (42.5 inches), just slifhtly more rear
seat headroom (38.5 inches) and just slightly less rear seat legroom
(37.2 inches).
Nissan's Altima has more front seat legroom than all of them - 44.1
inches - and more front seat headroom than all but the Accord (40.6
inches) but its back seat is cramped, with just 35.8 inches of legroom
(vs. 38 for the Mazda) and just 36.8 inches of rear seat headroom (vs.
37.3 in the 6).
But where the Mazda really puts some distance between itself and its
chief Japanese rivals is in the area of trunk space - 16.6 cubic feet
vs. 15.3 for the Altima, 15 even for the Camry and a downright cramped
14 cubic feet for the Accord.
QUALITY & SAFETY
Though Mazda doesn't sell nearly as many cars as either Toyota or
Honda, it is one of the most consistently excellent Japanese brands on
the market. Mazda vehicles have proved themselves durable and
well-built over the years - and usually offer more car for the buck
than competitors.
Consider the pricing range of the 6 relative to the Accord and Camry,
for instance.
The Honda starts out almost $2,000 higher ($20,775 for the base
version) and tops out almost two grand higher ($30,755), too. The
price gulf vs. the Camry is smaller - the Toyota starts at $19,145 and
tops out at $28,695 - but still, the difference is considerable. Same
story when you compare the Mazda 6 with the Altima, which starts at
$19,900 and tops out at $29,380.
Yet the cars are comparably equipped across their trim/price ranges -
with the Mazda offering equivalent or stronger engines (keep in mind
the 14 hp deficit of the base four-cylinder Camry), a much larger
trunk than most - and equivalent or better interior space.
In addition to standard ABS, traction and stability control, front
seat side impact air bags and full-row curtain air bags, the '09 Mazda
6 also offers a trick blind spot warning system with both visual and
auditory warnings to let you know there's a car where you might not be
able to see it. There's a little yellow flashing icon that pops in the
outside rear-view mirror - accompanied by the auditory warning. (If it
bugs you, just turn it off. There's a button just to the left of the
steering column.)
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The new 6 feels bigger and heavier than is typical for Mazda's recent
sedans - mainly because it is. The '09 version is some six inches
longer and 2.3 inches wider than the previous 6 - and roughly 150-200
pounds heavier.
Upping the power along with the weight masks the increased heft -
except at the gas pump, where the 6 is thirstier than its rivals. But
the difference is not that much (2-4 MPGs overall) and the return - in
the way of broader mass market appeal - is almost certainly worth the
small loss in efficiency.
The four-cylinder version with the six-speed manual is probably the
best choice for the enthusiast. The V-6 has great pull - and the
six-seed automatic it's paired with is one of the best out there - but
there's no replacement for shifting your own gears. Especially with a
gearbox as thoroughly excellent as this one. The clutch is light but
has progressive take-up - neither grabby nor vague. It is very
comfortable to drive, even in heavy stop and go traffic. And the
manual's tightly spaced gearing make working the 170 hp four a genuine
pleasure. It seems to enjoy the experience, too.
And you'll enjoy saving up front (much lower MSRP) as well down the
road (substantially better fuel economy).
Either version is much more lively-feeling than the Camry - which
truly is a Dowager Express, the best Japanese Buick money can buy. It
is a very good car, no doubt. But it is also a complete snoozefest.
The Accord, meanwhile, is sophisticated and smooth - with V-6 versions
offering plenty of scoot as well as a very high level of technology an
equipment. But you also get a very high sticker price along with it.
Hondas are superb cars - but so are Mazdas. How much do you want to
pay for the difference?
The Nissan Altima can go toe-to-toe with the 6 as a sporty sedan -
especially V-6/manual versions. But it, too, is significantly more
expensive - and in my opinion, not quite as nicely finished on the
inside.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Despite deviating a bit from the Mazdonian theme of "zoom zoom zoom"
by getting a bit thicker around the middle, the new 6 is an
outstanding contender in perhaps the toughest market segment there is
- and in perhaps the toughest market we've seen in 60 years.
========
www.ericpetersautos.com or EPeters952@aol.com for
comments.