2008 Mazda6 Classic Wagon Review
November 28, 2008 by Paul Maric
2008 Mazda6 Classic Wagon Review & Road Test
It’s so good looking that adult supervision is needed at all times
Model Tested:
- 2008 Mazda Mazda6 Classic Wagon five-speed automatic – $35,490(RRP)
Options:
- None fitted.
Gorgeous styling; pricing; safety features; interior room
Lack of power at times; no rear parking sensors
CarAdvice Rating: 
(4.25)
- by Paul Maric
When the first pictures of the new Mazda6 hit the web, motoring journalists were collectively stunned at what can only be described as a damn sexy car.
The sculpted front end, along with flowing lines really drew attention to this family trooper. With that said, the car has been a massive sales success in Australia, the previous generation sold well and the new generation is selling even better.
I adopted a Copper Red Mazda6 Classic Wagon for the week to see what all the fuss was about. Every single angle is flattering, including the rear, which is not generally the norm with stationwagons.
Mazda only sells the Mazda6 Wagon in one grade – Classic – due to the wagon only making up around 10 percent of monthly sales. This means that you can’t option up any of the fancy features inside or outside the car. It is well equipped as standard, but it would be nice to fit it out with leather and the like.
Interior build quality is very impressive. All the plastics feel rigid and well placed. The dashboard has a good feel to it and the seat trimmings are nice to look at, as well as sit on.
Rear leg room is quite good for a mid-sized wagon, so fitting kids is an easy experience. Entry into the rear is also easy, another important factor when hauling kids.
Visibility is great through the windscreen, but not so good when looking back. Parking is tricky – mainly due to the lack of rear parking sensors, a massive oversight in a family wagon. You can never be too safe when it comes to kids, parking sensors and reverse cameras are features which can’t be ignored in this sector, especially when you consider they’re not even an option on the Wagon.
The tailgate has a clever cargo blind arrangement which lifts with the tailgate, meaning that your goodies can’t be seen by would-be thieves.
What’s it like to drive then? Well it’s a mixed bag really. There are times when the engine needs to be revved out to move up hills with a full load on board, but, once things are moving it’s generally a pleasant experience.
At higher speeds, the car tends to bounce around a bit, mainly due to the comfort biased suspension setup. With that said, the steering feels good at all speeds. It is lightly weight at slow speeds, but firms up as the car picks up speed.
The five-speed automatic transmission seems to know which gear is appropriate and never needs to be pushed hard to drop down gears for hill climbs.
Under the bonnet, the Mazda6 uses a 2.5-litre, 125kW, 226Nm, four-cylidner engine. Fuel consumption, according to the ADR regulations, is a miserly 8.9-litres/100km, which I was able to match during the test. Beware of minimum 95RON petrol requirements.
When it comes to handling, this wagon will leave you pretty impressed. Turn-in is sharp and precise, it carries through a bend with confidence but will understeer if you are too heavy handed when entering the corner. Brake pedal feel is uniform and instils confidence when stretching the ‘6’s legs.
The Mazda6 range comes in Hatch, Sedan and Wagon. Pricing begins at $27,990 for the Limited Sedan and maxes out at $42,990 for the Luxury Sports Hatch. The Classic Wagon being tested retails for $35,490.
A long list of standard safety features had me impressed. These include: Electronic Stability Control; driver and front passenger airbags; driver and front passenger side airbags; front and rear passenger curtain airbags; traction control and front active head restraints.
The stability control is a bit intrusive when taking off in the wet. Uphill stretches of road leave the front wheels scampering for traction, so it becomes a bit awkward when trying to clear out of traffic in a hurry. This is of course a disadvantage most front-wheel-drive vehicles encounter.
Although it hasn’t been officially tested by the EuroNCAP body or our local ANCAP body, the Mazda6 has achieved five-stars in American crash tests.
The new Mazda6 really amazed me. Although the engine lacked in some instances, the rest of the package well and truly made up for it. I thoroughly enjoyed driving the car and it would make the perfect addition to a busy family.
A diesel engine (which is on the way) would make this the perfect family car. The extra torque and mid-range pickup will really help the Mazda6 in a big way. It will also see even better fuel consumption figures – which can only be a good thing.
The pricing, along with horde of safety features demolish the competition in a big way. A test drive will have you sold – guaranteed.
CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive: 
How does it Look:
How does it Go:
Specifications:
- Engine: 2488cc inline four-cylinder
- Power: 125kW @ 6000rpm
- Torque: 226Nm @ 4000rpm
- Induction: Naturally aspirated
- Transmission: Five-speed automatic
- Differential/Driven Wheels: Front-wheel-drive
- Brakes: ABS brakes with EBD and BA
- Top Speed: N/A
- 0-100km/h: N/A
- 0-400m: N/A
- CO2 Emissions: N/A
- Fuel Consumption: 8.9-litres/100km
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 64-litres
- Fuel Type: 95RON premium unleaded
- ANCAP Rating: N/A
- Airbags: Eight
- Safety: Dynamic stability control with traction control
- Spare Wheel: Full-size alloy
- Tow Capacity: 1500kg (braked), 550kg (unbraked)
- Turning Circle: 11.0m
- Warranty: 3-years/unlimited km
- Weight: 1507kg
- Wheels-Tyres: 17-inch alloy -215/50 R17 91W
Print it: 
Duck Says:
“What is the American Crash testing mob called? eg. you’ve got ANCAP and EuroNCAP etc.”
A little bit of Google or maybe Wikipedia research would’ve answered that question for you – NHTSA.
VW Freak:
The stability control incorporates traction control in its operation.
I can’t help drawing a comparison here to the VW R36 wagon and its ilk. I know the 6 isn’t in the same league but both vehicles target identical tasks. Families.
At a smidge over ½ the $$ of an R36 I think the Mazda6 offers sufficient quality, ride, handling, performance,economy,looks and features that anyone expects a family wagon to offer with the bonus of a $33grand saving!
Sure, it maybe no rocket ship with as many toys but most child chariots don’t need to be.
Have one and it is brilliant. Got aftermarket leather through the dealer for $2K including doors which sets it off! for
WVB:
Sorry, but the Mazda6 wagon offers to comparison against the R36.
The R36 feels totally different in terms of the ride and handling, the engine and gearbox is totally different, as is the level of features.
The Mazda6 is certainly superb value for money, but it’s certainly not comparing apples with apples.
Paul’s right and that’s exactly what one would expect and hope I think. I wouldn’t want to get an R36 and have people drawing comparisons to a Mazda wagon and I don’t think they would.
It’s like when I first came to Australia a couple of years ago, there were ads on the television for Wheels magazine saying that the V Series Commodore was as good if not better than a BMW 5 Series. Well you can imagine what image that gave me of Australia almost straight away. No Commodore will ever be as good as a 5 Series and it turned out it wasn’t because I had to rent one once.
Anyway, the point is that just as you can’t compare a Commodore to a 5 Series, you can’t compare a 6 Wagon to an R36.
No manual gearbox, no AWD and needs to run on premium fuel for a std not overly powerful 4cyl, plus one model only. Thats anough reasons for me not to buy one..
when thecommodor3e was brand new it rivaled the 5 sereies.2 years on it has aged horribly and the interior is terrible compared to others in its class.Yet the 5 sereies though older is still better than the commodore.
O, that comment doesn’t make any sense. Both cars have gone unchanged since the latest Commodore came out so how is it that it used to rival the 5 Series, but not any more? Even so, I had to rent a Commodore once a couple of years ago and it was a V Series and I thought it was truly horrible. No spirit. I had been driving a 525i a couple of months before and I would have paid anything for that car back. The 525i was the previous generation and it was still so much better!
WVB you are right 6 v R36 is no comparrison – they are like cheese and chalk. Drive an R36 and you’ll confirm your thoughts. The 2.0 diesel tho is fantastic in DSG (that’s auto in VW speak) for $42k. Is quicker than manual, you get enough torque, awesome economy and you can get leather too …. or try the Skoda Octavia. That’s great value for money.
Why try to compare an R36 with a Mazda6? However, the diesel with DSG is not too far above the Mazda in price but the extras in the VW certainly make up for it. Also I believe the VW is a better drive with more room and better economy.
OR – go a little extra (around $2.5K ) and get the 125kW 350Nm diesel – now there is a nice car to drive. I wish it came in 4Motion, though.
On another point – why all the talk about Volvo V60 and Mondeo wagons … I have checked both the Volvo and Ford sites and neither vehicle is available in Oz.
Peter neither Mondeo or V60 wagons are available in Oz at the Moment.. However; both are expected to be here by March next year..which isn’t rally that far away.
So it would make sense for those in the market for a medium sized sedan to look at what will be available in the current months and decide whether or not they shoulfd hold off until then or go ahead and buy a car from the current crop
My fiance has done so and as a result is leaning more towards the Volvo.. I suggest you read the article in the current issue of Wheels and you’ll see the V60 is an impressive bit of kit
Sure the Volvo V50/V60 may cost more than the Mazda 6 but by the time you add all the various options on the Mazda which these days you would expect to be standard [ as they are on the Volvo ] but unfortunately aren’t.. you would be pretty close to the same price as the Volvo
The Volvo also has a number of unique special features that no other car in its class does which I expect maybe one day you will see on other cars including the Mazda.
Just to clarify a few things here. The author stated that parking sensors are not available. They are actually, my new 6 Wagon got them and it was through the Mazda website.
Also as for the handbrake being on the left hand side I find this configuration better as it allows me to grab things from the cupholders without intrusion. Love my 6 Wagon.. only wish Sat Nav was an option
SNC:
Right you are.
It’s not listen on the options list, you have to go through the configurator to find the details.
i asked for park assist on my new wagon and was quoted $1100 yet the mazda website says $326.darwin prices?so no park assist