2010 Mazda6 Review

Pros:

Cons:

By John Cadogan | March 19th, 2010

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Price: $21,330 to $35,160

Our Rating:

Performance, Ride & Handling	4
Comfort and Interior	4
Quality & Design	4
Value & Features	4
Safety	5
Green	3.5

Mazda faced the best kind of car company predicament when it came to re-jigging the Mazda6 for its MY10 mid-life makeover: How do you fix a car that’s not broken … without breaking it?

In fact, the Mazda6 is so ‘not broken’ that it’s one of the best practical, affordable cars you’re ever likely to drive. It’s not an M3 killer, clearly, but it’s a car that won’t cost you the farm, that will do all the conventional running around, and which is also damn satisfying to drive – much better than a family hack has any real right to be.

If you punt it hard on a twisty, demanding back road, you could easily find yourself rounding up a bloke whose just paid twice as much for his BMW or Audi. It’s that good.

Brilliant steering and chassis feedback, high grip levels and a predictable transition from grip to slip – even under extreme pressure – are the 6’s signature strengths. If you’re a real driver, that is. If not, the 6 is just an elegant car that’s extremely well put together, capable and with high levels of equipment.

Fact is, buyers are running away from large cars in droves. (Ford, for example, has seen Falcon sales cut in half in the past 10 years.) And while it seems logical to expect people in this transition to segue into medium-sized cars, they generally don’t. Many jump into SUVs instead, thereby bypassing two of the best cars in the country – the Mazda6 and the Honda Accord Euro.

This pair have been keeping each other honest since their first-generation versions kicked off in the early 21st Century, and of the two, the Mazda6 is available in a significantly wider range of configurations – sedan, hatch and wagon body styles whereas the Euro is sedan-only, and the 6 also offers a diesel engine option, something the folks at Honda have looked into in the past, but haven’t carried across the line yet … at least not Down Under.

Deciphering the Mazda6 model range is at first a little like cracking the code on the Rosetta Stone. The options are: sedan, hatch and wagon bodies in ‘Limited’, ‘Classic’, ‘Touring’, ‘Luxury’, ‘Luxury Sports’, ‘Diesel’ and ‘Diesel Sports’ specification levels. It’s enough to make your head hurt at first glance, but once you come to grips with the caveats on those combinations it’s really not too hard to grasp.

Here goes: Limited is the entry-level trim, available in sedan only. Classic is next, and you can have that in all three body styles, but the wagon is auto only. Touring is a wagon-only, auto-only deal. Luxury is a sedan-only, auto-only deal. Luxury Sports is a hatch-only affair, but you can have either the manual or auto transmissions. Diesel – it’s wagon-only and manual-only, while Diesel Sports is also manual-only, but available only in the hatch.

If you inferred from this complex lineup that there’s no auto option for the diesel, you’d be correct, and that’s a pity because a diesel auto would rock. But the diesel was mainly conceived for Europe, where diesel manual is the flavour du jour, and an auto’s not in the wings for this engine any time soon. Also, the diesel engine’s not available in the sedan – it’s a hatch- or wagon-only deal.

The powertrains are simpler: the mainstay of the range is a 2.5-litre DOHC four cylinder petrol engine that makes 125kW @ 6000rpm and 226Nm @ 4000rpm. In a body that weighs between 1400kg and 1600kg, depending on model, it’s not the speediest option in the market from a standing start, but the performance is far from inadequate. (One of the bugbears with a really well-sorted chassis like this one is that you want more power. If they gave you that, some other weak link would rear its head – torque steer perhaps. There’s always a weak link with every car, dynamically, and with this one it’s outright power delivery.)

You can have a five-speed auto or six-speed manual transmission with the petrol engine – subject to the model-range caveats above. And if you drive like a half-cut psycho on a twisty mountain road you’ll discover that there’s a bit of a gap between second and third in the auto, which a six-speed auto would also fix. It’s not on the shopping list either in the foreseeable future – probably because 99.9 per cent of owners don’t drive like that. It’s absolutely fine for normal driving.

One of the really cool things about using the auto in manual mode is that the downshifts are achieved by nudging the shifter forwards, with the upshifts accomplished by dragging it back (think: BMW). Although this is opposite to the convention used by some other Japanese and Korean entrants, it gives the car even more European flair, as well as making better ergonomic sense.

The diesel is a 2.2-litre four cylinder that makes 132kW @ 3500rpm and 400Nm from 1800-3000rpm, and it comes complete with a catalyzing exhaust filter to trap the undesirable particles. Obviously the diesel’s the pick from an output perspective, provided you’re happy to shift gears manually and search every unfamiliar servo for the lone diesel pump hidden somewhere counter-intuitive…

The best petrol combination for fuel consumption is the Limited manual, which pulls a respectable 8.3L/100km in the ADR combined-cycle test, while the worst is the Touring auto on 8.9. The diesel represents a significant improvement – 5.9L/100km – but you have to offset that against the often-higher up-front fuel cost.

Mazda has done what most car companies do as the referee blows the whistle at half time in the platform’s life. It’s tarted up the car externally with additional garnish, different (lighter) wheels, etc. And the net result in this case is a minor improvement on a car that already ticked all the style boxes. On the inside, the plastics and fabrics are better, and the fit and finish is typical of the best quality the Japanese can achieve. And since the Japanese achieve the best build quality in the world…

The equipment levels are up there, too. In the absence of curing your insomnia by detailing the matrix of which bells and whistles go with each of the seven specification levels, let’s just say the equipment levels are high, considering the price. And it’s a very comfortable car with excellent control and instrument achitecture.

The price? In as much as you can tell these days – seeing as it’s all negotiable at the dealership – the Limited notionally kicks off at $27,310 plus on-roads while the Diesel Sports hatch tops the range off at $42,815 plus on-roads. Which is pretty sharp.

There are a few quirks, however: On the plus side, metallic paint is a no-cost option. So, in terms of the auto industry’s average Dickensian mindset of slapping you with a fee – often a fee you can’t jump over – for the silver (or whatever) paint, Mazda gets a big tick there.

Then there’s the sat-nav, however, which is (Are you sitting down?) a staggering $2800 option. And okay, it includes a seven-inch touchscreen, voice activation, Bluetooth (and Bluetooth music streaming) and Whereis Sensis maps (but isn’t hooked up to a reversing camera, which isn’t available even though many other Japanese cars offer this). Mazda says the high-priced sat-nav is available because some buyers demand it. And I guess if I could sell GPS to the public at 10 times the price of a Tom Tom, I’d probably leave journalism and do that all day long. From a base in Monaco.

The bottom line: Mazda6 V Accord Euro – a pretty tough call if you’re in the market for a sedan, but a no-brainer if you want a hatch, a wagon or a diesel. Drive one, and go figure that anyone still buys a Camry.

2010 Mazda6 Pricing & Specifications

Mazda6 Limited (sedan from $27,310*)

2.5-litre in-line four cylinder 16 valve DOHC petrol engine with 125kW and 226Nm
Six-speed manual or five-speed Activematic transmission
Front-wheel drive
Air-conditioning, cruise control, MP3-compatible CD-player with four speakers, aux-in jack for MP3 player, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel and variable intermittent wipers, 16-inch steel wheels with 205/60 tyres, chrome exhaust extensions, body kit with front and rear aero bumpers and side skirts
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control System (TCS), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Emergency Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Hill Launch Assist (HLA) (manual only), front, side and curtain SRS airbags, active front head restraints

Mazda6 Classic (sedan from $31,750*; hatch from $32,750*; wagon from $35,050*)

2.5-litre in-line four cylinder 16 valve DOHC petrol engine with 125kW and 226Nm
Six-speed manual (sedan and hatch) or five-speed Activematic transmissionMazda6 Limited equipment plus auto headlamps on/off, Bluetooth® phone connectivity, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning, leather wrapped steering wheel, wipers with rain sensing function, MP3 compatible six-disc in-dash CD player with six speakers, steering wheel mounted audio controls, trip computer with current and average fuel consumption, fuel range, average speed and speed alert
Newly designed 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/50 tyres and front fog lamps

Mazda6 Diesel (wagon from $36,250*)

2.2-litre in-line four-cylinder 16 valve DOHC intercooled turbodiesel engine with 132kW and 400Nm
Six-speed manual transmission
Equivalent equipment level to Mazda6 Classic

Mazda6 Touring (wagon from $38,120*)

2.5-litre in-line four cylinder 16 valve DOHC petrol engine with 125kW and 226Nm
Five-speed Activematic transmission
Mazda6 Classic equipment plus leather seat trim, seats (front) with three-position memory function and eight-way power adjustment (driver) and four-way power adjustment (passenger), parking sensors (front and rear)

Mazda6 Luxury (sedan from $40,905*)

2.5-litre in-line four cylinder 16 valve DOHC petrol engine with 125kW and 226Nm
Five-speed Activematic transmission
Mazda6 Touring equipment plus: sports grille, blackout instrument cluster, leather wrapped gearshift knob, paddle shift gear control, power sliding and tilt glass sun-roof, rear view mirror with auto dimming function, premium Bose® 240 watt amplifier with eight speakers, LED rear lamps, xenon headlamps

Mazda6 Luxury Sports (hatch from $41,415*)

2.5-litre in-line four cylinder 16 valve DOHC petrol engine with 125kW and 226Nm
Six-speed manual or five-speed Activematic transmission
Mazda6 Luxury equipment plus rear spoiler, aluminium pedals and footrest, bi-xenon headlamps with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), updated 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 tyres

Mazda6 Diesel Sports (hatch from $42,815*)

2.2-litre in-line four-cylinder 16 valve DOHC intercooled turbodiesel engine with 132kW and 400Nm
Six-speed manual transmission
Equivalent equipment level to Mazda6 Luxury Sports without power sliding and tilt glass sun-roof

Satellite Navigation Option ($2800*)

Available on Luxury, Luxury Sports and Diesel Sports models only
Seven-inch touch-screen satellite navigation integrating Whereis® Sensis maps, Bluetooth (hands-free compatible), Bluetooth audio (MP3 player compatible)
Controlled by either touch-screen or voice

*Pricing is a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer and does not include dealer delivery, on-road or statutory charges.

Reader reviews of the MAZDA MAZDA6

January 17th, 2012

By: Anthony James Schultz

Rating:

I have been particularly impressed by the magnificent torquey 2.2-litre diesel. The motor is available in a number... Read more

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The competition

HONDA ACCORD

Rating:

TOYOTA CAMRY

Rating:

Tim

Accord Euro for me.

Baddass

Absolutely, and the diesel wagon version of the Accord is a cracker. It’s just a shame it’s not coming here.
mmmmm

compare the low down torque a little closer and you’ll find the Euro a little breathless where the 6 is more eager.
The Euro’s got better seats and smoother ride but the 6 is far more fun.
The Realist

If I had to choose, I’d agree.
Jake02

So by that comment I can assume that you are a person who wants a petrol-only saloon? The 6 (and I might add almost everything else in the medium class – Octavia, Jetta, Golf Wagon (which I consider a Jetta wagon like in the US – they should’ve priced/equipped it like that here where’s the 118TSI manual?) and Passat, Mondeo etc) has a range, and that’s why I consider it better than an Accord Euro, even though I still consider the Euro competitors (NOT the Accord Euro) better than the 6, because almost every Euro I see is a grey saloon, and they’re all autos too! Booooorrrrriiinnngggg!!!
Others in the segment even offer sports model, adding further excitement to the range. Honda, nup, only do beige. I’ve driven a friend’s 09 Euro Luxury and it’s duller than paint drying, even he says so. Nothing like as fun as the 6 and I can’t see why it won Wheels COTY either…

Come on Honda Australia, man up and offer us both the Accord Euro Tourer and 2.2CDTI please. If NZ gets the wagon than why not us huh? Oh and Mazda, a Diesel Sports Wagon would be nice too! And Ford, a non-LX/Zetec Mondeo wagon please (apparently the XR5 models are being cut from the range. What a shame, they’re now autos ONLY). Skoda and VW I’d like more equipment for the Octavia and Jetta prices please. Toyota, where’s these good diesels from Europe? Where’s the Avensis (they’re sold in NZ…). Man, if I ran what cars were sold here and what they came with!
Solly

Ford Mondeo Diesel for me, especially the new wagon deisel when it arrives.

Crossy

Mazda 6 diesel wagon for me

Josh

Me too…
j.

JohnB

And me!!

I’ve ordered mine – can’t wait to get it!!

GT

I don’t think that people are downsizing, more the fact that the traditional large cars have grown to big. “mid sizers” are now as large if not larger than the older generation lage cars, if the falcon/comodoe stayed the same size I’m sure they would still rule the market

adam (aka mada)

I agree with some of your points however falcon has remained the same general size, its commodore that caught up size wise.
Also the main reason is people buying into the rav-4/territory style vehicles, why do you think Ford developed the territory…

engineer

People aren’t downsizing, look how many landcruisers there are around. The reason falcons aren’t selling is reliability and quality. I went to buy one new in 09 and came away feeling ashamed that a car that bad is built in Australia. I’d love one, but couldn’t bring myself to buy something that awful at any price.

Territory has the same problem.

adam (aka mada)

Tough choice however the Mazda is cheaper to service and insure by a long shot, not to mention cheaper to purchase in the first place.
More room inside also and i’d take the diesel, euro offers no diesel.

Mad Max

Mazda is cheaper to service than what? The standard service costs for a Mazda6 petrol auto is $3’775 up to 100’000kms. They have to be serviced every 10’000 which gives you an average service cost of $377.50. Thats more than my wife 2008 Golf and yet everybody trys to say that VW service costs are too high!

adam (aka mada)

Than a Honda euro i was mainly refering too, i have friends who owned a toyota echo and now they have a Mazda 6 which is cheaper to service, another friend owns a euro, i gathered quotes for the euro servicing.

You’re comparing a golf to a Mazda 6?? try passat perhaps?
mmmmm

most services in the 6 are closer to $200

Mad Max

The service price on the Mazda 6 vary according to the kms, but we have 2 Mazda 6 sedans in our fleet and from the invoices I have, the service prices vary from $288 to $690. The services have been carried out according to the handbook and we use 3 dealerships in the area based on price. As I said, the handbook services average out close to $400 per service from 10’000 through to 100’000 or a total of $3’755. In addition to this, (like any car) are things like brake pads, wiper rubbers, light globes etc. They are NOT a cheap ca to service. We don’t have any Honda’s in our fleet but based on my secretary’s current model CRV, the service costs are on par with the Mazda 6′s.
Mad Max

mmmmm
The services on the Mazda 6 are as follows;
10’000 = $285
20’000 = $335
30’000 = $285
40’000 = $460
50’000 = $365
60’000 = $390
70’000 = $325
80’000 = $500
90’000 = $305
100’000 = $650

These are from the invoices for the service.
The service costs for a Passat are roughly the same as a Golf according to our local VW dealer. If thats true then they are lower than the M6

LessQQ

you’re getting ripped
sam

Can you plz elaborate on the comment with some actual or realistic figures on service costs.
mmmmmm

I paid $220 for 10 000 & $245 for the 20 000.
I did get quotes up to $450 from dealers but shopped around until I got a realistic price.
Your dealer is dear Max, you need to shop around

vti07

Where is the AWD MPS 6?

adam (aka mada)

Mazda isn’t replacing the last generation vehicle due to sluggish global sales, money is being spent eleswhere.
I think Mazda made the right choice.

Mad Max

The previous model Mazda 6 was a global car with the exception of the USA only V6 engine option. Because the current model is not sold in the USA, Mazda announced at launch that the AWD MPS would not be built. The US Mazda 6 is wider and longer than the Asian/European car and Mazda said that without the US volume an AWD MPS would not be viable.

adam (aka mada)

The basic platform is identical, yes the US Mazda 6 has a V6. so did the previous generation, the MPS wasn’t a sales success. Please show the link to the comment you claim Mazda made.

mmmmm

Max is right.
and the platform is different (slightly) on the US model
Mad Max

It was staed on this site plus in Wheels.

Baddass

Yes the 3.7L V6 in the ‘States version of the 6 (same one as in the CX9) has already about 205kw, so a turbo model would have to have been closer to 240kw to really seperate the two. And very high performance wasn’t what the 6 MPS was about, more a refined, swift driving experience. All in all a sensible marketing decision by Mazda.

Simon

I’m very dissapointed there is no AWD MPS option, particularly in wagon guise as I’d buy one tomorrow.

Model T

Still no diesel auto. Have they added rear aircon vents? Two reasons I didn’t buy one last year although it is arguably one of the better cars in the class. I know, they are just details, but a car is the sum of its details.

adam (aka mada)

Would you spend money on an auto diesel program when the majority of global sales and profit come from the manual!?

icejagans

why would anyone pick a camry over the superb duo of the accord euro and mazda 6?

adam (aka mada)

Exactly, no camry wagon, hatch or diesel.

However there are no big mazda 6 fleet sales like camry either, i think private sales would favour the mazda 6 some how
Mad Max

Price! Price is the only reason. Toyota can sell you a Camry at a lower price becuase of their fleet volume. Its the only reason.

adam (aka mada)

Didn’t i just say that!?

Al

“Obviously the diesel’s the pick from an output perspective, provided you’re happy to shift gears manually and search every unfamiliar servo for the lone diesel pump hidden somewhere counter-intuitive…”

Yes, maybe in 2007, but in 2010, not any more. All the Shell servos I visit in Brisbane have diesel at every pump.

mmmmm

Bulima Shell doesn’t

Al

Try Coorparoo Shell, every pump!

Damian

I just don’t understand why Mazda got rid of the sunroof on the Diesel Sports Hatch, especially when it was standard in the pre-facelift model. All-in-all, one hell of a bargain buy for those who don’t want a mid-range Falcadore.

Damian

Actually, I withdraw my previous rant about the Diesel Sports Hatch not having a sun-roof. I can confirm that the pre-facelift model NEVER came with a sunroof. It’s still a pretty good buy considering the amount of equipment one gets for $42k!
adam (aka mada)

Mid range falc/comm?

G6E falcon is not mid range…you really can’t compare conclusively a large RWD vehicle with a mid sized FWD vehicle.

david jones

if u want a diesel auto get a passat wagon, not much more and you get free rear air con vents and a sunroof is an option…

Billyblogster

Yes, but close to $10k more, so I don’t think they are comparable, do you?

Steven

I know its a good car and the Japanese aren’t bad BUT ?????????
“And since the Japanese achieve the best build quality in the world…” ????
Sorry never driven an Audi? BMW? etc

http://www.caradvice.com.au/ John Cadogan

Look at the independent reports logging faults per thousand. The Japanese are the achievers of the highest quality automotive construction standards in the world. I’ve driven just about all the Mercs, and dozens of BMWs and Audis — they’re more expensive, and they develop new technology, and have more features. But the quality/reliability just isn’t as good, as is found regularly by independent industry assessors like JD Power — John Cadogan

Mad Max

John, you are so right. I regularly travel to the USA and Europe (as well as some Asian countries) and have driven just about every Merc, BMW, VW and Audi available. Not withstanding Toyota’s current problems, I can vouch for what you are saying. The Japanese industry (Honda, Mazda and Toyota in particular) have in built quality that the rest of the industry look at with envy. Some of their cars might not be the most exciting to drive but they just don’t give problems. I look at Toyota’s problems in the US with a grain of salt and anyday soon the truth will come out. Most of the reporting is sensationalist (typicaly American) and has been blown out of all proportion. Yes their is a problem but in a typicaly American way, everybody is jumping on the bandwagon to get their name in the news and face on TV and also to make a quick buck, but sooner or later, the truth will surface.
The Oracle’s Master

Thanks for the perspective on the Europeans John. People have been brainwashed into believing that if it is from Europe it is prestige. Prestige can also be measured on how often it ends up in a workshop and that is where many Europeans (especially BMW and Merc) fail.

Gene

“downshifts are achieved by nudging the shifter forwards, with the upshifts accomplished by dragging it back….as well as making better ergonomic sense”

I read this all the time, momentum of the car and whatnot. But honestly, wtf? I have been driving manual cars for the last 10 years, it NEVER occur to me that the 3->4 shift feels better ergonomically than 2->3 because I am pulling the stick instead of pushing. So please tell me, why would it make a difference in an automatic car?

My wife’s car is an tiptronic automatic with forward for upshift. Again, the notion that pushing for downshift makes better ergonomic sense is simply totally nonsensical to me.

davie

It is to do with momentum and nothing to do with a H gate maunal shift.

when decelerating, the occupant feels like they are being pushed forward. Having the downshift = pushing forward, replicates this feeling.

When accelerating, they feel like they are being pushed back into the seat. Having the upshift = pulling back, replicates this feeling.

If you have a look at racing cars with sequential gearboxes (british touring cars, V8 supercars, they are all configured this way.

Gene

Momentum works the same way in auto and manual cars. Why doesn’t it matter in H gate shifts?

When I am downshifting during deceleration, the H gate dictates I am pushing up going 4->3 but pulling going from 3->2, in both cases the momentum would be pushing my body forward. Using your logic, I am supposed to be more comfortable one way than the other. Well I don’t feel that even when driving as hard as I can.

Mercedes has side-way gates. For them right hand sweepers would feel better than the left hand ones, no?

Frenchie

The interior is almost a sea of black.

adam (aka mada)

My only gripe with many Jap vehicles is the lack of colour combinations, black is the default dominant colour unfortunately
mmmmm

they did offer a Executive (grey) colour option but it wasn’t popular and I don’t think it’s available in the new model. It make the interior look larger than the black trim

Mk

I like the styling, a few things: The cattle horns surrounding the front badge on the XLW 997 (light blue) vehicle looks a bit Hyundai’ish though (with a hint of Honda as well). I also wish ‘sport’ models (in general) starts to loose the wings at the back, it does the same for handling as stripes on the bonnet, especially on FWD vehicles.
AMBPSV

Very nice car and looks like well put together. Japanese build very good quality cars if is Made in Japan just like the Germans. Many German cars coming from, South Africa BMW 3, MB C class, VW Golf, Mexico – VW Jetta, Hungary – Audi TT, Slovakia – VW Tourage…etc. So when you compare German cars with Japanese try to compare Made in Japan with Made in Germany. Why German cars cost more? They earn more than in Japan, shipping cost is twice as much and in Japan they drive on the same side as we drive here so they do not need to change steering wheel.
http://automatt.cogitact.com matw8

Why don’t they drop this brilliant diesel into the Mazda3 (like they do in Europe) as an MPS-CD and give the new Gold GTD a run for its money. I’d have loved a diesel 3 last December but despite all the journos saying “available now” no dealers had any until March. A Diesel 3 with this much power and torque I would have waited for, but instead I’ve got my SP25 (which is a nice consolation).
Rodders

Great looking Update…
Only thing i think Mazda missed an Opportunity with the new Touring Version of the Estate. They could have specced it up similar to the Luxury Sport Hatch, by adding the Sunroof,Bose & bodykits 18 inch Wheels, well at least as an option ..?
Not many Top Specced Japanese Wagons out there, that can go head to head with the Euros..(besides Subaru Liberty Perhaps..)
Im sure you can get an Atenza Sportwagon in Japan Specced up to the Same level as the luxury Sport hatch..
hopefully Next Model Update.. ??

Gene

That’s spot on. If Subaru can sell a luxurious Liberty wagon (even a GT) there is no real reason why Mazda should concede that market.
davo

Agreed , I held of buying a new car in anticipation of new 6 wagon. Iwas shopping for a mid priced luxury wagon the omission of sunroof led me to look at the new vw golf wagon with dual panoramic sunroof. Both are good cars but opted for the vw which has in my opinion better bulld and interior quality, fuel economy luggage space also surprisingly good 505 litres vs mazda 519 litres

Kim

The Sports Wagon looks a good option. Pity about the auto diesel not being around. I would prefer one of those, especially now that diesel is cheaper than unleaded petrol in Brisbane. Plenty of torque, but changing gears for a lot of people is long gone and autos are the very popular.
adam (aka mada)

Wow, amazing how many appear lazy when it comes to manual vers auto, its really not that difficult to drive a manual unless of course you decided to pass an auto only license!

Formular one

Adam. It’s not about being lazy. It’s just more practical especially around town in heavy traffic. It makes for safer driving with less distractions too. With attitudes like yours mail by horse and cart would be used instead of email.

Peter K

I’m not sure sure if the reviewer John Cadogan has previously done a car review or for that matter actually gone to a service station. How can you make such non-factual comments such as:
“The diesel represents a significant improvement – 5.9L/100km – but you have to offset that against the often-higher up-front fuel cost” and
“Obviously the diesel’s the pick from an output perspective, provided you’re happy to shift gears manually and search every unfamiliar servo for the lone diesel pump hidden somewhere counter-intuitive…”
The last time I was at the service station in Melbourne I saw easy access at the same pump I was using for ULP/PULP for diesel and it was 10c a ltire cheaper than ULP.

Also it would have been informative for John to comment on more than 2 cars in the medium segment(Accord & Mazda6) cars such as Skoda Octavia, VW Jetta/Passat, Ford Mondeo are all legitimate competitors in the mid size class.

Overall John a very shallow and not very well researched review for a very good car in a very competitive market segment.

Al

Agree completely.
Filled up with Diesel in my Mazda3 on the weekend in Brisbane.
Diesel = $124.9
ULP = $137.9
PULP = $151.9!

It would suck to have a car that demanded PULP

matt

lol it sure does…. 148 per litre for e10 pulp in ipswich, gross, time to get the finances sorted and trade the sp20 on something diesel… or smaller , pitty the new 3′s petrol economy cant touch my older 323 sp20. wy wasnt more noise made about these new u-beat compacts using more fuel then their predocessors

dasferg

If only it had an engine to go with the chassis. In petrol form it is about 30kw shy. Of course there is the V6 – in the US.
Tom22

One of the best reviews ive read on here, informative and well written with enough information for anyone in the market for a care like this.

However i cringe when you call people who dont want to chase a m3 through the mountains in a large fwd 4 cylinder car not “real drivers”, its very superior sounding.

Also, not every car has a dynamic flaw, the 6 may have appropriate levels of power to avoid understeer and torque steer, however thats clearly because its a FWD chassis, and thats a compromise from the word go. The obvious option to me for this would be… make it RWD to begin with. Go find a dynamic floor in a xr6 turbo, twice the power, no problems putting it down.
Jinsei

The interior has the best fit and finish among all non-luxury Japanese marques. It really gives an upscale feel genrally not found in cars within this price bracket. But I also think Mazda could have made it look a little fancier with use of other materials (e.g. metalic panels).

It can somtimes look too simple to some shoppers, so I wish Mazda has given it a bit more excitement so it can look like that of the Accor Euro.
Ray Stone

Did 140,000km in the first edition, Classic manual. One battery, one set of tyres and that’s it. Never a warranty claim, nothing. On the positive great steering, handling, brakes and reasonable suspension. On the downside gutless engine, drop it down to 3rd and rev the guys out of it to overtake semis’s, too high fuel consumption (3,000+ RPM at 100kph) and 10,000km services, my VW is 15,000, my BMW is 25,000 so what’s the deal other than to make some delayed profit from the cars. Good quality oil’s is oils isn’t it? In a Jap car with precision tolerances on engine parts and no usage (the VW needs 1 -2 litres over 15,000) why the 10K service, basically oil and filter change that they want to charge $200+ for.
MazMagic

When you properly engineer a FWD vechicle, it can be just as good as RWD. And that’s what Mazda has achieved. I have driven the Mazda6 (GH1) as well as the Mazda3 SP23 on windy roads and it is just as fun as any RWD cars – in fact more control for ‘everyday drivers’. Sure, some will INSIST RWD is the only way but remember, I have seen so many RWD vechiles lose control in the wet it is not funny. At least it is harder to do in a FWD (or AWD) car.

A good review. It’s just a shame that it ‘doesn’t cost too much’ to be considered by Audi, BMW owners etc…… (same applies to the Accord Euro too).

The Realist

A few rerasons include badge value, but also it doesn’t have the features of a 3 Series nor does it drive as well regardless of the statement “you could easily find yourself rounding up a bloke whose just paid twice as much for his BMW or Audi.”

I’d challenge any Mazda 6 to outgun a 335i.

Devil’s Advocate

Yeah, that is a fair and ‘realistic’ comparison Realist. While we are at it, why not compare the 335i to a Commodore Omega, Accord Euro or a base model 2.5l Subaru Liberty…
Devil’s Advocate

Oh, whilst it definitely wouldn’t ‘out-gun’ a 335i, it wouldn’t be that far behind through the corners. The previous version 6 in classic trim, managed to out corner an E46 330i coupé in slalom, emergency lane change as well as generate higher “G” loading wet and dry in the inaugural Wheels Active Safety Program (WASP) a few years ago.

For the record I used to own an E36 325i coupé and it was the best car I have had, but I can give credit where it is due. The Mazda 6 does handle VERY well, especially considering it is a fwd Japanese family sedan. The same can be said for the Euro.

The Realist

I’d take an Accord Euro – better quality inside and in my opinion looks nicer.

matt

as always… no one asked for your opinion

skdlfjsd

And yours too matt

Eric

Great review for Mazda. I drive a Ford Mondeo and it is a brilliant car too. I like the Mazda 6 too but at the time of the purchase, Mondeo was better value for me than the 6. However, I sense a bit of bias, Accord Euro is not the only competitor! Mondeo too is. Get real and try to review a car impartially. The reviewer loves Mazda 6, clear to see and nothing wrong with that but try and tone down your love for the car. It can cloud your review and make it less objective….. and compare the 6 objectively with other cars not car!
The Oracle’s Master

This is a very good car. I enjoy the comparisons between this and the Euro. Personally I would proudly own either for different reasons. I think the 6 has the edge on styling but the Euro has it beaten on class and apparently offers a quieter cabin. They are both great cars to me.
Robin

An interesting review for a great car. Personally I think the Mazda 6 beats the Accord Euro easily but both are good cars.
Byron

I rather the old look than the new one, front end looks cheapish with the grille & bumpers, but the back end looks fine. I don’t get why Mazda 6 is selling in big numbers??? It’s always selling around 500-6000 cars every month now. It’s got to be one of the best cars in it’s class & Camry is a joke. Like i said in another comment Hybrid Camry is the best looker in the Camry range but it still looks conservative & boring. Hope this facelift improves sales cause it is a really good car. Go MAZDA!
ABMPSV

I like the new Mazda 6. Only one problem!! Use too much fuel!!!!!!

Al

You obviously haven’t seen the diesel consumption figures. Diesel is cheaper too!

ABMPSV

Yes but no automatic with diesel. I was talking about petrol. Today with high tech around us a 2.5L engine should not use more than 10L in the city!!

Devil’s Advocate

Gee, that is a bit harsh especially since they aren’t the only brand with engines of that size with that kind of economy. You would be mortified then about the 1.8L petrol in the Holden Cruze as an example. I know of a few people that own a Cruze petrol who burn well over 10L/100km in the city…

Dreama

My 2.5 petrol XTrail (CVT Auto) uses about 10.5-11 litres around town, and that is a big square BOX, it drops to about 8.5-9litres when out on the highway

Gan Tan

So Mazda expects people to pay $3000 more for a “touring” wagon that only has some cow hide and memoery functions?

No thanks, and this is coming from a Mazda 08 GH Wagon owner

nick

I don’t think it’s too bad. On an Audi you’d pay at least that much for electric seats. Parking sensors are standard on it as well. I’d just like to see sat-nav as an option on it.
Devil’s Advocate

Looking at it another way. How can other brands, including most prestige marques, charge anything from $300-$3000+ for metallic/pearl paint when Mazda have not charged extra for metallic/pearl for quite a few years now?

m2m

Does anyone else agree that Mazda’s look best in white? I think this being, that most people pick different colours because Mazda don’t charge. So white is hardly seen around; compared to Aurora Blue etc.

We’ve got a GHMY10 Classic manual hatch (white) and GH Auto Luxury Sports hatch (stormy blue) in our household (among a 3 and a 2) and they are beautiful cars to drive and quality is faultless. The only issues involving dealer-fit items on the L.S. The classic is brilliant value for $35k and is all a young family should really ever need!

JohnB

I have a clearwater blue Mazda6 diesel wagon and my wife has a velocity red Mazda3 hatch and they both look great!

The Mazda white is a very nice pearly colour – not a garden variety white.

Dreama

So what happened to the MPS? are they going to make another one?
Penny

I have owned a Mazda 626 Wagon which I bought new in 2001. It has been great and I love it. I am looking to replace it towards the end of the year and have started doing some homework, road testing a few different cars. I have been rapt with Mazda servicing over the 10 years (same dealer), not too expensive, great staff and service. Have driven a few Mazda 6 sedans as loan cars while mine was in the shop for it’s regular services, and finally drove a wagon today.
The drive, handling, comfort, etc seemed fine but the visibility is horrible. It’s like being a little kid at the dinner table. I am 5′ 6″, but the pillars are so much wider and the dashboard and side mirrors higher than in my 2001 version. The mirrors are bigger and now at shoulder/neck height, but in my old 626 are at chest height. Quite frankly the visibility doesn’t seem as safe. I raised the seat considerably – doesn’t make much difference. I know the pillars and dashboard are full of safety stuff, but if you can’t see the front of the car or dogs/children to the side of it, then is it worth it? I tried the CX-7 to see if that was any better and I don’t think it was. Disappointed
johno

Dont know if its mentioned above, but i have a mazda6 2010 and this POXY annoying feature of the Headlights permanently switched is driving me mad. Yes i could switch to SIDE Lights to annoy other cars and pedestrians less, but somehow there has to be a way of switching this crap feature off!! Anybody know?
Nice card besides that.
Oh and anybody recommend a good cleaner for particular bad stain on the passenger side plastic dash covering…Tried JIF, made it worse…
Alan

The wagons are between 1.6 – 1.75 tonnes! Gimme a break! I know all manufacturers have gone that silly route nowadays. I just bought an old Corolla wagon which is half a tonne lighter! I prefer that any day.

I will never buy a new car, unless they go back to building simple light cars again. I want manual windows, manual gearbox, no useless crap. I don’t want a rolling living room, just a simple car. I want space under the bonnet to work. I want vinyl not that disgusting carpet that is so hard to clean. I want decent bumper bars front and back, so there is no major, expensive damage when you slightly hit a fencepost or so.

Do we need a world war for the people to come to their senses??? Or do you all have too much money to buy bloated, heavy, unreliable, expensive(to buy AND TO FIX), rolling living rooms? Or are you buying on credit???