- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.5i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
125kW, 226Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 8.4L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Mazda 6 Luxury Sports hatch
The car: Mazda 6 Luxury Sports hatch
The price: $43,440
Vital statistics: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder, 6-speed manual, 125kW/226Nm, 8.6L/100km, 204g/kmCO2, FWD
He: The Luxury Sports is at the top end of the Mazda6 range so doesn't look cheap on paper but you get a lot for the money.
She: I agree you get a lot for your money but I'd be almost as happy with the mid-level Classic model, saving $9000 and missing out on things like the body kit, sunroof and auto-levelling headlights. That said, I do like the parking sensors, leather and the Bose sound system.
He: The sound system was one of the letdowns for me - I was expecting more from a Bose. There are other things that make this car so easy to live with, though, and show real attention to detail: the handles to fold the rear seats, the warning lights for the rear seatbelts and the zoom-zoom jingle when you start the car.
She: That sound could get annoying but at least you can turn it off. The fit and finish of the interior really lift the presentation and I like the circular theme through the instrument cluster.
He: It also drives surprisingly well. The 2.5-litre four-cylinder makes a modest 125kW but it works in this car size and there's easily accessible performance in the lower end of the rev range, where you use it most.
She: The six-speed manual gearbox is also precise and easy to use, although the clutch is a bit light. Another plus is the decent fuel economy, with a claimed average of 8.6litres per 100 kilometres.
He: Mazda's done a great job in building a car that's comfortable but agile through corners. It's surprisingly fun on the right road, more so than you'd expect in a mid-sized car that also has decent space for five.
She: With so many people moving to smaller cars, the mid-sizers have been overlooked recently. But there's a lot to like about cars like this, especially when you consider the balance of size, practicality, economy and style. For many people they're a great alternative to a large car.
He: There's some fantastic value in this market. I really enjoyed the 6 Sports and would happily recommend it to anyone looking at the lower end of the luxury market.
She: The only problem is with the badge - it's more premium than luxury, which will be enough to turn some people off.