2008 Mazda 6 Reviews

Graham Smith reviews the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Mazda6 as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the first, second and third generation Mazda 6 as a used buy.

Mazda 6 was launched in Australia in August 2002 and has had sales success since day one. Probably because it was a lot more stylish than the Mazda 626 it replaced.

After years in the motoring doldrums with a range of well-built – but bland – cars, Mazda burst back into life early in the new millennium with a whole new energy and more youthful outlook on life. The company's entire range was renewed and every model proved successful, from the cute-as-a-button Mazda 2, the great 3, to the engaging 6. It was as if the company awoke from a deep slumber with a new drive and energy that powered it back to the forefront of car shoppers' minds.The stylish mid-sized Mazda 6 made as big a splash as any of the new models with its compelling blend of practicality, comfort and refinement, but then along came the MPS sports sedan that powered the 6 to a whole new level of performance to complement its natural sophistication.MODEL WATCHThe mid-sized Mazda 6 first burst onto the market in 2002 and was instrumental in helping to revitalise the Mazda brand. It was comfortable, refined, with good road manners and performance, and looked great.But the arrival of the MPS in 2006 added a whole new dimension to the prestige sedan, transforming it into a sophisticated and technically advanced sporting sedan. MPS stood for Mazda Performance Series, a sort of special vehicles offshoot of the mainstream model range.The MPS-tuned 6 wasn't a hard-edged sports car; it was more a luxury mid-sized car with a sporty attitude. Viewed from afar the MPS didn't scream 'hoon' as some sports sedans could do, its external enhancements were tastefully done and relatively subtle to make sure it stayed within the bounds of prestige appeal.There was a deep front spoiler with a gaping mouth to feed the much- needed air to the turbocharged engine, there were fog lamps, and a small spoiler on the boot lid, and big 18-inch alloy wheels, but the overall effect was one of refinement.Under the bonnet the 2.2-litre four-cylinder was boosted through the application of a turbocharger; the resulting output climbing to 190 kW at 5500 revs and 380 Nm at 3000 revs. It's not that long ago that power and torque of that magnitude would have had young V8 revheads going weak at the knees; the Mazda 6 MPS was indeed a sizzling hot road car.To put the performance to the road the MPS used a six-speed manual gearbox feeding a computer-controlled all-wheel drive system that kept a watchful eye on road conditions and distributed the drive between the axles for best traction. Unfortunately there was no auto transmission option available.In addition to the turbocharger the Mazda's engine also boasted direct injection for improved low and mid-range torque. The combination of turbocharger and direct injection delivered strong and smooth performance from low down right through to the upper reaches of the speed range. To cope with the extra zip Mazda beefed up the suspension with re- tuned springs and shocks, as well as bigger stabiliser bars.With the security of all-wheel drive, standard dynamic skid control, and the sports suspension the MPS enjoyed a firm grasp on the road. The good thing was that while the ride was firmer than the regular Mazda 6, it wasn't by any means uncomfortable. Bigger brakes, together with standard ABS anti-skid electronics, delivered the stopping capability to match the car's performance.Inside, there was comfortable accommodation for four, there was a good-sized boot out back, and a host of storage possibilities spread throughout the cabin.Naturally for a car of this class, the MPS had plenty of fruit, including Xenon headlamps, six-disc CD player, climate-control air, alloy sports pedals, and remote central locking with a deadlock function for added security. For even more fruit there was a leather upgrade, which brought with it leather trim, a power driver's seat with memory, seven-speaker sound, and a glass sunroof.IN THE SHOPMazda has always been renowned for the build quality of its cars and the 6 is no exception. Build quality is usually a good guide to the reliability and durability of a car in service and the 6 is performing without any major concerns. Mazda's servicing and parts costs are not cheap, but they're on a par with other cars in the class.It's important to check for a service record to make sure the engine in particular has had regular oil and filter changes. Also look for battle scars that often come from the daily grind of city traffic.IN A CRASHThe MPS boasted a comprehensive safety package with ABS brakes and stability control to help the driver avoid a crunch, and front, side and curtain airbags in the event a crunch came. ANCAP rated the MPS at four stars.AT THE PUMPMazda claimed the MPS would average 10.5 L/100km, which proved pretty close to the mark when it came time to road test it. It should be noted that the MPS needs 95-octane PULP fuel.LOOK FORSports performancePowerful turbo engineAwesome road holdingGood build qualityMazda reliability.THE BOTTOM LINE: A great driving sedan that is also at home in the hurly-burly of the daily commute.RATING: 80/100

It's official; the middle-size car segment has the best buying not only now, but very probably in our history. No, really.Mazda's unprecedented price cut of what remains the class-leading Mazda6 last week made what was already a keenly priced car a downright bargain.But some people just can't be told. For example, the life-saving virtues of electronic stability programs are known to all who can read, yet they buy the relentlessly average Toyota Corolla — in which ESP is not so much an option.Yet cars of this size are selling over the slightly bigger models that are on the whole safer, as or more fuel efficient, faster, better equipped and — as of this week — cheaper even than small-medium hatchbacks in their own brand's stable.Moreover, the three you see here not only undercut many European models, they're demonstrably better in most respects than those priced up to three times as much.It's new ...Honda Accord EuroPrice: $32,990-$44,990Compared to the sleek first gen Euro, the newly launched model looks a bit ungainly; a bit too American. Incrementally bigger than the first gen model, it starts around a grand cheaper.Can't remember the wacky acronym Honda coined for the steering, but it does feel more even. A more rigid, lower-set body contributes to a flattish cornering stance, so the Euro is now even better when pushing on. So too is the ride/handling compromise, even through the top model's low profile 18-inch rubber.This dynamism is no mean feat, given that the Euro is far heavier than the first gen car, indeed roughly equal to the Thai-built V6 (non-”Euro”) Accord. Not quite sure how Honda justifies the 130kg kerb weight gain across the range, or how they can claim with a straight face that economy has been improved.Lard stifles the top spec five-speed auto Luxury Navi. In practice you need to engage Sport mode to prevent its 1605kg plus passengers lagging on hills. A typically slickHonda six-speed manual would make a good deal more of the still peaky 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine's slightly increased output (148kW/234Nm) and give the Euro some hope of attaining the sub-9L/100km claim.Those extra millimetres are appreciated within, where its comfier now, though tall rear-seat passengers wouldn't fancy it over the long haul.Nor would the driver want upright citizens there — rear vision is already badly restricted.The Navi model gets a reversing camera and you wouldn't fancy backing in a Euro without one.But we'd buy ...Mazda6Price: $27,990-$42,990Now this is how to reinvent an already excellent model.Readers will by now be familiar with the virtues of a car that is better, stronger and faster than its much-admired predecessor.Only four months since its launch, Mazda has sliced the price, from $1750 in the base model Limited sedan up to $3920 off the top-spec Luxury Sport hatch — those who have already bought get free servicing by way of compensation. So not only is the Mazda the more stylish object and more engaging drive, it undercuts the Euro by as much as $5K.Given its breadth of dynamic and practical abilities and that the safety equipment and drivetrain are identical to the top-priced car, the base model is surely the best buy in any segment.Indeed, the 6 also undercuts the top versions of the smaller Mazda3, so you can have a bigger car that's actually more fuel efficient and safer, for less money than the best-selling privately purchased car in Australia.It's a no brainer, the only caveat being that the 6 needs 98 RON to do what it does.And don't forget...Skoda Octavia Elegance 1.8 TFSIPrice: From $30,990God, I love reminding Audiphiles that its Czech cousin in the Volkswagen Group stable packs the same superb engine for $20K less. Always gets a rise, that does.    So no apologies for including a car that for now comes only with a six-speed manual.The turbo-charged direct injection engine is a generation ahead of the atmo power plants offered in the 6 and the Euro. And the arrival next year of a seven-speed version of the twin-clutch DSG will imbue the Skoda with a drivetrain sophistication that the Japanese do not approach.The Octavia's 118kW/250Nm output appears modest, but it grabs all that torque from a diesel-like 1500rpm. An additional $1840 provides 17s and sports suspension, making for a quite discrete and thoroughly enjoyable driver's car.At 1425kg the Octavia is hardly heavier than the VW Golf, on which it's based, and so boasts class-leading petrol consumption of 7.7L/100km — more than a litre better than the Honda and 0.7 under the 6. 

For it's a triumph: a quicker, more efficient, bigger, more refined and better-value incarnation of the car