Mazda 6 Reviews

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

Mazda's much anticipated king hitter of the medium segment arrives ahead of schedule in Australia early next year sporting an arsenal of firepower but with one potentially crucial missing link.

Resented, that is, not by the buying public, but by most other car companies. Since its comeback in the form of the first-generation Mazda 6 five years ago, the marque from Hiroshima hasn't had the common decency to put a foot wrong.Its subsequent models have risen ostentatiously towards the top of their respective classes.With the Mazda6 — the second of the so-called “Zoom Zoom” era cars after the delightful new Mazda 2 to reach its second generation — you're forced to dig deep for defects.But they're there, all right — even apart from that insanely irritating advertising slogan.Please consider that the seats lack under-thigh support, and the indicators don't have a one-touch, lane-change function.Engines are the same on the sub-$30K car as the plus-$40K model. Ditto cabin plastics. A glaring omission is air vents for the rear seats. And we're not getting the coolwagon variant in Luxury trim. Sorry, that's about it.The latest Mazda6 leaps to the fore of a class that was revolutionised by its predecessor.The new 6 proves all over again that mid-size cars needn't be Camrys. It improves upon dynamics that were already the benchmark for its type. Add bulletproof quality and cool styling, and allegedly more prestigious European equivalents look overpriced and underdone.Not only is the new Mazda6 better than its forebear in every respect that counts, it costs almost the same as that car did back in 2002, yet has much more standard kit.The sedan-only Limited model will be priced from about $29,000, the Classic a few grand more and Luxury models towards $40K, with the hatch-only Luxury Sport above that.The five-door, which will likely continue to be the best seller, has a coupe silhouette.From a front three-quarter view, it's tough to distinguish from the sedan; from the side, the high, taut tail makes it an obvious sibling.To these eyes, though, the wagon wins the style stakes: it's the most appealing of the many such things we've seen recently, emboldened by silver roof rails and (in Europe) cream leather upholstery.The 6 has grown incrementally in all directions, not least in width (plus 65mm), height (by 5mm, which makes a noticeable difference to hatch headroom, in particular), wheelbase (50mm), rear legroom (20mm) and shoulder space (9mm).Hatch and wagon keep the Karakuri one-touch folding rear seat function, and the hatch has a tonneau that lifts with the door.Materials and ergonomics are discernibly superior, but although the leather-upholstered top models aspire to prestige levels, they don't quite achieve it.The three-spoke steering wheel, with all ancillary functions at a fingertip, is accessible from a driving position made perfect by rake and reach adjustment and (in the top models) electric seats.On the upper-spec versions, there'll be climate control, an engine start-stop button with advanced keyless entry, eight-speaker Bose sound and possibly Bluetooth. No satnav for us, though.More important, anti-lock brakes, Dynamic Stability Control, brake assist, electronic traction control, cruise control and a full-size spare are standard across the range.Although it's lighter than the current model in basic form, the bulging swag of gear means the new 6 will weigh much the same as the outgoing model.That would be a step backwards if the new 125kW, 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine wasn't altogether more efficient than the current 2.3 (a new diesel won't be seen until late 2008).A combined-cycle fuel use of 8.4 litres per 100km is anticipated for Australian models, with a sprint time to 100km/h of slightly over eight seconds.Transmissions are either a slick and engaging six-speed manual or a five-speed auto with tipshift mode that, almost uniquely, won't change up until you so desire. Luxury autos will have steering-wheel paddle shifters.Driving a highly specified manual sedan through the narrow mountain passes of France's wind-lashed Cote d'Azur last Wednesday was to appreciate that Mazda has attained a new high-water mark.Pulling strongly from low revs, with all 226Nm arriving at 4000rpm, the new engine also goes pretty hard at the top end, rasping tastefully all the while.The engine's sound is enjoyed all the more because of road noise suppression that's effective even with low-profile rubber wrapped around stylish, 18-inch alloys.These shoes exerted enormous grip on the wet, twisting back roads of the Riviera hinterland.Considerable provocation is required to awake the DSC (which, even then, kicks in without abruptness), so it's quite possible to forget the 6's front wheels are doing both the driving and the steering.The new rack-drive electric power steering is excellent, devoid of the artificial feel that pervades such units. Instantly responsive, the weighting is beautifully linear, fully contributing to handling that really is sporty yet completely intuitive.In fact, you need to remind yourself that the 6 is essentially a family car.In that respect, it will serve with equal aplomb, the suspension an inspired compromise between ride andresponse, making for a car capable of handling more power than it has, but of being benign during the daily grind.If the new 6 isn't perfect, it's close. Enviably so.SNAPSHOT MAZDA 6Price: $29,000 to $44,000 (estimate)Engine: 2.5L/4-cylinder petrol, 125kW/226NmEconomy: 8.4L/100kmTransmission: 6-speed manual, 5-speed automatic 

IN 1989, Mitsubishi hit the nail on he head with the Galant VR4.The latest to adopt the VR4 formula of all-wheel-drive, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a four-door sedan has been Mazda.The MPS is basically a Mazda6 shell with an all-wheel-drive underbody enhanced with a turbocharged version of the Mazda6's 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine.It is therefore a premium product in the Mazda range yet appears awkwardly placed because of the perception that Mazda puts all its big guns into coupe bodies.Yet that's no reason to discard this high-performance family saloon.Drive it and it has a closer relationship with, say Saab or Audi, than natural rival Subaru.The MPS sits solidly on the road and when it gets pushed, the power delivery is comfortably restrained. There's no impression that this is a rev-head car, rather it is more a mature sports saloon. Like the Saab.It comes only as a six-speed manual which is its first, and probably only, mistake. An auto is a definite in its market.The clutch take-up is a bit severe, causing a few stalls at the traffic lights. That may diminish as the car ages.Push this car hard on a test track and it becomes clear that it is a neat handler with loads of potential.The 2.3's turbocharger starts its boost at 2800rpm, and will keep the heat on in a seamless path all the way to near the 7000rpm mark.The fact that it's seamless is the bit where you don't feel as though it is particularly fast.It has delightfully light yet accurate steering, strong brakes and benign handling. But the track doesn't do this justice.On a run from Perth, sweeping bends, roughened bitumen and the narrow road brings its chassis abilities to the fore.It holds a line well, feels confident and secure, and returns a comfortable ride even at high speed. The cabin is a delightful loungeroom of leather and premium acoustics and there's no doubt there is value here.It comes with all the fruit, including the cherry, but misses out on the cream because of the silly space-saver tyre. You don't want to go country cruising with one of those things in the boot.Features include an exhaustive list of safety gear including multiple airbags and ABS with stabilitycontrol.The cabin is beautifully trimmed, the features here being some of the best that this top-notch Japanese carmaker can offer.It isn't cheap but it is a selective car for an individual buyer.

The key probably lies in the way it manages to be elegant yet unpretentious — and keenly priced. That combination has sold tens of millions of Volkswagens and like the Volkswagen Golf, the Mazda 6 is a thoroughly likeable and competent car despite not being exceptional in any area.All very nice, if an unlikely basis for a sports sedan. Yet like some fine-boned Ivy League graduate who has recently discovered the delights of pumping iron, the Mazda 6 has put on muscle in the form of the Mazda 6 MPS. It pumps up with a heavily revised and turbocharged version of the 6's 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive.It's a familiar recipe, followed by Subaru, Audi and Volvo for their flagship medium cars, but techno tragics will notice a couple of interesting details in Mazda's approach. For example, the engine uses direct injection, squirting petrol straight into the cylinder. Combined with computer-controlled spark timing, it makes for better low-down torque and lower pollution levels — so Mazda says. It's broadly similar to the system used by Volkswagen and Audi in their FSI engines.The all-wheel drive system is a part-time set-up that runs as a front-wheel drive when the going is easy and sends up to 50 per cent of torque to the rear wheels when the car's computer detects things are getting serious.The system has three automatically selected modes — normal, sports and snow — and works in co-operation with electronic stability control. In simple terms the MPS assesses how hard you are driving while at the same time deducing the road surface, and sends power to the rear wheels accordingly.It's a distinct improvement over previous part-time AWD systems that only drove the rear wheels if the front ones started to slip. One interesting detail for techno-nerds is that the power take off unit that sends drive to the rear wheels is water-cooled for greater reliability.Mazda says the MPS body is 50 per cent more torsionally stiff than a standard Mazda 6 — although one of the costs of achieving this is elimination of the load-through hole between the back seats and the boot.There's also visual muscle. The grille is larger to feed air to the turbo's intercooler, spoilers decorate each end of the car, side skirts lurk under the doors and larger wheels sit under flared guards. The effect is somewhere between the tailored sinew of a BMW and the all-out traffic-light aggression of a Subaru Impreza WRX.Inside it remains a Mazda 6, which is to say a recognisably Japanese car but with a distinct European feel. Little details, such as the red-tinged instruments and steering-wheel mounted cruise controls, evoke the Continent and the cabin has the modest but prosperous ambience of a Volkswagen Golf. The crisp, clear and powerful stereo is a highlight; the seats, with their small bases and not quite enough side support for the car's cornering abilities, are less memorable.Underway, the first impression is of bland steering. But more challenging roads reveal on-centre accuracy, freedom from kickback and tramlining, and even a little tactile feedback. The MPS turns in sharply without being skittish and settles down to display very impressive grip. Traction out of bends is strong and seamless as the computer sends more power to the back wheels. The computerised AWD system works well and its torque delivery to the rear wheels often flatters by tightening cornering lines. It's firmly planted and easy to drive by performance standards.A little more initial bite in the brakes might be nice to match the car's performance and handling, but pedal feel was good and they worked well on test. Body control through corners is excellent but ride makes an ambiguous first impression with a firm feeling that suggests wince-making bangs and crashes over rougher roads. But that never happens, and it copes quite well with noisy urban surfaces. Again, feel is more European than Japanese. Audi owners will find something subliminally familiar in a firm but padded gait.Unfortunately there was a cabin rattle in the test car, although it had probably already led a hard life in the hands of the motoring press. On the bright side, motorway refinement is better than expected in a performance AWD car — it will be a revelation to anyone who trades in a Subaru WRX.The six-speed manual gearbox (there's no auto) has a satisfying machined feel when driving the backroads but in the city it comes across as slightly heavy, particularly when combined with a somewhat hair-trigger clutch. The slightest flex of your foot sees it engage with a thump. You'll be left wondering, "what's wrong with me today?"All will be forgiven once you're moving. The engine belies its turbo badge with a wide torque band that begins at 2000rpm and doesn't stop until the rev-limiter cuts in. It's impressive, although like all turbo cars it can be thirsty if driven vigorously. We saw 15.4 litres per 100km.The only muted criticism might be of the engine's muted and uninspiring sound. Like a Saab turbo (but not the new V6 Aero) it sounds like a vacuum cleaner, only finding its voice at the top of the rev range.In every other aspect the 6 MPS is the car the four-cylinder Saab Aero should have been. There's something almost Swedish about its understated demeanour and determined competence, something almost German about its dark and sombre cabin. And while it doesn't quite have that Scandinavian design flair or outright German aggression, it makes up with genuine refinement and real ability.

You don't have to go back too far to find the time when Mazda was on its knees and there was speculation about its ability to survive.  However, with newfound zoom in a completely renewed model range, Mazda is enjoying the best of times and its future appears rock solid. The mid-sized Mazda 6 is one of the new models that has given the company renewed credibility in the market. It has pulled buyers through showroom doors in search of one of the best-looking sedans on the market.MODEL WATCHWith surging fuel prices and the slump in popularity of the traditional big sedans, the mid-sized car class has enjoyed a resurgence in recent times. In Mazda's case it's the 6, and it has worked a treat, attracting buyers who can't afford a BMW. The 6 is a good-looking car with lithe sporting lines and a stance that suggests it has plenty of sporting potential out on the open road.Underneath, it sports double-wishbone front suspension with a multi-link independent rear set-up which gives the 6 sporting handling with impressive response, although the ride can be considered hard and a little harsh in a normal four-door.  The 2.3-litre four-cylinder double-overhead camshaft 16-valve engine is a gem. It loves to be revved and it responds with a throaty burst of encouragement.Mazda offered an extensive range of models with sedan, hatch and wagon body styles in Limited, Classic, Luxury and Sports variants. All were well-equipped, from the entry-level Limited sedan right through to the zippy Sports hatch.The Limited came with power windows and mirrors, full instrumentation, remote central locking, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, immobiliser, airconditioning, cloth trim and CD sound with four speakers.  Add alloy wheels, trip computer, auto air, velour trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, and a CD stacker with six-speaker sound and you had a Classic.Tick the Luxury box and you also got a sunroof, leather trim, power driver's seat, and Bose premium sound with seven speakers.  The Luxury Sports hatch got all of that plus front fog lamps and fold-flat rear seat.IN THE SHOPWhen buying a nearly new car you should approach it much like you would if you were buying new. The oldest Mazda 6 is now only four years old so you're looking at a car that is really in the prime of its life, barely run in. If it appears neglected walk on; there are plenty more out there to choose from.Mechanically there is little to go on so far, the majority of complaints about the Mazda6 relate to brake wear which, while high, is no higher than any other modern car. You have to get used to machining discs by 30,000km and replacing them at 50,000-60,000km. Check for a service record, which will become important when you come to sell later on. When test-driving, make sure the engine runs smoothly and pulls without hesitation, the gears change smoothly without any jerking or hesitation and there are no vibrations as the speed increases. Also make sure there is no noise that can't be explained.CRUNCH TIMEAn agile chassis with responsive steering, powerful four-wheel disc brakes with anti-skid control and a zesty engine give the 6 driver every chance of avoiding a collision.Dual front airbags with seat belt pre-tensioners provide a good level of crash protection in the Limited and Classic models, while the Luxury and Sports models also have side and curtain airbags.MAZDA6 2002-2004Agile, responsive handlingMazdas new-found zoom, zoomGreat engine growlSweet-revving engineSporty stylingRATING78/100 Great-looking sports sedan with zip, responsive handling and good re-sale potential.

Mazda has delivered and delivered in spades with the MPS, a turbocharged, all-wheel drive version of the Mazda6 with a whopping 190kW of power on tap.Based on the sedan, the MPS goes hard, very hard, with sticky, four-paw handling to match and a wicked turn of speed.The direct injection, spark ignition (DISI) turbocharged, 2.3-litre engine delivers 190kW of power at 5500rpm and 380Nm of torque at 3000rpm, with 90 per cent of torque delivered at a little over 2000rpm.The engine is hooked up to slick-shifting six speed manual transmission, with power de- livered to all four wheels through a part-time all-wheel drive system.For most of the time, the car is predominantly front-wheel drive, with an active torque coupling that transfers power to the rear wheels as required up to an even 50:50 split between front and back.The result is a car that delivers very strong low to mid range performance, with a lofty top end and only the occasional hint of turbo lag.Dampers and spring have been retuned, thicker stabiliser bars added and the brakes have been beefed up to match the increased performance - up 21mm to 320mm at the front and up 34mm to 314mm at the rear.Electronic stability control has also been added to keep the whole thing on the road.Mazda prefers to describe the MPS as an "executive express" rather than a full-blown boy racer.This might explain the understated styling which is just a bit too understated for our liking.The front with its deeper mesh grille looks okay but the car sits too high and the big, boofy twin exhaust system lacks finesse.The large rear wing has been replaced with a discreet boot lip spoiler and the 18 inch wheels fitted with 215/45 tyres are conservatively styled.All in all, we reckon the standard car is a better looker, particularly the stylish sports hatch.However, styling is a personal thing, so make your own decision.Looks are quickly forgotten once you're behind the wheel of the MPS.The ride is firm and sporty, but seems to avoid the harsh feel of many sports sedans.When a quick start is called for, the system automatically selects power takeoff mode which aggressively distributes torque to the rear axle for fuss-free, rapid acceleration.Changing down to third in a hurry however can induce some whiplash.Third gear seems to top out too early but fourth has plenty of oomph and the car just keeps on going from there.Sixth gear meanwhile is a tall overdrive gear, designed for relaxed freeway cruising and better fuel economy.It doesn't feel as quick as WRX, but by the same token there's nothing second rate about the driving experience which is more refined.At 1612kg it's about 200kg heavier than a Rex and much heavier than the Liberty GT too.The MPS takes premium unleaded, but is a light sipper unless pushed hard when it really starts to suck the gas.Claimed fuel economy is 10.5L/100km.Standard equipment includes ABS anti-lock brakes with Brake Assist, an Active Torque Spilt AWD system, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Xenon headlamps, full body kit, 18 inch wheels and tyres, six airbags (dual front, front side and head protecting curtain airbags), power windows and mirrors, cruise control, six disc CD player, remote locking via a retractable key, trip computer, alloy pedals, reach and rake adjustable steering and climate control air conditioning.The Mazda6 MPS is priced from $48,600 plus on road costs. 

OK, Mazda has added a few dress-ups like 18in alloys, extra bulges to contain its muscles and a blip of a rear wing. Talk about understated.A touch of RX8 animal magnetism wouldn't have gone astray but then what the MPS may lack in the visual department it more than makes up for against the stopwatch. RX8, huh, wouldn't see which way the MPS went – in a straight line or around corners.The same applies to a large number of so called high performance cars. It would take some kind of HSV or FPV to see off the MPS.Mazda is reluctant to disclose realistic "zoom-zoom" figures but it would be into the mid five second bracket for the 0-100kmh sprint.Surprisingly quick out of the blocks, MPS suffers pretty well no lag despite using a single turbocharger. This is because the 2.3-litre, four cylinder engine runs a relatively high 9.5:1 compression ratio and has other tricks such as direct fuel injection to optimise power and torque.The engine is good for 190kW/380Nm output and most of the torque is there at around 2000rpm.Of course, having this much urge untamed could be a problem but the MPS has been specially engineered to cope.It scores a stronger chassis than the standard Mazda6, larger brakes and a swag of electronic controls such as ABS, and dynamic stability control. The infinitely variable torque split all wheel drive system uses three modes for Normal, Sport and Snow. Mode is selected by the car's computer to match prevailing con- ditions and driving style.MPS has a superb ride and competent dynamics, not as firm as you'd expect but totally controlled.It is not as much of a point and squirt sprinter as the Subaru STi but is more a grand tourer with long legs.Runs through each of the six gears deliver seamless strong acceleration while the car itself sits poised on the road like a highly trained athlete.It's that good.Inside is a study of the new: stylish fascia, angles and curves, attractive switchgear and quality ancillaries. The audio is a cracker and there's room for five inside. The boot is large but there's only a space saver spare. The xenon headlights are on low beam only. It needs a better high beam.Prices start at $48,600 with a luxury model equipped with Bose sound, leather upholstery, electric driver's seat and a sunroof going for an extra $6000.Any way you cut it, the MPS Mazda6 is an impressive piece of kit. Oh yeah.

Mazda has achieved that balance with its new Mazda6 MPS – dubbed the Executive Express. The new flagship Mazda6 is the Japanese car maker's most technically advanced high-performance sedan – capable of a 0-100km sprint of 6.6 seconds and a top speed pushing near to 250km/h.But Mazda has not just packed a heap of power and class-leading torque into this stylishly aggressive sedan (think the standard 6 but on steroids to get an idea of the accentuated body) to snare customers.The MPS model is not for "the boy racer" but achieves a balance, earning Mazda the right to be able to boast that MPS offers a level of sophistication and refinement as well as spirited performance.Mazda got something else right when it chose the roads around northeastern Tasmania to show the car off to motoring journalists. The 400km-plus drive route from Launceston to Bicheno and returning through St Helens and Scottsdale included seven Targa of Tasmania stages and was a great proving ground for Mazda6 MPS's power, handling and braking capabilities.Mazda6 MPS's direct injection spark ignition (DISI) turbocharged 2.3-litre engine provides ample torque in the low and mid range – 90 per cent of its torque is delivered at a little over 2000rpm.Maximum torque is 380Nm at 3000rpm and MPS boasts 190kW of power. Just how much torque you have at your disposal with the MPS was on show through some of the long corners on Tassie's unforgiving roads. Gear selection – while something you want to get right when others are watching from the passenger seats – wasn't a high priority through the hills as the bucket loads of torque helped to pick up the gear and pull you through.The DISI engine – a clean engine which meets Euro 4 emission regulations – drives the all-wheel-drive system through a new six-speed manual gearbox that combines short, crisp shifts with ideal gearing to exploit the turbo engine. Sixth is an overdrive which offers relaxed cruising and good fuel economy. Mazda6 MPS returns an average fuel consumption figure of 10.5 litres/100km. As an all-wheel-drive vehicle, Mazda6 MPS already has a clear advantage over most other vehicles on the road when it comes to grip. Add to the mix a body that has been strengthened to deliver 50 per cent more torsional stiffness than the standard Mazda6, and a new Active Torque Split system to transfer torque to the rear axle in accordance with driving conditions, and you have a particularly fun drive.The 6 MPS rides on a refined sports-like suspension. While it is stiff enough to provide sporty handling, it is not so hard that you will need to make a chiropractor's appointment after taking this car out for some solid driving. Getting the balance right in this area of the car's performance was clearly important when Mazda says it has aimed to create a "sophisticated executive express" vehicle that has spirited performance and everyday practicality. It comes with ABS anti-lock brakes with brake assist (something else that was put to the test on those Tasmanian roads), Dynamic Stability Control, Xenon headlamps, 18in wheels and tyres, six airbags (dual front, front side and head-protecting curtain airbags), power windows and mirrors, cruise control, six-disc CD, remote locking via a retractable key, trip computer, alloy pedals, reach and rake adjustable steering and climate-control air conditioning. The sedan goes on sale next month priced from $48,600, with a leather pack model – adding leather seat trim, a power operated driver's seat with three-position memory, powerful seven-speaker Bose sound system and a glass sunroof – priced at $54,600.So, what else do you get with Mazda6 MPS that you don't get on the standard – and very popular – Mazda6 which has a starting price of $28,240 and a top-of-the-range price of $42,910? There are the bigger brakes for one – up 21mm to 320mm at the front and up 34mm to 314mm at the back. The Mazda6 contours have been accentuated for the MPS and the cabin is fitted with high-quality appointments, including a titanium-look fascia with piano-black audio controls.The speedo is also calibrated to 280km/h compared with the standard Mazda6's which goes off the dial at 240km/h – not that you would want to try that out on public roads.

With sales of Mazda6 going off the boil, the company decided it was time to help things along by adding a tricked up wagon to its press fleet.