2010 Mazda6 - Bigger n' Better?

Written by Eric Peters

January 26, 2010

Size matters - to family car buyers, anyhow.  So it's not surprising that the new Mazda6 sedan is significantly bigger - and also a couple hundred pounds heavier - than the previous version. But it now has as much or more interior and trunk space as the Big Kahunas in this segment - models like the best-selling Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord - and for less money and without losing the pulse that makes Mazda's cars so appealing.  WHAT IT IS The 6 is Mazda's mid-sized family-sport sedan. Base price is $18,450 for the i SV with 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission; a top of the line s Grand Touring with V-6 and six-speed automatic carries an MSRP of $28,390.  WHAT'S NEW Everything.  The Mazda 6 has been completely redesigned.  WHAT'S GOOD Still one of the most fun to drive family-type cars you can buy for less than $20k; high value for the dollar. New, larger interior makes it more practical for people who need to carry passengers often.  2010 model's prices are lower than 2009's - and a lot lower than the base price of a 2010 Nissan Altima ($19,900), Toyota Camry ($19,395) or Honda Accord ($21,055).  WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD Excellent optional V-6 comes with automatic transmission only.  ENGINES & PERFORMANCE The standard engine in the 2010 Mazda6 is a 2.5 liter four-cylinder that's rated at 170 hp - slightly more than the Toyota Camry's standard 2.5 liter engine (169 hp) and slightly less than the Honda Accord's standard 2.4 liter engine (177 hp) and the Nissan Altima's standard 2.5 liter engine (175 hp). The optional 3.7 liter V-6 is one of the largest and most powerful engines in this class, although just barely - with 272 advertised hp. Camry's optional 3.5 liter V-6 comes in at 268 hp; the Honda Accord's optional 3.5 liter V-6 is rated at 271 hp; the Nissan Altima's 3.5 liter V-6 rates 270 hp.  The 6's 2.5 liter engine is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or five-speed automatic; however the V-6 engine comes only with a six-speed automatic.  All versions of the Mazda6 are front-wheel-drive.  V-6 versions are very quick, with 0-60 times of around 6.4-6.5 seconds. This is a solid half-second to three-quarters of a second better than the V-6 Camry and Honda Accord - and about half a second quicker than the spunky Nissan Atima V-6. The four-cylinder version with six-speed stick do 0-60 in about 8.3-8.5 seconds, depending on which transmission you pick.  Gas mileage is slightly under par with the optional V-6: 17 city/ 25 highway vs. 19 city, 28 highway for the V-6 Camry and 19 city, 29 highway for the V-6 Accord. The four-cylinder version does better, nailing down 20 MPGs in city driving and 29 MPGs on the highway.  The automatic-equipped version (with the four-cylinder engine) is actually easier on gas than the manual-equipped version - topping out at 21 MPGs in the city and 30 on the highway.  DRIVING IMPRESSIONS The new 6 feels bigger and heavier than is typical for Mazda's recent sedans - mainly because it is. The 2010 model is about six inches longer overall and 2.3 inches wider than the previous generation 6 - and roughly 150-200 pounds heavier. Upping the horsepower along with the weight masks the increased heft - except at the gas pump, where the 6 is a bit thirstier than its rivals. But the difference is not that much (2-4 MPGs overall).  The four-cylinder version with the six-speed manual is not as quick as the V-6 but it's probably the best choice if you're looking for driving fun as well as best economy - and lowest sticker price.  The 3.7 liter V-6 has great straight-line pull - and the six-seed automatic it's paired with is one of the best out there - but there's no replacement for shifting your own gears - especially with a gearbox as thoroughly excellent as this one. The clutch is light but has progressive take-up - neither grabby nor vague. It is very comfortable to drive, even in heavy stop and go traffic. And the manual's tightly spaced gearing makes working the 170 hp four a real pleasure.  Either version of the 6 is more lively-feeling than the Camry - which truly is a Dowager Express, the best Japanese-built Buick money can buy. The Camry's a fine car - for people who want an outstanding appliance.  The Honda Accord, meanwhile, is sophisticated and smooth - with V-6 versions offering plenty of scoot as well as a very high level of technology an equipment. But you also get a very high sticker price along with it. The Accord starts out more than $1,500 higher and that's a difference large enough to really hurt its overall appeal - and which makes the Mazda much more attractive.  The Nissan Altima can go toe-to-toe with the 6 as a sporty sedan - especially V-6/manual versions. But it, too, is significantly more expensive - and in my opinion, not quite as nicely finished on the inside as the Mazda.  One thing to mention about the automatic transmission's manual shift control: Instead of pulling back on the shift lever to go down a gear, you push forward - which is a nit counterintuitive.  But you get used to it quickly and then it's no problem. STYLING & UTILITY Looks are in the eye of the beholder, but to my eye, the 6 is a more attractive car than the heavy-set and bulbous Camry - which could have been modeled on a sturgeon. Or the blocky, hunched-up Accord.  The Mazda's interior is another high point, with minimal clutter and easy-to-use, highly functional controls - including rotary knobs for the AC system and a straightforward pod of analog gauges with low-glare LED backlighting. My test car had handsome "black wood" inserts, which nicely offset the brushed aluminum gauge facings and two-tone dash.  It's roomier up front in the Mazda6 than in the best-selling Camry - 42.5 inches of front seat legroom and 39.4 inches of headroom vs. 41.7 inches of legroom and 38.8 inches of headroom in the Toyota.  Oddly enough, the Camry's got slightly more backseat head and legroom than the Mazda - 37.8 inches and 38.3 inches (respectively) vs. 38 inches and 37.3 inches for the 6.  Compared with the Accord, the Mazda6 has less front seat headroom (41.4 inches for the Honda vs. 39.4 inches for the Mazda), identical front seat legroom (42.5 inches), just slightly more rear seat headroom (38.5 inches) and just slightly less rear seat legroom (37.2 inches).  Nissan's Altima has more front seat legroom than all of them - 44.1 inches - and more front seat headroom than all but the Accord (40.6 inches) but its back seat is cramped, with just 35.8 inches of legroom (vs. 38 for the Mazda) and just 36.8 inches of rear seat headroom (vs. 37.3 in the 6). One area where the Mazda is clearly superior is trunk space - 16.6 cubic feet vs. 15.3 for the Altima, 15 even for the Camry and a downright cramped 14 cubic feet for the Accord.  QUALITY & SAFETY Though Mazda doesn't sell nearly as many cars as either Toyota or Honda, it is one of the most consistently excellent Japanese brands on the market. Mazda vehicles have proved themselves durable and well-built over the years - and usually offer more car for the buck than competitors.  That's certainly the case here. The 6 costs considerably less than all of its main rivals while matching or even beating them in pretty much every category except fuel efficiency - and on that count the difference is slight it. In addition to standard ABS, traction and stability control, front seat side impact air bags and full-row curtain air bags, the 2010 Mazda 6 also offers a trick blind spot warning system with both visual and auditory warnings to let you know there's a car where you might not be able to see it. There's a little yellow flashing icon that pops in the outside rear-view mirror - accompanied by the auditory warning. (If it bugs you, just turn it off. There's a button just to the left of the steering column.)  THE BOTTOM LINE I'd say the Mazda6 is one of the most appealing cars in its segment and well worth checking out, especially if you're looking for something with more personality than a Camry - for less money than you'd pay for an Accord. Comment?

 

< Prev		Next >