For years, Mazda’s sales of its mid-size sedan have remained static. Competitive cars like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata have had an upward climb, yet the Mazda6 pretty much flat lined.
So, with the introduction of the 2009 Mazda6, the automaker plans to change that trend.
2009 Mazda6
Engines: 2.5-liter, four-cylinder; 3.7-liter, V-6
Horsepower: 170; 272
Torque: 167 pound-feet; 269 pound-feet
Transmissions: 6-speed manual; 5-speed automatic; 6-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Wheelbase: 109.8 inches
Length: 193.7 inches
Width: 72.4 inches
Height: 57.9 inches
Fuel economy: 20/29 (2.5-liter, MT); 21/30 (2.5-liter, AT); 17/25 (3.7-liter, AT)
Base price: $19,220
The all-new front-wheel drive Mazda6 is completely redesigned inside and out. It’s bigger, has more power, gets better fuel economy and is poised to take a chunk of sales away from its mid-size competitors.
“We believe this car is the most significant car in this decade for us,” said Jay Amestoy, vice president of public relations for Mazda North American Operations, during a press preview of the Mazda6 in Detroit.
In fact, throughout the entire press preview, Mazda execs as a whole made it very clear that not only is this vehicle significant, it’s the future of Mazda. From the redesign to the new target audience, Mazda is pinning a lot on the 2009 Mazda6.
To arrive at this point, there was a lot of research around what went wrong with the previous Mazda6s. According to Tim Barnes, director of product planning and strategy, the Mazda6 has always been high on customer survey lists in terms of appeal, but one of the main issues holding the vehicle back was the perceived quality. So, with the 2009 model, the main target was to maintain the appeal but also to improve the quality.
Another part of the problem, according to Barnes, is that the Mazda3 and 6 were cannibalizing each other. They often attracted the same target market, and thus the Mazda3 sales grew, and the 6 stayed the same. To help fix this, Mazda intends to make the Mazda6 a vehicle that you transition into from the 3, targeting not only someone who is style-conscious and trendsetting, but also more mature.
The idea is to create a “class above” image, and from standard side-curtain airbags and stability control to available Bluetooth audio and blind-spot monitoring system, the Mazda6 has a lot of potential.
The lineup for the Mazda6 is both simple and confusing at the same time. The most choice comes with the trim levels containing the base 2.5-liter engine, as you can start with a very basic SV trim level and go all the way up through the Grand Touring. Except for the SV, which only comes with the six-speed manual transmission, you can opt for either the six-speed manual or the five-speed sport automatic transmission, which holds a $900 premium. If you opt for the 3.7-liter engine, things get simpler. There are three trim levels (Sport, Touring, Grand Touring) and just one transmission: a six-speed sport automatic.
Throughout the trim levels on the Mazda6, there is a surprising amount of standard features that step up at each level. Even the SV with a base price of $19,220 includes side curtain airbags, air conditioning with pollen filters, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, stability control, traction control and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Moving up to the Sport trim ($20,920), Mazda adds features such as an auxiliary audio input jack, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls and key-activated remote down windows. The Touring trim adds 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, the Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry System, power adjustable driver’s seat, trip computer and alarm system. The Grand Touring ($25,580) adds rain-sensing windshield wipers, xenon auto on/off headlights, leather seats with heated front seats, driver’s seat memory, Bluetooth hand-free phone and audio and the blind-spot monitoring system.
The best thing about the new Mazda6 is if you take the Grand Touring model, add the 3.7-liter V-6 engine and trick it out with every option available, you’re only looking at a top price of $33,733. Better yet, go with the fuel-conscious four-cylinder that boasts city/highway mileage estimates of 21/30 mpg. Opt for the automatic transmission and the Grand Touring trim with every whistle and bell, and you’ll top out at $31,283.
As a part of the redesigned Mazda6, the engine lineup is also tweaked. Though the MZR four-cylinder engine does appear in other Mazda vehicles, namely the Mazda3, MX-5, Mazda5 and CX-7, there are features that have been designed especially for the Mazda6. The piston displacement increases to 2.5-liters, and the Mazda6 engine gets a new cylinder head with improved intake and exhaust flow as well as a low-restriction exhaust manifold. The four-cylinder engine delivers 170 horsepower and 167 pound-feet of torque.
The up-level 3.7-liter MZI V-6 engine first debuted in the 2008 CX-9 and has specially tuned intake and exhaust systems that help make the Mazda6 best in class in terms of power output. The 3.7-liter V-6 delivers 272 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. Previously, the Mazda6 was worst in class, with its 3.0-liter V-6 that delivered 212 horsepower and 197 pound-feet of torque.
During the preview, my driving partner and I drove two Grand Touring models: one with the four-cylinder engine and six-speed manual transmission, and one with the V-6 engine and six-speed automatic.
As you would expect, the V-6 engine was noticeably faster than its four-cylinder sibling. It was also quieter. I didn’t love the harsh engine sounds that entered the cabin under hard acceleration from the four-cylinder engine. However, the sounds did smooth out at cruising speeds, which was a relief. We only drove the manual transmission version with the four-cylinder, so I don’t know whether anything would change because of an automatic transmission.
In terms of styling, I like the overall looks of the new Mazda6. The exterior lines follow the Mazda family cues, and I like the squared-off flared front fenders that first appeared in the RX-8 and are making their way to the rest of the lineup. I’m a particular fan of the taillights with the surrounding chrome ring. But, I have to admit, when I first looked at the three-quarter profile, the first thought that popped into my head was: Toyota Camry Solara. It’s the headlights and teardrop profile that do it.
The interior is intuitively designed with easy-to-reach buttons and controls. The gearshift knob was in a comfortable location – especially for the manual transmission. I like the brightly lit, red Mazda gauges and the brushed-silver accents. However, I was slightly thrown by the smart key fob. Rather than the flat, credit-card-like key that was unique to Mazda, the automaker has switched to a fat “normal” key fob. Plus, rather than using an ignition switch, the optional keyless start has switched to a button on the center stack.
My one point of contention with the interior is the zebra-striped lacquered accents. Plain black would have been better. With the striping, the accents are more sporty than luxurious. And luxury would fit better with the “class above” image Mazda is working toward.
We only had about four hours behind the wheel of the new Mazda6, so it’s hard to come out with a definitive declaration about this car. I liked it. But I also really like the Camry, Sonata, Accord and Altima. Without back-to-back tests, I’d be hard-pressed to say which vehicle I like the best. But I do know there wasn’t anything that wowed me during my brief time behind the wheel of the Mazda6.
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