|
|
||||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
|
|||
|
By Steven Cole SmithOrlando Sentinel
December 7, 2008
Undeniably important as a bread-and-butter part of Mazda's lineup, the Mazda6 is important for other reasons, too -- its platform is used as the basis for cars ranging from the Ford Fusion to the Lincoln MKZ to the Hongqi Benteng, a sedan built and sold in China. So when we get an all-new Mazda6, likely we're looking at a car that will continue to play an important global role in the car business. The 2009 Mazda6 is quite a bold departure from the car it replaces, both with its edgier styling and more upscale features. Never a point-for-point competitor for the two leading cars in this class, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the 2009 Mazda6 is now more than prepared to take them on. First, that styling: It's a bit polarizing, with a snarky snout, oddly large fender flares and a decidedly Oriental rear, with -- on the V-6 test car, anyway -- enormous dual exhausts. It all works better in person than in pictures. The 2009 Mazda6 is larger than the 2008 model, now longer and wider than a Camry, slightly shorter and narrower than the Accord. Trunk space, at 16.6 cubic feet, beats them both. Inside, the leather-clad cockpit is comfortable and roomy, with nicely accented gauges and controls. One annoyance: The test car had push-button starting, with no place to insert a key. So the keyhole was covered with a round piece of plastic that appeared to have been slapped on as an afterthought -- a little out of place on a car costing this much. And speaking of cost, the base Mazda6 with the standard 2.5-liter, 170-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission starts at a very competitive $18,550. But start adding features, and the price rises quickly: The loaded test car, with the muscular new 3.7-liter, 272-horsepower V-6 and a six-speed automatic transmission started at $28,260, and rose to $32,790. Again, feature for feature, those prices are fairly close to the Accord and Camry. Honestly, even at close to $33,000, this Mazda6 looked like a more expensive car. A motorist admiring it in the local Publix parking lot said it looked to her more like a Lexus than anything else. The test model, the top-of-the-line Grand Touring, had practically every option offered, including a $2,000 satellite-linked navigation system, and a $1,750 package that included a power sunroof and an upgraded Bose audio system that was, typical of Bose, excellent. There were also some welcome, unexpected features: Open the door, and on the aluminum door sill on the body, a Mazda6 logo lights up in blue letters -- not a big deal, but a premium touch. The test car had a long list of safety features, too, including side-curtain airbags, stability control, traction control and a "blind spot monitoring system." If you are on a four-lane road, and a car pulls up to your left rear, a small yellow symbol illuminates in that side's rear-view mirror. Use your left-turn signal to move over in that direction, and a warning tone sounds. It's unobtrusive but useful. On the road -- well, that's where the Mazda6 shines. The car has always had a sportier feel than the Camry, and even the Accord, and still does. Steering is precise, handling is crisp, and while the ride may be a little rougher than a Camry's, it's hardly objectionable. This new, more powerful V-6 is nicely matched to the six-speed automatic transmission -- if you want a manual transmission, you'll have to get the four-cylinder version. Exactly what long-term role the Mazda6 will play in the future product line of Ford, Mercury and Lincoln remains to be seen, as Ford, which owned about a third of Mazda, just sold most of that back to Mazda's parent company to raise money. But Mazda's chairman said the two companies will continue to share -- the Mazda Tribute SUV, for instance, is a disguised Ford Escape -- and that's probably good news for both companies. Sentinel Automotive Editor Steven Cole Smith can be reached at scsmith@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5699, or through his blog at Enginehead.com. 2009 Mazda6 Grand Touring Base price: $28,260 Price as tested: $32,790 EPA rating: 17 mpg city driving, 25 mpg highway. Details: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive sedan with a 3.7-liter, 272-horsepower V-6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission.
Find a NEW Mazda Mazda6 for SaleFind dealers and new car inventory in your area.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||
|
