2004 Mazda 6 Road Test

Technical

The standard engine for both the sedan and the Sport is the 2.3L 4-cylinder engine that develops 160 hp at 6 000 rpm and 155 lb/ft of torque at 4 000 rpm. The optional engine is a 3.0L V6 that develops 220 hp at 6 300 rpm and 192 lb/ft of torque at 5 000 rpm. The standard gearbox is a 5 speed manual transmission. The 2.3L has an optional 4 speed automatic with a manual selection mode and the V6 gets a 5 speed automatic with a manual selection mode. In comparison, the Mazda 6 Sport Wagon is only available with the V6 but offers both 5 speed transmissions. There will be a 6 speed automatic offered in 2005 as an alternative for the V6.

On the road

Driving this car is rewarding. The very sophisticated fully independent suspension puts the driver in control at all times on uniform roadways. The ride though, can be a little unsettled over rough roads but when the car is loaded, it smoothes out. The shifter has a rubbery yet precise feel and the clutch pedal is quite heavy. It is difficult to be progressive when stuck in stop and go traffic: clutch disengagement and throttle application, however smoothly applied, sometimes leads to jerking. This quickly becomes annoying.

The 4 cylinder equipped models have better weight distribution and therefore have improved balance. The specification numbers may indicate the contrary but under hard braking for example, the nose of the I4 does not dip forward as much as the V6. The ride is better sorted and the brakes seem to handle the weight better. Whichever lump may be found under the hood of the car, it handles very well. Even with sleek bodylines, the car is still quite sensitive to cross winds.

The Ford supplied V6 is disappointingly underpowered: it lacks low-end torque. The masterful chassis feels like it can easily take more. Average fuel consumption, over the course of the test, was 13.5 to 14L per 100 km, slightly higher than what Transport Canada indicated. The 4 wheel disc brakes perform rather well and steering response is not as responsive as expected but grip is still above average for this category. At highway speeds, the tires become quite noisy and there is a fair bit of wind noise.

Safety

The car has standard dual front air bags, available ABS brakes, electronic brake force distribution (except on the base GS-I4), and seatbelt pre-tensionners. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) awarded the car 4 out of 5 stars (a good result) for a frontal impact. In lateral impacts, it received 3 out of 5 stars (an average result) for the front passengers and 4 out of 5 stars for the rear passengers. The IIHS has rated it a "Best Pick" in its category.