2004 Mazda6
Good points: Value, ride, room, interior features, gas mileage, and shift linkage
Needs improvement: heavy trunk lid, backseat room, power, turning radius, readouts, resale, and torque steer
When we review cars they usually fall into three categories. First, those instantly feel comfortable. Secondly, those vehicles that defy us to find something good to say about them. Finally, and this is where the Mazda 6 fits nicely, vehicles that slowly grow on you. The saddest part is that because it takes time for these cars to make their attributes known many people pass them by because they only have an opportunity to take a short ride. It is interesting that both the 6 and the Mazda RX-8 did not make initial good impressions on us, but ultimately both proved to be stellar values and enjoyable vehicles.
Essentially the bottom line is that the Mazda 6 is comfortable, roomy, and well priced but it does not overwhelming in any one area. Perhaps that is damning it with faint praise, but the Mazda is in a very competitive market where the Honda Accord, new Ford 500, Toyota Camry, and Chevrolet Malibu are active players. Somehow the Mazda 6 seems to split the differences among those cars by offering either room, performance, or pricing that they can not match in one way or the other.
Mom's view: What grabbed my attention immediately was the spoiler on the rear deck. It gave the car a racer image that the engine could not back up so why bother? In addition, it weighs a lot which made it extremely difficult for me to raise the trunk lid with one hand. In other words, the Mazda 6 and I were not making friends. Adding to the negative image was a large turning radius that made getting into tight parking spots a difficult proposition. There was also the very long trunk and it lacked a cargo net. So when the grocery bags fell over the only way for me to retrieve them was to fold down the rear seat.
Things didn't get any better when I could not read the HVAC readouts with my polarized sun glasses and got tired of having to decipher the barely legible dials. Even when the temperature was set at a comfortable level the system didn't want to behave.