2004 Mazda 6 Road Test
The Mazda 6 is the replacement of the ill-fated Mazda 626 (1998-2002). This last design of the 626 never achieved the commercial success that the previous two generations did. Mazda decided in 2003 that it wanted its fair share of this very large portion of the market. Enter the 2004 Mazda 6. Launched in early 2003 as the sporty alternative in the segment, it made promises of handling, style, performance and driving pleasure. In the course of 2004, Mazda introduced the hatchback and wagon versions to complete the line-up. This car, being the third Mazda 6 that I have tested, has left me with as many questions as it has with answers. I have driven a manual GS-I4 sedan as well as a manual V6 GT-GFX sedan. The biggest difference between all 3 was with respect to handling and braking, specifically between the 4 and 6 cylinder engines (engine power notwithstanding). The tester was Sport V6 with the manual transmission and the GFX package. It retails for 30 760$