For those looking to save $10+K by buying the Mazdaspeed6 instead of a Subaru WRX STI or, if in the U.S., Mitsubishi Lancer EVO IX, there's no comparison. Both road-prepped rally cars will put the Mazda to waste in comparative acceleration tests, with the Speed6 needing a full 6.6
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| The Speed6 has been designed to appeal to those who want to add some zest to their daily commute without totally breaking the bank, and any vertebrae along the way. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
seconds to reach 100 km/h and the other Japanese sedans overcoming the three digit goal in well under 5 seconds. But such mind-numbing feats weren't Mazda's prime objective, but rather the Speed6 has been designed to appeal to those who want to add some zest to their daily commute without totally breaking the bank, and any vertebrae along the way.
On the way up the mountain, on an average (i.e. wet) west coast day, I let my brush-cut down and opened up the little Mazda to see what it could do. Despite running out of air in the upper reaches of the engine's rev range it pulled nicely from 80 km/h up to, well, north of 80 km/h (not to incriminate myself). Mazda states 80 to 120 km/h takes only 5.3 seconds, and I believe them, while I wasn't going to go
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| Maybe it's the rather narrow tires, or the added weight of the all-wheel drive system, but I can't say it felt overly stable in the wet. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
near its stated 240 km/h top speed, especially after a four-wheel power slide that had me questioning the car's full capability.
Maybe it's the rather narrow tires, or the added weight of the all-wheel drive system, but I can't say it felt overly stable in the wet. I've done this road in similar conditions in many cars, the two previously mentioned Japanese road-rockets included, as well as a few hundred less capable models. Where I would have felt comfortable pushing an Audi A4 quattro or
Acura RL with SH-AWD, I immediately pulled off the throttle and swallowed the stomach lining that had become lodged in my throat. I should mention that the Speed6 does include standard dynamic stability control and a limited slip diff, but after the slide I just encountered I wasn't about to test out exactly where it would have cut in if I had pushed it harder.
