2003 Mazda MAZDA6 Review

Partly blame it on lousy winter weather, but the new Mazda6 sedan has only recently begun hitting its sales stride, after being introduced late last year.

The fast, smooth, high-quality Mazda6 deftly fits the automaker's sporty "zoom-zoom'' marketing campaign and has gotten good reviews in knowledgeable publications. So why the delay in expected Mazda6 sales?

For one thing, despite its long presence in America, Mazda never has made a lasting impact because of such things as spotty, marginal promotion and solid-but-plain vehicles. Mazda's revolutionary rotary engine (making a comeback in its 2004 RX-8) got lots of publicity in the 1970s, but that was long ago.

Launching a brand new model is especially tough for an automaker that's not a household word, and the Mazda6 also began life with an offbeat name. Then the car faced severe winter weather that discouraged auto shopping, along with heavy buyer incentives from better-known rivals.

Another setback: Dealers mostly got four-cylinder, automatic transmission versions of the car because most autos in the compact- to mid-size sedan market in which the Mazda6 fits are bought with a four-cylinder and automatic.

To Mazda's surprise, the first wave of Mazda6 buyers wanted the manual-shift, V-6 version of the car, which was featured in initial Mazda6 advertisements. It was featured because an automaker often kicks off the advertising campaign for a new car with the sexiest version.

The Mazda6 is offered with a 2.3-liter 160-horsepower four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission and a 3-liter, 220-horsepower V-6 with either a five-speed manual gearbox or five-speed automatic.

The four-cylinder provides decent performance, while the V-6 makes the Mazda6 seriously fast, with unusually good merging and passing abilities.

The Mazda6 lives up to its reputation of providing driving fun, although its front-drive design doesn't quite offer the balance of the rear-drive design of European sports sedans.

The steering is quick, although it should provide a slightly better feel, and a solid structure and all-independent suspension allow a supple ride and sharp handling. The brakes have an easily modulated pedal and provide quick, sure stops.

There are various engine-transmission combinations. The four-cylinder thus delivers 23-25 mpg in the city and 29-32 on the highway. The V-6 figures are 19-20 in the city and 27 on highways. Only 87-octane fuel is needed for either engine.

The four-cylinder comes with either a five-speed manual gearbox or an $850 four-speed automatic. The V-6 is available with the manual transmission or a $900 five-speed automatic.

Safety features include $450 side impact air bags, which come with curtain side air bags.

The automatic shifts well, as does the manual--although the clutch has a rather long throw.

Things are finally looking up for the Mazda6, although the war in Iraq and the lagging economy have caused total Mazda sales for the first three months this year to dip to 50,711 cars and trucks from 53,895 units for the same year-ago period.

About 70 percent of Mazda6 buyers now order a four-cylinder version with an automatic transmission--as was initially expected. However, a 30 percent order rate for the V-6 and manual transmission is high for a car in the Mazda6 market, although the car's racy styling and zoomy performance encourages that combination.

The Mazda6 is beautifully painted and has a rich-looking interior. It comes as the $18,650 four-cylinder "i'' model with such items as air conditioning, cruise control, tilt-telescoping steering wheel with radio controls, AM/FM/CD player, rear defogger and power mirrors, windows and door locks.

The $21,220 "s'' model adds the V-6 and anti-lock disc brakes, traction control, alloy wheels, automatic climate control, remote keyless entry and a power driver's seat.

Good attention to detail is shown by six windshield washer jets, instead of two jets found on most cars.

Stand-alone options include a $700 power sunroof and $860 leather upholstery. Options packages include a $960 Sport package, with body cladding, rear spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, fog lights and wider 50-series tires on 17-inch wheels, instead of the standard 60-series tires on 16-inch wheels.

My test car was the ultimate Mazda6, with the V-6 engine, manual transmission and Sport package. It drew questions from bystanders, who said they liked the car but looked perplexed when I told them it was a Mazda6. When the word gets out, Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes said the automaker hopes to sell about 80,000 Mazda6 models annually.

The smooth Mazda6 looks and feels more expensive than it is. Large doors with easily gripped outside handles open wide to allow entry to the quiet, roomy interior. It has supportive front seats, aircraft-style gauges, large controls and oversized dashboard vents. However, climate and audio settings on the dashboard panel display screen should be closer to the controls themselves.

The long, deep trunk has a low opening and a lid that raises on smooth hydraulic struts. Seatbacks flip forward to enlarge the cargo area via release levers in the trunk.

Now controlled by Ford, Mazda has decided to build cars such as the Mazda6 for generally younger buyers who want both practicality and driving kicks. That approach should help the Japanese automaker eventually stand out in an increasingly crowded vehicle market.


MAZDA6
Prices:
$18,650-$21,220

Likes:
Sporty. Roomy. Admirable ride and handling. Fast with V-6.

Dislikes:

Long-throw clutch. Rather awkward dashboard screen display. Frustrating lack of recognition.