This Mazda could change my mind!
Written: Jun 07 '05
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Pros: Stylish, sports sedan feel, well designed instrument cluster, roomy trunk and RUNS ON REGULAR FUEL!
Cons: no low end oomph, weak radio, interior plastic surfaces easily scratched
The Bottom Line: The Mazda 6 would make an excellent sports sedan if the sports package was ordered along with the more powerful 3.0 liter 6.
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| dial_tone's Full Review: 2004 Mazda Mazda6 |
I have been driving an SUV for quite a while now and never thought a four door sedan could pique my interest. This Mazda's styling and sporty appeal raised my eyebrows upon seeing it and continued to impress me as I motor along.
This vehicle was given to me as a rental/loaner while my local dealer is fixing an A/C problem in my wife's daily driver. While I only have the Mazda 6 for a couple days, it left me with an impression good enough to write about.
The first thing that caught my eye was the bright silver paint and the sports package. I was going to drive a sports sedan! As I mentioned before, I am a SUV driver and my want to drive a smaller vehicle has vanished a long time ago but this car just might change my mind.
The interior:
The black and silver plastic dash were done tastefully in my opinion without looking overly 'plasticky'. Large and legible gauges found in the instrument cluster complemented by chrome rings around the tach and speedometer. Ergonomically speaking, the layout was not bad at all. My hand falls naturally on the leather-wrapped shift knob as I work through its semi-automatic shifting and the audio and climate controls are all within easy reach.
The three-spoked steering wheel seem to invoke spirited driving due the thickness of the wheel and excellent feel. Along with the cruise controls, the redundant audio controls was a nice touch. One thing I did notice, the horn could only be activated if pressed on the bottom towards the middle spoke instead of the middle of the steering wheel.
The audio and climate control knobs are big and sensibly placed on the center dash, but the audio display was a matter of getting used to. It is located far above all the other audio controls (such as radio presets/CD player buttons/CD slot) in a screen at almost the top of the dash. I presume it is designed that way so the driver does not have to look down for the audio display.
One big negative about the center dash console is that the plastic seems to be easily scratched. And since it was silver colored, the scratches are move visible and pronounced. Another one is that it looks like the radio/CD player cannot be upgraded with an after market unit. The standard radio (non-Bose) is too weak for my tastes and could improve the sound quality.
Legroom and headroom up in front was more than adequate but I couldn't say the same for the back seat. The seats feel firm and comfortable and looks like would be comfortable if taken on a long drives.
My driving impression:
The 2.3 liter engine gains some pep once in the higher revolutions. Typical of 4 cylinder, automatic transmission cars, the Mazda 6 lacks some low end power. One would be hard-pressed to do a hard launch with this 4 banger. The semi-automatic shifting makes up for the difference as you can keep the engine within its powerband.
Steering is nicely weighted and offers excellent road feel. It almost feels like you are driving a rear-wheel drive car.
The suspension seem to be on the sporty side which I don't mind at all. The Mazda 6 had very minimal body roll when I charged up a curving freeway on ramp. And though I didn't do any high speed braking, the four wheel discs seem to be able to stop the 6 on the proverbial dime. Lower profile tires announce road imperfections to the cabin but tolerable. This is supposed to be a sports sedan anyway.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 0.00
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: Mazda 6 i
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Epinions.com ID:
dial_tone
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Reviews written: 4
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