Awesome review Tom. Hands down love the Mazda 6. I have an 09 with 257,000 km on it and other than doing regular maintenance, I have only had to replaced one tail light bulb. Mazda engineering, style and driving dynamics are second to none!
CORRECTION- The graphic at 4:07 is not correct. Automatic engine stop/start is not available on Mazda6, the non-turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder has cylinder deactivation (two of them shut down under light cruising). Also, in reference to the Soul Red Crystal paint (which yes, overall is heavier), Mazda has this video if you're interested- insidemazda.mazdausa.com/the-mazda-way/design/soul-red-crystal/
i Recently Bought the 2018 Mazda 6 Grand touring reserve, a step below the top trim Signature, but there's barely much difference between the 2 trims. i most say before buying this model car i never dreamed, i would ever be driving one today infact, it was never a car brand i would give any thought to, but due to some personal regulations in the US, i did some research and the Mazda brand Appeared on my radar. Im a dedicated Subaru owner and driver and ive always loved German designed vehicles, infact before thinking about the Mazda brand i test drove the Subaru Outback 3.6R touring, the Subaru WRX STI, the BMW 340i xdrive and the BMW 330i Xdrive. i enjoyed all the models tested while they are all great cars theres just something different about driving the Mazda 6 GTR. i strongly urge anyone in the market who wants, in my opinion a really good blend of affordability, luxury, prestige, sportiness along with a barrage of features, this is the vehicle for you. anywhere i go i get compliments about it, i believe its because of all those beautiful curves and arches which compliment the design of this model, as well as the interior, i have the white interior, with black and alumium finish which is really beautiful, i could go on and on about this vehicle but i dont need to, take a test drive and feel it for yourself. the infotainment system can be some what buggy but besides that, this is one of the best cars ive ever owned.
NOT ONLY THE MAZDA 6 LOOKS REALLY GOOD, IT DRIVES BETTER THAN ANY OTHER CAR IN IT'S CLASS/PRICE RANGE FOR DAY TO DAY DRIVING. JUST TRY IT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF
You have to see the interior in this car in person to actually appreciate how luxurious it is. If I was in the market for a luxury sedan, this will be in my list. Premium brands starts at roughly $35,000 for a base model. Fully loaded can reach $60,000. So it is a bargain if you look at it that way.
I agree. But here's the rub. In top trim the Mazda6 is into the upper 30's. Not terrible. But then you have the fact that a used Mazda6 will not hold its value very well, as it is considered "just a Mazda6" and has little of the enthusiast appeal that drives values in used sport sedans that might cost $8,000 more new, but will return that and more at resale time. So it's a little less costly to own, but not enough to offset the fwd for those of us in warmer climates.
A great bonus on this review was the gorgeous floral landscaping in your driving circuit. Early summer is beautiful in your neighborhood! I LIKED the new pitchfork: is that Seoul Red as well?
Pretty skeptical of their claim of added weight because of the premium paint but the Soul Red sure looks marvelous especially in person! Tom, please continue sharing us stories like these at the end of your videos. Excellent work!
I disagree. Maybe 4-5 years ago Mazda were underrated after they separated from Ford, but now brands like Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai are producing cars that are equally fun + more.
I feel like Mazda is properly rated. They get a lot of credit from auto reviewers and press, but there are areas like reliability where they lag the competition.
That paint is truly sublime, in person. Such great design on this car, too - I'd buy one over all of the midsize cars except maybe an Accord Sport (also a nice design) or Legacy 3.6R (since I'm a 20-year Subaru owner). However if Mazda brought back the Mazdaspeed 6, well, there would be no decisions to be made!
The impression I'm left with is that this is a car where you probably walk off the lot feeling like you got what you paid for. The rest of the segment competitors probably give the same value proposition, but the Mazda interior isn't bested by any of them and I've become a sucker for great interior design. I like the new Accord, but it's not a looker like this is, inside or out. The Honda does have a MUCH better infotainment system, though.
True. But I have a feeling that the Fusion Sport with the 2.7L twin turbo V6 and AWD will end up being a semi-collectible in years to come. And there are definitely deals to be had for that model.
I suggest telling that to Stephen Hendricks below. For now, people are still buying the Fusion, probably more than Mazda6 without checking sales stats.
The Fusion is by most accounts a pretty good car, especially at real-world prices. And with available awd. Ford is schizophrenic and by the time all these little crossovers hit the market gas could again be expensive and crossovers may cool off in the market.
Can't really blame Ford for their decision to exit the sedan market. Their pickups dominate that market in the US. The Mustang is a hot seller and their CUV range is popular and comprehensive. All markets with greater profitability than sedans. And frankly, Ford's sedans are simply kinda old and tired. Nothing to prevent Ford from re-entering that market with new models when and if customer tastes shift.
I wish the Mazda6 wagon was available in the US too! It's really good looking, and the extra length would be good for surfboards and bikes. Most wagons/hatchbacks in the US are compact size. There isn't a lot of competition in the mid-size class.
Nice review as always!! Never heard a paint factoid before...Must admit it is a compelling paint job! As an Optima owner (2017 SXL) I was surprised to get 35.5 MPG on my first road trip from Reno NV to Los Angeles a few weeks ago...city MPG not so great :( Thanks Tom for the great reviews!!
Always look forward to Dave's reviews. (correction below.) As it happens, I recently tested the Mazda6 Signature, Accord 2.0L Touring, Toyota Camry V6 XSE, and the Ford Fusion 2.7L V6 Sport as I considered replacing my 2013 GTI. I'm a Mazda fan having owned several over the years and was hoping it would top its competitors with the 2.5L Turbo lifted from the CX9 crossover. Bottom line is that it came out second to the Accord, winning in terms of exterior style and interior materials, finishing about equal to the Accord in terms of handling and ride, but losing out in terms of performance to all three rivals. It was certainly adequate but I was surprised to find that it simply lacked the acceleration of the Honda, not to mention the V6 models. I can only conclude that Mazda opted to sacrifice performance for smoothness and fuel economy. All in all I hope the Mazda6 does well. It's a fine car in a crowded segment where improvements have been made in a number of models. But the Honda Accord is an especially tough rival. As for me? Well, it came down to whether I could give up a GTI for any of these. I ended up replacing my MK6 GTI with a MK7.5 model.
Take a look at the door jams of any Soul Mica Red Mazda. They're a different color than the rest of the car, more matte, not as shiny. The expensive top coat only goes on the exterior panels.
Darren Persad yeah no. The Accord, Lexus GS350, Acura TLX, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Subaru WRX, Infiniti Q50, Lexus LS, I can keep going. All better vehicles. Kia Stinger, although Korean, is way better than this girl car.
How so? By objective performance figures, the Mazda6 is very slightly better handling than the newest Accord. Given all the hype about the 2.5T engine, the results were underwhelming. The Turbo 6 lagged behind both 2.0T Accord and V6 Camry. Infotainment-wise, Mazda is using a unit that is at least a generation older than CamCord. Not to mention AA/AC is announced but not yet delivered. You can say that the 6 is subjectively better than the CamCord because you find the styling to be more attractive, but to say that it's the "best Japanese mid-size, bar-none" is an overstatement. Furthermore: Mazda6 has no definitive advantage over CamCord in terms of fuel economy, cost to purchase, perceived reliability, utility, or cost of ownership.
It'd be unfair to pin the Mz6 against luxury vehicles from Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti. Nonetheless, Accord, Camry, and even Legacy can rival the Mazda 6.
@Renewer, what? To the others, it’s my personal opinion. I have no time for the gaudy, overdesigned messes that the new Camry and Accord are. I guess I should clarify non-luxury mid-size, because this clearly cannot compete with the TLX, ES, etc. It’s not even remotely designed to compete with the premium and luxury marques out there. But I look at the 6 and what I see is care, attention to detail, intelligent design, competent performance, and a good overall package. Will it outperform the competition on raw numbers? No. Does it have the most cutting-edge technology? No. Is it the most affordable in the class? No. So why do I consider it the best? Simply put, it’s the right package for me. I strongly detest the technology overload we are getting in vehicles now, I dislike the direction most other Japanese makers are going in terms of design, I appreciate the small details and the interior design, and I think this vehicle will age much better ten, even twenty years down the road. So I’ll leave it at that, it’s my personal opinion. Objectively, there are better vehicles out there, but subjectively, I think it’s the best non-luxury mid-size Japanese sedan on the market right now. Cheers
Driven Car Reviews I don't know where your getting that information from, because I can't seem to find that information nowhere, not even Mazda's USA website make any mention of it.
Hi Dee, checked with Mazda and you are correct. I was reading the press info wrong. Thanks for pointing that out, I've made a correction at the top of the comments.
Sadly the reason the TSX wagon was canceled in the US was because... you guessed it... poor sales. Too bad, great car (road noise was pretty high though).
Beautiful inside & out . . . I can’t believe you let your evil twin anywhere near this car. What, with all the Ultra Suede - he probably had a field day!
I've had several Mazda 6 (2007 GS-2010 GS-2012 GT) and now drive a 2018 GS-L Turbo and love the last generation. Build quality is excellent. Too bad that the Mazda 6 is underrated in its category. To all the poeple who would be interested in a berline in this segment, I strongly suggest you take a look at the new generation Mazda 6. Nice review. Alain
Looks beautiful and balanced. Would love to see an AWD version. Also, couldn't they offer that turbo 4 in the CX5? That the car I'm looking at when my current wheels need a refresh.
Antonio Epperson I have heard that it is very hard to match the paint when parts need repainting or touch up paint is needed, this same problem is present with matte paints.
It chips very easily, and not necessarily from stones hitting it. From reading some Mazda forums, it seems a lot of people are seeing this, with bits of paint coming off in clusters. It may have to do with how Mazda applies that specific paint, that it isn't bonding well. It may also be related to what kind of climate people with the problem have.
I'm curious to learn more about the claim about the weight difference between the Soul Red paint relative to the white paint. A difference of 12 to 13 pounds seems excessive for a small car such as the MX-5, but I can't find any sources that confirm this claim. Is there a source that compares the weights side-by-side?
I really wish Mazda would update the old infotainment. The backup camera resolution is very low compare to the Accord on that 7" screen. Now apple/android carplay is shame. I'd buy this if they were to have better tech.
"Mazda says the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay upgrade will be available starting in June. " Did anyone actually get a car with Carplay/AAuto installed and activated? They could promise this feature for the next year and not release it. I haven't seen any reviews with carplay actually working.
Very interesting near lux alternative. Think if the had a turbo manual available they’d sell a few of those, especially with. Mazdaspeed dead for the foreseeable future. Lack of awd is a little disappointing at the price. It’s not like they don’t have a system.
Great review Tom. I've owned 2 Mazdas and the hoods always weighed a ton!. Had an old Mazda Navajo back in the day and I swear the hood must have weighed 50 lbs. Do you think Mazda is hurt by not offering a 6 cyl. in this car? Would it add a more premium gravitas? Love the red color, one of the best reds on the market no matter the price point.
the market is shifting toward turbo 4 cyl. Even the Accord, Optima, Sonata have turbo option. The only major brand that still offer V6 is Toyota Camry. I think adding AWD with rear bias would add premium to this car but the platform is a bit dated compare to other.
yea but it will be 40 grand, n rust in a year and you will be upside down in a loan . Mazdas idea of sound deading is coffee filter like pillows in the wheel wells
I'm going to miss the manual in touring trim; bummer, as that was my #2 car on my next list, tied w/the accord sport. I'll still give it a look in 3 pedal guise but I really wanted the touring trim even w/the 2.5SA. My next car list is getting shorter each year. Soul Red is nice but chips easy (ask me how I know i my cx5) and can be difficult to match. A clear bra is HIGHLY recommended on soul red. Mazda, please bring the #mazda6wagon to the States with a manual!
the infotainment systems look is to complicated. the icons are all chrome and bulky when the rest of the interior is supposed to be subtle, sleek and simple.
Tom, I am adding my 2 cents here :). I considered all these mid sized attractive mid sized sedans and I always ended up at the highest level of each looking at over $32K plus. While trying out the Malibu they had the Impala LT in this beautiful red paint which was also a small up charge. But my point is because sedans are a great deal right now the Impala can be had for a song. And the ride, quietness, and some of the features like OnStar and 4G WIFI and a giant PANO roof I added to mine came in at $33K and change with destination. The MPG is over 21 City and way over 33HWY. The 2.5 four high compression engine is not slow by any means with the almost 200hp rating. I walked out the dealer door paying $25K I have a full sized car with full sized cargo space 18.8 cubic inches and the car handles quiet well. Consumer Reports rated it the best Full Sized Car so many years in a row. May I suggest a new test of the 4 cyl. model. I recently drove the 6 cyl varient shopping with a friend I talked into an Impala and I didn’t notice that much difference at all except the mpg. Great Review as always!
Always thinking about the Impala. 3 questions; aren’t the back seats (while spacious) a little flat and uncomfortable? Also, heard it isn’t that good in the snow? Lastly, while the Impala is probably the best to drive in it’s class, isn’t the Mazda more fun?
Yoram Stone The Impala backseat is no different for comfort then the others as it has plenty of leg room. Where did you hear it’s not good in the snow? I drove it on the all season tires it came with here in the NE in the worst winter we ever had here this past winter and I never had any issues. Winter Tires would even be better for those who travel long distance daily. But I was fine I own a restaurant open 7 days a week and I made it every morning at 6am. The Mazda may be sportier to drive but has a lot more road noise and has a much stiffer ride compared to the Impala which is very quiet and Handles well for a full sized car. I’m not a salesman I am mentioning a deal to be had~
Yoram Stone Why not give one a try. I did. I loved it after trying 8 different cars. The Impala was the last one I tried and it was like Night and Day compared to the others.
Cancelled my deposit when I found out the 2.5L turbo could not be had with a manual transmission option. Clearly not about its driving fans. They have g vectoring though because that's what everyone was demanding....
As nice as that would be, can you really expect Mazda to develop a new transmission for the approximate 5% or less take rate on manuals? The 310 lb/ft of the turbo is far too much for the manual from the non-turbo 2.5. Very few manufacturers offer them at all any more. Mazda is far more about the driving experience than most. And as a former lessee of a 2015 6 GT, they drive as nicely as they look.
Awesome review Tom. Hands down love the Mazda 6. I have an 09 with 257,000 km on it and other than doing regular maintenance, I have only had to replaced one tail light bulb. Mazda engineering, style and driving dynamics are second to none!
CORRECTION- The graphic at 4:07 is not correct. Automatic engine stop/start is not available on Mazda6, the non-turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder has cylinder deactivation (two of them shut down under light cruising). Also, in reference to the Soul Red Crystal paint (which yes, overall is heavier), Mazda has this video if you're interested- insidemazda.mazdausa.com/the-mazda-way/design/soul-red-crystal/
i Recently Bought the 2018 Mazda 6 Grand touring reserve, a step below the top trim Signature, but there's barely much difference between the 2 trims. i most say before buying this model car i never dreamed, i would ever be driving one today infact, it was never a car brand i would give any thought to, but due to some personal regulations in the US, i did some research and the Mazda brand Appeared on my radar. Im a dedicated Subaru owner and driver and ive always loved German designed vehicles, infact before thinking about the Mazda brand i test drove the Subaru Outback 3.6R touring, the Subaru WRX STI, the BMW 340i xdrive and the BMW 330i Xdrive. i enjoyed all the models tested while they are all great cars theres just something different about driving the Mazda 6 GTR. i strongly urge anyone in the market who wants, in my opinion a really good blend of affordability, luxury, prestige, sportiness along with a barrage of features, this is the vehicle for you. anywhere i go i get compliments about it, i believe its because of all those beautiful curves and arches which compliment the design of this model, as well as the interior, i have the white interior, with black and alumium finish which is really beautiful, i could go on and on about this vehicle but i dont need to, take a test drive and feel it for yourself. the infotainment system can be some what buggy but besides that, this is one of the best cars ive ever owned.
Elish Spencer that’s awesome having that experience with this car must’ve meant a lot to you
Thanks, Tom V.
Gorgeous sedan from all angles.
Kudos to Mazda design team.
NOT ONLY THE MAZDA 6 LOOKS REALLY GOOD, IT DRIVES BETTER THAN ANY OTHER CAR IN IT'S CLASS/PRICE RANGE FOR DAY TO DAY DRIVING. JUST TRY IT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF
You have to see the interior in this car in person to actually appreciate how luxurious it is. If I was in the market for a luxury sedan, this will be in my list. Premium brands starts at roughly $35,000 for a base model. Fully loaded can reach $60,000. So it is a bargain if you look at it that way.
I agree. But here's the rub. In top trim the Mazda6 is into the upper 30's. Not terrible. But then you have the fact that a used Mazda6 will not hold its value very well, as it is considered "just a Mazda6" and has little of the enthusiast appeal that drives values in used sport sedans that might cost $8,000 more new, but will return that and more at resale time. So it's a little less costly to own, but not enough to offset the fwd for those of us in warmer climates.
I went and test drove one with a all white interior. Man it fealt like I was in a Bentley. And the ride was amazing for a 35,000 dollar car
A great bonus on this review was the gorgeous floral landscaping in your driving circuit. Early summer is beautiful in your neighborhood! I LIKED the new pitchfork: is that Seoul Red as well?
I believe it's Satan Red.
I enjoyed the factoid at the end. Love the soul red.
Pretty skeptical of their claim of added weight because of the premium paint but the Soul Red sure looks marvelous especially in person! Tom, please continue sharing us stories like these at the end of your videos. Excellent work!
Mazda is so underrated!
I disagree. Maybe 4-5 years ago Mazda were underrated after they separated from Ford, but now brands like Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai are producing cars that are equally fun + more.
I feel like Mazda is properly rated. They get a lot of credit from auto reviewers and press, but there are areas like reliability where they lag the competition.
thevoxdeus reliability? My 2003 mazda 6 has 550 000 kilometers and not a single repair was needed
thevoxdeus mazda are almost as reliable as Toyota and Honda, apart from rusting problems!
I agree
I'm not a Mazda fan, but I must admit that that 2018 Mazda 6 is a beautiful car. That front end looks very upscale. Nice job.
Been looking forward to this! Excellent review and carmakers should hire you to video their cars. No one does it more beautifully.
It looks really good
Tellie Smith Mazda really has that down
smooth review.The car is awesome.always great watching your videos.fun and smooth
That paint is truly sublime, in person. Such great design on this car, too - I'd buy one over all of the midsize cars except maybe an Accord Sport (also a nice design) or Legacy 3.6R (since I'm a 20-year Subaru owner).
However if Mazda brought back the Mazdaspeed 6, well, there would be no decisions to be made!
No CD is fine as long as I can still play my Yaz tape. The Mazda red is though truly fantastic live -- very deep.
The Mazda6 right up there with the Accord and the Camry in my opinion. A classy drive and so stylish. Thanks for sharing!
Best review of the new mazda6 on TH-cam.
A Mazda6 Wagon would be a SUV you can chuck into a curve. It can even tow 2,000 lbs.
Man, you drive around some beautiful neighborhoods! I would love to live in Seattle.
Good sense of humor. Yes, useful factoid at the end. Enjoyed it.
The impression I'm left with is that this is a car where you probably walk off the lot feeling like you got what you paid for. The rest of the segment competitors probably give the same value proposition, but the Mazda interior isn't bested by any of them and I've become a sucker for great interior design. I like the new Accord, but it's not a looker like this is, inside or out. The Honda does have a MUCH better infotainment system, though.
bassandtrebleclef and with skyactive x next year mazda would ve even more economical!
Mazda works awesome! Nice video!!
I was looking at the Buick LaCrosse and then I saw this. It is way ahead of the Americans with adaptive cruise and auto high beams.
I agree bring the station wagon here
Mazda were one of the last to offer a wagon in this segment but very sadly the sales were poor.
A crazy good review and a very nice car 👍
Tom--hard to say Fusion still wants a piece of the pie when they are leaving the segment!
True. But I have a feeling that the Fusion Sport with the 2.7L twin turbo V6 and AWD will end up being a semi-collectible in years to come. And there are definitely deals to be had for that model.
I suggest telling that to Stephen Hendricks below. For now, people are still buying the Fusion, probably more than Mazda6 without checking sales stats.
The Fusion is by most accounts a pretty good car, especially at real-world prices. And with available awd. Ford is schizophrenic and by the time all these little crossovers hit the market gas could again be expensive and crossovers may cool off in the market.
Can't really blame Ford for their decision to exit the sedan market. Their pickups dominate that market in the US. The Mustang is a hot seller and their CUV range is popular and comprehensive. All markets with greater profitability than sedans. And frankly, Ford's sedans are simply kinda old and tired. Nothing to prevent Ford from re-entering that market with new models when and if customer tastes shift.
Well said Stephen! Ranger coming back, Bronco too. Nothing is off the table for the future, if the market changes. :-)
I personal think Mazda are most overlooked car marker. Also I love the designs and best interior in its class
I LOVE this Channel ! Congrats from monterrey México ⭐⭐⭐
I wish the Mazda6 wagon was available in the US too! It's really good looking, and the extra length would be good for surfboards and bikes. Most wagons/hatchbacks in the US are compact size. There isn't a lot of competition in the mid-size class.
Yes, the wagon is stunning! If I were to buy a mid size car that would be the one without question.
You'd have to live in Canada, Europe, or Australia.
Insert political joke here.
Nice review as always!! Never heard a paint factoid before...Must admit it is a compelling paint job! As an Optima owner (2017 SXL) I was surprised to get 35.5 MPG on my first road trip from Reno NV to Los Angeles a few weeks ago...city MPG not so great :( Thanks Tom for the great reviews!!
Huh... Interesting fact about the soul red paint. Thanks for sharing!
It does have a CD player too. Fantastic car, so good I bought one.
Always look forward to Dave's reviews. (correction below.) As it happens, I recently tested the Mazda6 Signature, Accord 2.0L Touring, Toyota Camry V6 XSE, and the Ford Fusion 2.7L V6 Sport as I considered replacing my 2013 GTI. I'm a Mazda fan having owned several over the years and was hoping it would top its competitors with the 2.5L Turbo lifted from the CX9 crossover. Bottom line is that it came out second to the Accord, winning in terms of exterior style and interior materials, finishing about equal to the Accord in terms of handling and ride, but losing out in terms of performance to all three rivals. It was certainly adequate but I was surprised to find that it simply lacked the acceleration of the Honda, not to mention the V6 models. I can only conclude that Mazda opted to sacrifice performance for smoothness and fuel economy.
All in all I hope the Mazda6 does well. It's a fine car in a crowded segment where improvements have been made in a number of models. But the Honda Accord is an especially tough rival. As for me? Well, it came down to whether I could give up a GTI for any of these. I ended up replacing my MK6 GTI with a MK7.5 model.
Dave?
Duh...Put it down to being early in the morning, Tom. Next time more coffee. BTW, I'm taking care on those slippery roads near Fall City.
That thang is nizzzice!
Take a look at the door jams of any Soul Mica Red Mazda. They're a different color than the rest of the car, more matte, not as shiny. The expensive top coat only goes on the exterior panels.
Great review, great car
Best Japanese mid-size right now! Bar none!
Gus, I said Japanese. The Stinger is bloody brilliant, but it’s South Korean - humongous difference.
Darren Persad yeah no. The Accord, Lexus GS350, Acura TLX, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Subaru WRX, Infiniti Q50, Lexus LS, I can keep going. All better vehicles. Kia Stinger, although Korean, is way better than this girl car.
How so? By objective performance figures, the Mazda6 is very slightly better handling than the newest Accord. Given all the hype about the 2.5T engine, the results were underwhelming. The Turbo 6 lagged behind both 2.0T Accord and V6 Camry.
Infotainment-wise, Mazda is using a unit that is at least a generation older than CamCord. Not to mention AA/AC is announced but not yet delivered.
You can say that the 6 is subjectively better than the CamCord because you find the styling to be more attractive, but to say that it's the "best Japanese mid-size, bar-none" is an overstatement.
Furthermore: Mazda6 has no definitive advantage over CamCord in terms of fuel economy, cost to purchase, perceived reliability, utility, or cost of ownership.
It'd be unfair to pin the Mz6 against luxury vehicles from Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti. Nonetheless, Accord, Camry, and even Legacy can rival the Mazda 6.
@Renewer, what?
To the others, it’s my personal opinion. I have no time for the gaudy, overdesigned messes that the new Camry and Accord are. I guess I should clarify non-luxury mid-size, because this clearly cannot compete with the TLX, ES, etc. It’s not even remotely designed to compete with the premium and luxury marques out there. But I look at the 6 and what I see is care, attention to detail, intelligent design, competent performance, and a good overall package. Will it outperform the competition on raw numbers? No. Does it have the most cutting-edge technology? No. Is it the most affordable in the class? No.
So why do I consider it the best? Simply put, it’s the right package for me. I strongly detest the technology overload we are getting in vehicles now, I dislike the direction most other Japanese makers are going in terms of design, I appreciate the small details and the interior design, and I think this vehicle will age much better ten, even twenty years down the road.
So I’ll leave it at that, it’s my personal opinion. Objectively, there are better vehicles out there, but subjectively, I think it’s the best non-luxury mid-size Japanese sedan on the market right now. Cheers
Let it be noted that Mazda do offer stop start technology in their cars (I-STOP) its just not offered in North-America.
And as the graphic noted, it's on the 6 with the non-turbo engine.
Driven Car Reviews I don't know where your getting that information from, because I can't seem to find that information nowhere, not even Mazda's USA website make any mention of it.
Hi Dee, checked with Mazda and you are correct. I was reading the press info wrong. Thanks for pointing that out, I've made a correction at the top of the comments.
Driven Car Reviews Your welcome.
Awesome review, thank you :)
Best looking sedan.
It’s true some paint can add weight to a vehicle.
masterclass of understatement
Nice review tom...the car is nice but car automakers do crazy things in terms of car pricing...keep it up 👍
I'd LOVE to see the 6 wagon here in the US. The TSX wagon, while it was here briefly, was also beautiful. Buick's Regal TourX is cool too.
Sadly the reason the TSX wagon was canceled in the US was because... you guessed it... poor sales. Too bad, great car (road noise was pretty high though).
There are a number of premium entries in the wagon segment at the moment. If any of them actually sell, it might start a new trend.
I wish Mazda has upgraded the infotaiment system resolution and more cabine light :D
Beautiful inside & out . . . I can’t believe you let your evil twin anywhere near this car. What, with all the Ultra Suede - he probably had a field day!
I've had several Mazda 6 (2007 GS-2010 GS-2012 GT) and now drive a 2018 GS-L Turbo and love the last generation. Build quality is excellent. Too bad that the Mazda 6 is underrated in its category. To all the poeple who would be interested in a berline in this segment, I strongly suggest you take a look at the new generation Mazda 6. Nice review. Alain
Wow beautiful!
Looks beautiful and balanced. Would love to see an AWD version. Also, couldn't they offer that turbo 4 in the CX5? That the car I'm looking at when my current wheels need a refresh.
martin kleinman it seems as though the 2019 CX5 will be offered with the 2.5 Turbo ... hope the rumour is true as it will be an awesome car 🚘
Rumor is that they've put the CX-5 and 2.5T through the emissions gauntlet, so there's a decent chance we'll see that combo on the 2019 model.
Hey but what about that parking job by the audi q7 in the background during the TP trunk test.
That's a beautiful neighborhood. Whats the average cost of each home?
Sorry, not a real estate guy. I do cars.
Driven Car Reviews which neighborhood is that, what city?
Northern suburb of Seattle.
カッコ良すぎて毎日いろんなアテンザの動画観てしまう 絶対買う
Mazda's next step, a MazdaSpeed6 AWD. That powertrain & added trim would also transform the CX-5, making it luxury compact crossover competitor.
Interesting fact at the end, did not know that...
I like the interesting tid bit at the end of your video
yeah,the paint up-charge gets me but color is gorgeous
I had a 2007 mazda6 night and day difference LOL.
Lots of Mazda buyers having issues with the premium Soul Red Crystal paint. Hopefully Mazda can work it out.
What problems? I have it and I have not seen any issues.
Antonio Epperson I have heard that it is very hard to match the paint when parts need repainting or touch up paint is needed, this same problem is present with matte paints.
It chips very easily, and not necessarily from stones hitting it. From reading some Mazda forums, it seems a lot of people are seeing this, with bits of paint coming off in clusters. It may have to do with how Mazda applies that specific paint, that it isn't bonding well. It may also be related to what kind of climate people with the problem have.
I'm curious to learn more about the claim about the weight difference between the Soul Red paint relative to the white paint. A difference of 12 to 13 pounds seems excessive for a small car such as the MX-5, but I can't find any sources that confirm this claim.
Is there a source that compares the weights side-by-side?
It's from my contacts at Mazda. Here's a link to a video about the paint. insidemazda.mazdausa.com/the-mazda-way/design/soul-red-crystal/
Im not sure why these critics are so obsessed with torque steer i mean wth its a front wheel drive with loads of torque.
Those houses are beautiful, what city is this? Also, great review as always.
Shoreline, WA which is north of downtown Seattle 10 miles or so.
Theyre $1M on average for this part of Shoreline in Washington State
Wait, I’m confused. Always thought the evil twin scene is some editing trick, now I’m not sure if he actually has a twin..
I really wish Mazda would update the old infotainment. The backup camera resolution is very low compare to the Accord on that 7" screen. Now apple/android carplay is shame. I'd buy this if they were to have better tech.
Ziakel
Apple carplay and Android auto are coming in july
Babs maybe not
Babs maybe not. It was supposed to be here in 2017.
Matt Nisnevich
www.automobilemag.com/news/2018-mazda6-is-android-auto-and-apple-carplay-friendly-finally/
"Mazda says the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay upgrade will be available starting in June. " Did anyone actually get a car with Carplay/AAuto installed and activated? They could promise this feature for the next year and not release it. I haven't seen any reviews with carplay actually working.
If there ever was a review I wanted from you
7:00 - 7:14 you forgot one more essential competitor its SKODA SUPERB!
Apple CarPlay is now available for the 6
Beautiful car.....Beautiful neighborhood,
Very interesting near lux alternative. Think if the had a turbo manual available they’d sell a few of those, especially with. Mazdaspeed dead for the foreseeable future. Lack of awd is a little disappointing at the price. It’s not like they don’t have a system.
finally a car with enough pitchfork space !
You saw it here first.
What a lovely neighborhood. Where is that?
Have you noticed doug demuro uploads the same days you do? Just something I've noted
I have not. To be honest I don't watch other people's videos to keep my own perspective.
Driven Car Reviews And it shows! I've been watching for years now. Thank you, Tom!
Interesting. It never occurred to me that paint had weight. Good to know!
Next time you're in Ace Hardware pick up a can. It's heavy stuff.
Yes, that's true! it just never occurred to me.
Great review Tom. I've owned 2 Mazdas and the hoods always weighed a ton!. Had an old Mazda Navajo back in the day and I swear the hood must have weighed 50 lbs. Do you think Mazda is hurt by not offering a 6 cyl. in this car? Would it add a more premium gravitas? Love the red color, one of the best reds on the market no matter the price point.
the market is shifting toward turbo 4 cyl. Even the Accord, Optima, Sonata have turbo option. The only major brand that still offer V6 is Toyota Camry. I think adding AWD with rear bias would add premium to this car but the platform is a bit dated compare to other.
Does Mazda even make a V6 anymore?
The new Fusion Sport has a 2.7 Turbo V6.
The back seats go down just like my 2008 Pontiac G6! it only cost $18,000.......
I will get this Car when my 2014 Mazda 6 GT retires, on 257,000 km on the clock
Will the heavier paint be more durable and longer lasting? My Rubix cube says "no" it'll just be good & better looking.
Yeah... about taking to your Rubix Cube...
Better than talking to myself....
I'll wait for the all new Mazda 6. It'll blow all other midsize cars away.
yea but it will be 40 grand, n rust in a year and you will be upside down in a loan .
Mazdas idea of sound deading is coffee filter like pillows in the wheel wells
So unfortunate that the turbo doesn't coming in the 6 speed manual. That makes no sense to me.
Bring the wagon!
Tom - the “evil one” left a mess on the floor. You know you can force him to vacuum, right?
That paint job adds weight to the car?? Damn...first time hearing such a thing.
I'm going to miss the manual in touring trim; bummer, as that was my #2 car on my next list, tied w/the accord sport. I'll still give it a look in 3 pedal guise but I really wanted the touring trim even w/the 2.5SA. My next car list is getting shorter each year. Soul Red is nice but chips easy (ask me how I know i my cx5) and can be difficult to match. A clear bra is HIGHLY recommended on soul red. Mazda, please bring the #mazda6wagon to the States with a manual!
Why there aren't more of these on the roads and less Altima's always makes me wonder, Nissan Altimas look boring and don't age well.
Good Job 👏🏽 Mazda
Plenty of pitch fork room..LOL
Fun fact was nice!
Mazda 6 station wagon?
the infotainment systems look is to complicated. the icons are all chrome and bulky when the rest of the interior is supposed to be subtle, sleek and simple.
Most 2.0T subcompact SUVs get that fuel economy...with AWD!
I would get a Stinger in the $36k range.
Tom, I am adding my 2 cents here :). I considered all these mid sized attractive mid sized sedans and I always ended up at the highest level of each looking at over $32K plus. While trying out the Malibu they had the Impala LT in this beautiful red paint which was also a small up charge. But my point is because sedans are a great deal right now the Impala can be had for a song. And the ride, quietness, and some of the features like OnStar and 4G WIFI and a giant PANO roof I added to mine came in at $33K and change with destination. The MPG is over 21 City and way over 33HWY. The 2.5 four high compression engine is not slow by any means with the almost 200hp rating. I walked out the dealer door paying $25K I have a full sized car with full sized cargo space 18.8 cubic inches and the car handles quiet well. Consumer Reports rated it the best Full Sized Car so many years in a row. May I suggest a new test of the 4 cyl. model. I recently drove the 6 cyl varient shopping with a friend I talked into an Impala and I didn’t notice that much difference at all except the mpg. Great Review as always!
Always thinking about the Impala. 3 questions; aren’t the back seats (while spacious) a little flat and uncomfortable? Also, heard it isn’t that good in the snow? Lastly, while the Impala is probably the best to drive in it’s class, isn’t the Mazda more fun?
Yoram Stone The Impala backseat is no different for comfort then the others as it has plenty of leg room. Where did you hear it’s not good in the snow? I drove it on the all season tires it came with here in the NE in the worst winter we ever had here this past winter and I never had any issues. Winter Tires would even be better for those who travel long distance daily. But I was fine I own a restaurant open 7 days a week and I made it every morning at 6am. The Mazda may be sportier to drive but has a lot more road noise and has a much stiffer ride compared to the Impala which is very quiet and Handles well for a full sized car. I’m not a salesman I am mentioning a deal to be had~
gene978 is it fun to drive?
Yoram Stone Why not give one a try. I did. I loved it after trying 8 different cars. The Impala was the last one I tried and it was like Night and Day compared to the others.
gene978 thanks for the advice
No CarPlay :(
Call me when they offer AWD or a manual transmission with this engine.
It’s ludicrous to charge for paint color!
They're nearly matchy matchy 7:45
2 errors in your review - Rear heated seats are not only on the Signature model. Adaptive cruise control does not have stop-and-go capability.
CHaSeDghost
Yes you're right for the first point but not the second point.
Babs I own the car and I've tested it. If adaptive cruise is on, and it takes you to a complete stop, it won't go again
CHaSeDghost
www.mazda.ca/en/digital-owners-manual/2018/cx-9/contents/05100101.html
Babs if you read deeper it mentions that it won't automatically resume from a stop. So I guess it depends what Stop and Go really means.
マツダいいでしょ、日本人として誇れる1台に仕上がってると言えます
Cancelled my deposit when I found out the 2.5L turbo could not be had with a manual transmission option. Clearly not about its driving fans. They have g vectoring though because that's what everyone was demanding....
As nice as that would be, can you really expect Mazda to develop a new transmission for the approximate 5% or less take rate on manuals? The 310 lb/ft of the turbo is far too much for the manual from the non-turbo 2.5. Very few manufacturers offer them at all any more. Mazda is far more about the driving experience than most. And as a former lessee of a 2015 6 GT, they drive as nicely as they look.