Mazda has always been sort of a shadow in the family car market. While cars like Accord, Taurus, Grand Am, and Camry all had their claims to fame, the late Mazda 626 meant nothing but 3 meaningless numbers to most consumers. For 2003 Mazda has definitely made a grand entrance with the (to say the least) generically titled Mazda6; Mazda's new 4 door sports sedan, successor to the late 626. The Mazda6 is definitely a stand-out, but does it have what it takes to compete with the current herd of sport sedans?

For the 2003 model year the Mazda6 comes in 2 trim levels, the base i (tester) and the s. The major difference between these trims are the available powertrains. The s comes standard with a 3.0 DOHC V6 (a version of the Duratec V6 found in the Ford Taurus) and the option of a 5-speed automatic with auto shift mode, while the i (tester) comes standard with a DOHC 2.3 liter 4-cylinder producing 160 horsepower with a standard 5-speed manual, or an optional 4-speed automatic with shift mode. One should note that only one body style is available; a 4 door sedan.

Driving Impressions:

Taking into consideration that I was driving the base Mazda6i trim level equipped with the 2.3 liter DOHC 4-cylinder I wasn't expecting exhilarating acceleration, though I also wasn't expecting such spiritless giddy-up. Under full throttle (standing start) the Mazda6i does pick up revs fairly fast, however it's not until 5,000 RPM that you feel any sort of punch from this particular engine. Gearing is also an issue; 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears are almost worthless if you are cruising below 40 MPH and need to make some quick speed. This type of tall gearing would be great if the Mazda6i had an engine with power readily available at a low RPM; it doesn't. On a positive note, the throws of the easy to reach 5-speed shifter are relatively short, making for quick shifts. Most drivers should also appreciate the husky sound emitted from the dual exhaust pipes both on initial start-up and under full throttle take-off.

A huge surprise was that the Mazda6i showed very little signs of torque steer. Unlike some high powered 4-cylinder equipped FWD cars in this class, i.e. the 2003 Nissan Altima, the Mazda6i can accelerate off-the-line under full throttle without having to do a clog dance first.

By far the strongest performance characteristic offered from the Mazda6i is its ability to perform like a sports car on the twisties. If I were to rate the Mazda6i on handling alone it definitely would receive 5 stars. The Mazda6i's limit of adhesion might be reached sooner than cars such as the late RX7, however for a sub $25,000 sports sedan it doesn't get much better than this. The Mazda6i is one of those cars where the faster you take a turn the better it feels. Body lean/roll are next to none, and the P215/50V17 All Season tires (only available with the sport package) provide excellent grip on harsh turns.

The Mazda6i is a decent cruiser, though I have some major gripes here as well. While Mazda did a great job keeping engine noise under the hood and not in the cabin, wind noise is a major factor. With all the windows rolled up I still could hear prominent wind noise at speeds as low as 55 MPH. Coming from a new car, this high level of wind noise is totally unacceptable.

The Mazda6i's suspension is stiff, though not too stiff giving a fairly compliant ride. Bumps and road imperfections can slightly be felt in the cabin, however not enough so as to affect the overall solid ride quality.
The tall gearing definitely helps minimize engine noise during high speed cruising (at 65 MPH the tachometer hovers in the 2,500 RPM range), yet this tall gearing does not come without major compromise. Driving 65 MPH and stabbing the throttle in 5th gear provided very little passing power. Even a down-shift into 4th gear didn't exactly give me the passing ability I would expect from a sports sedan. Steep inclines are also a problem for the Mazda6i. In top gear even the slightest inclines require a down-shift into 4th gear. If your daily commute requires steep mountain climbing you might want to check out the Mazda6s trim (with the 3.0 V6), or perhaps another vehicle altogether.

Braking is excellent. Even without the optional ABS ($400), braking seemed much more refined over the Mazda6i's predecessor; the 626 with its optional ABS set-up. No fade or vibration was felt whatsoever with the Mazda6i's braking system.

Fuel Economy is slightly above average for a 4-cyl powered mid-sized sports sedan. With an EPA rating of 25/32 (with the 5-speed) this puts the Mazda6i's fuel economy in the range with cars like the much smaller Mitsubishi Lancer. This EPA rating is also comparable to cars such as the 4-cylinder powered Honda Accord.

Interior Accommodation:

Mazda has definitely improved with their interior plastics and overall interior craftsmanship over the years. Instead of the flimsy plastic, and the exposed screws that were in some of the older 626's, the new Mazda6 feels solid and looks great to boot (even with its slight overdose of titanium accents). The Mazda6i's interior is not without its faults by any means. First, the switchgear is a bit off the mark. Like the Nissan 350Z , Mazda has decided to put the climate controls at the bottom of the center stack, near the shifter. This climate control placement doesn't make them hard to reach by any means, you just have to take your eyes completely off the road to adjust them. Secondly, the HVAC vents are also an issue. Instead of the popular rectangular 4-way HVAC vents, Mazda has went with the old-school circle vent design. While this design looks good, I find it difficult to adjust them perfectly; I had this same problem with the similarly designed vents in my 1989 Mercury Sable.

Other gripes would include the useless on-dash storage console. Unlike the Altima's similar storage area, you can not fit CDs in the Mazda6's. While this may seem like a noteworthy feature offered from Mazda, this on-dash center console will most likely be used as a waste basket....On second thought, maybe it's a noteworthy feature after all.

Unlike the 626, the new Mazda6 is loaded with standard amenities. AC, 6 small cup holders (2 integrated in the front door map pockets), telescopic steering, power everything, a decent sounding single CD player with 6 speakers, dual air bags, an ashtray, and much more is all included as standard equipment. If you want more info on all standard equipment, options, and packages www.mazdausa.com has all the info you need.

Seating is excellent. The optional black leather seats ($800) felt rich, as did the leather wrapped steering wheel (with audio and cruise control buttons), and the optional leather wrapped shifter ($50). The front bucket seats are very charming. Both the upper and lower body bolsters provided enough support for aggressive driving. The backseat passengers however had a huge problem keeping their heads from bumping during hard turns. While I did not have a problem with the leather in the rear, my passengers complained that they felt "cheap and slippery."

Room is excellent up front, however the rear could use a bit more room. Despite interior specs stating that the rear of the Mazda6 offers about the same head, leg, and shoulder room as the Nissan Altima and other sedans in its class, the rear of the Mazda6 seemed significantly smaller. Seeing 2 people in the back of this car looked squishy enough let alone having a third person back there.

Stowage space is good. The trunk isn't exactly huge, however the ceiling is tall which makes for easy access for large items. Also the 60/40 split rear seats are spring loaded which fold flat via switches in the trunk.

Exterior Design:

Dressed up in speed yellow paint and the sport package my tester definitely fit the part of an exciting sports sedan (check out the above picture to view exactly what my car looked like). It's a shame the engine could not back up this sporty look. With the sport package ($860) you get a rear deck spoiler, sport bumpers, fog lights, dual exhaust, side skirts, and attractive 17" alloy rims. If you are going for a sporty appearance I highly recommend going with the sport package, it clearly transforms this otherwise sedate sedan into quite the eye catcher.

Price/Warranty:

The Mazda6i starts out just below $20,000 (there is no dealer mark-up). With the sport package, leather seats, optional power sunroof, leather shift knob, the MSRP of my tester came to just over $22,000 (about the same price as a fully loaded 4-cylinder Accord Coupe). Standard warranty includes 4 year 50,000 mile bumper to bumper coverage.

Final Thoughts:

I'm at odds with the Mazda6i. With a starting sticker price at only $20,000, and a very well equipped sport model (as tested) coming in at only $22,000, this car does represent a fair value. Even though I was disappointed with shortcomings such as wind noise, sluggish acceleration, poor ergonomics etc. the Mazda6i's handling manners, handsome looks, and high levels of driving comfort make the Mazda6i definitely worth a test drive. If you are in the market for a Mazda6 I also highly recommend driving the s trim level with the 3.0 V6.

Note: Looking for (in my opinion) a more refined family car? Check out my review on the 2003 Honda Accord Sedan

-Happy Car Shopping!



Amount Paid (US$): 22,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
Model and Options: Mazda6i , Sprot package, 5-speed manual