CD Article: 2009 Mazda6

[CD_Editor]

First Drive:


Bigger and roomier than its predecessor, the redesigned 2009 Mazda6 sedan is "arguably the best-looking mid-size vehicle that you can buy," says Senior Editor, Paul Williams.  However, the wagon and hatchback body styles are now history, he laments.

 More:
Read the article | View the photos | All the First Drives

[Cortina]

Ummm.  Striking design. I think we have a mid-size winner. 



NA.



Euro.



NA.



Euro.

[Greg B.]

Looks like a 4-door Solara with Focus wheel openings. Not too sure about this one.

[Diesel Advocate]

QUOTE - "Gone, unfortunately, are the clever "Sport" hatchback-that-looks-like-a-sedan version and the wagon due to a lack of interest in the U.S. where sales volumes typically dictate what we get in Canada. "


This is crap! Why do the Americans always have to dictate what we have in Canada. Just because they are stupid enough not to see the versitility of the Wagon or Hatchback doesn't mean that Canada has to lose out as a result. The Hatch and Wagon were very popular here.

Then to add insult to injury, they have made this Mazda 6 bigger unlike the Mazda 6 sold everywhere else in the world. Not everyone want a big fat car designed specifically for big fat American bums. Shame on Madza for pandering to "American Tastes only"

[PMREdmonton]

QUOTE - "Gone, unfortunately, are the clever "Sport" hatchback-that-looks-like-a-sedan version and the wagon due to a lack of interest in the U.S. where sales volumes typically dictate what we get in Canada. "


This is crap! Why do the Americans always have to dictate what we have in Canada. Just because they are stupid enough not to see the versitility of the Wagon or Hatchback doesn't mean that Canada has to lose out as a result. The Hatch and Wagon were very popular here.

Then to add insult to injury, they have made this Mazda 6 bigger unlike the Mazda 6 sold everywhere else in the world. Not everyone want a big fat car designed specifically for big fat American bums. Shame on Madza for pandering to "American Tastes only"

I agree 100% - if they are going to give us American cars, then give us American prices.

[TopGun]

We've had the discussion the styling here before...

http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/topic,55705.0.html

Why do they do this to me - Yes Sir...you can have a car with those striking light seats & dark dash...oh...you want a manual...well...EVERYONE that drives a manual MUST want a black interior.  (Mazda USA site)

[Jaeger]

Pro:

1) great looking vehicle inside and out. I wish the Accord had even half this kind of style.

Con:

1) Another manufacturer drinks the "bigger is better" Kool-aid.  Not everyone wants a limo - though automotive scribes continue, as here, to praise the up-sizing trend.  Thanks heavens at least Nissan hasn't bought into the corpulence cult, with both Altima and Maxima coming in smaller than the models they replaced.

2) No stick with a V6 kind of completes the message you may have missed in the bloated new dimensions: driving enthusiasts are far lower on their radar screen than they were before.  If they register at all. The previous generation offered a serious poor-man's alternative Audi S4 in the Mazdaspeed 6.  Torque-laden turbo, AWD and 6 speed stick.  Night and day compared to this comfy cruiser.

3) Fuel economy for the V6 is mid-pack to bottom of the pack - not good for an all-new model in a highly competitive market segment at a time when prices at the pump are enought to give you a coronary.

Jaeger

[safristi]

..It swims in tha POOL it was designed fer...............Super_sized....1/2 kiddy....family folk....inna burbs...the "out"liars" Notwithstanding

[carcrazy]

While I prefer the looks of the Euro Mazda6, I still think that the North American version is the best looking mid-size sedan on the market today.

[articsteve]

However, the wagon and hatchback body styles are now history

That's something only a domestic car maker would do. 

Ford Focus went the same way and look it's sales numbers now.   

Canadian dealers better hope Mazda is offering the old 0% financing carrot on this car.

[Arthur Dent]

The hatch model was made the 6 interesting before. The V6/manual is a loss as its finally getting a good V6. Shame. The I4/6spd model looks promising but the sheer size of the thing along with the loss of the hatch makes my interest drain away. Shame - last generation's bodies with this generations engines would have been a winner.

[carcrazy]

Canadian dealers better hope Mazda is offering the old 0% financing carrot on this car.

Looking at the I4 Auto model, which I think is the best selling combination in the segment, the Mazda6 should sell on its own merits as it is as good (e.g. fuel economy) or better (design, interior quality, handling, features, price, etc.) than the Accord or Camry.

[Snowman]

The new 6 looks good but nothing to get excited about unlike when it was first released. The lack of a hatch or wagon model makes it just like the Japanese competition and the 6 would not be my first pick.

[Spheric]

I predict the hatchback version of the Mazda6 will make it to North America by 2010/11. Consumers will still be attracted by the space utility of a hatchback against a backdrop of high gas prices and unattractiveness of SUVs.

If I recall, Mazda released the hatch version of the previous gen Mazda6 in 2005 - about a year and half after they released the sedan. 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

It's not a clone of the ROW Mazda6 now, so hard to justify the engineering of a NA Hatch which rides on a different frame and body.

[Black Hatch]

IIf I recall, Mazda released the hatch version of the previous gen Mazda6 in 2005 - about a year and half after they released the sedan. 

Mid-year 2004, hatch and wagon were released. A year after they released the sedan.
 (oh they mentioned that in the article... http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/cc/2008-mazda6-sport.php
note to self... read article first )
Really sad, I was hoping mazda6 hatch would return. Either that or give us the euro versions please.
3 things I liked about my hatch
-rear window wiper (im lazy and use it to sweep the snow off the rear window in the winter time  )
-stealthy looking fastback style (that hides the hatchback style unlike the mazda3 wagon...err hatch)
-the ability to "swallow" (like a big giant mouth) large items like TVs; I laughed (silently) when I see some couple try to squeeze their large items bought from futureshop into their comparable mid-size cars; i bought a BBQ set and fit it into the back of the hatch.

Heres hoping for the return of the mazda6 hatch in the next generation with AWD; what they should have done in the first place for the mazdaspeed6 IMO.

[mmret]

QUOTE - "Gone, unfortunately, are the clever "Sport" hatchback-that-looks-like-a-sedan version and the wagon due to a lack of interest in the U.S. where sales volumes typically dictate what we get in Canada. "


This is crap! Why do the Americans always have to dictate what we have in Canada. Just because they are stupid enough not to see the versitility of the Wagon or Hatchback doesn't mean that Canada has to lose out as a result. The Hatch and Wagon were very popular here.

Then to add insult to injury, they have made this Mazda 6 bigger unlike the Mazda 6 sold everywhere else in the world. Not everyone want a big fat car designed specifically for big fat American bums. Shame on Madza for pandering to "American Tastes only"

Canada is not an important car market in the grand scheme of things.

[BernardP]

Apparently, I am one of the only few who is so very tired of the "smiling mouth" grille that is found today on so many cars by various manufacturers. Mazda is the worst offender. The other styling miscue is the read door window/C pillar junction. See how they have compromised with 2 seams and one plastic filler panel to make the roof fit with the door.

Other than that, the car looks great. The dash looks so much better that the Accord's

The Mazda6 is being reviewed in the latest Car and Driver and one of the Counterpoint comments says: "It's a whale". My thinking exactly. The Euro-sized 6 would have been big enough.

[IceAndFire]

I like the smiling mouth.  Seems to be something of a Japanese thing thats caught on in different places.  Its no more outrageous than the trend Audi has started with the giant open mouth styling that they have.  It looks cool yes but certainly a bit outrageous too.

I agree with you about the size.  The Euro 6 is awesome looking and just the right size...especially the hatchback version which looks amazing (I saw one on a recent trip)...but Mazda is chasing the larger midsize market and the smaller 6 Gen 1 never really caught on.  Its too small to "compete" with the standard midsize checklist (legroom, headroom, trunk, etc.).

Mazda3 is moving up slightly in size too ...so it'll be like the old 6 I figure