December 18, 2004

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Test Drive:
2005 Mazda6 Sport
by Greg Wilson

Imagine there was an affordable mid-sized four-door car that looked and drove like a sports sedan, yet had the extra cargo-carrying capability of a hatchback. What a great idea! Yet, until the 2005 model year, such a creature did not exist.

Which is why Mazda has such a hot product on their hands. Sure the Mazda6 Sedan is a great looker too, but cargo space is limited. And the stylish Mazda6 Sport Wagon is very practical - but well, ah...it's a wagon.

Who would buy a Mazda6 hatchback? How about married couples with children who aren't quite ready for a station wagon or a minivan; or singles who want a sexy looking car that can also lug home a new coffee table from Ikea when needed.

None of its major rivals - Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy or Hyundai Sonata - are available with a hatchback bodystyle.

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The closest competitor might be the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, which isn't quite as stylish or as practical (see my review of the Malibu Maxx).

The unique thing about the Mazda6 Sport is that it looks the same, or even better than the Mazda6 sedan. The rear window has a racier angle, but otherwise it's difficult to tell that this is a hatchback.

In addition, Mazda6 Sport GT models have front spoiler, side sills, rear valance and rear spoiler - all body coloured - which really add to the sporty flair.

Cargo capacity

Since the main reason for buying a Mazda6 Sport hatchback is the extra cargo space, I thought it would be interesting to compare the hatchback, sedan and wagon.

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Behind the rear seats of the hatchback is 622 litres (22.0 cu. ft.) of cargo space (from roof to floor). The sedan's trunk has 429 litres (15.1 cu. ft.) and the wagon has 953 litres (33.7 cu. ft.). As you can see, the hatch's cargo volume is right in between the two vehicles.

But with the split rear seatbacks folded down, the hatch offers 1662 litres (58.7 cu. ft.) while the wagon offers 1712 litres (60.4 cu. ft.). Surprisingly, there isn't a lot of difference in size. The benefit of the wagon is that its rear seats lie perfectly flat and it doesn't have the sloping roof line of the hatchback which limits cargo height. Still, hatchbacks can be left partially open when carrying bulky items, and secured with a tie-down. And the hatchback has the largest cargo opening of the three vehicles. In theory, you could leave the hatch fully open while carrying a very large item, like a dresser, couch, table or what-have-you.

The Mazda6 Sedan also has folding rear seatbacks, but no figures are available for combined trunk and rear seat space. With the narrow opening to the passenger compartment, the practical usefulness of this design is limited to long, thin objects that wouldn't otherwise fit in the trunk.

Though the hatchback's rear hatch is large, it is not heavy to lift, or to close because it's supported by struts. In all Mazda6 models, the release levers for the rear seats are located at the back of the cargo area within easy reach of someone trying to load parcels into the back. I think this is a much better idea than the release buttons on the seats.

Rear wiper

Unlike the Mazda6 sedan, the hatchback has a rear wiper with intermittent wiping and a washer. I'm a big fan of rear wipers for many reasons: in the morning, you can clear the condensation from the rear window, and in combination with a rear defroster, clear ice or light snow.

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If you're driving while it's raining or snowing heavily, the intermittent wiping of the rear window keeps it clear and helps the driver decide when to make a lane change. And of course, when backing in to a parking space, a wiper makes it easier to see where you're going.

Rear spoilers often spoil the view out the rear window, but I found this particular spoiler doesn't. It's high enough for the driver to see under it, and because its perfectly horizontal, only a slim line is visible through the rear view mirror.

Performance

Both four and six cylinder engines are available in the Mazda6 Sport: a base 160 horsepower 2.3 litre DOHC 16 valve four cylinder engine (see Paul Williams review of the 4 cylinder Mazda6 Sport), or a 220 horsepower 3.0 litre DOHC 24 valve V6 engine.

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Both four and six cylinder Mazda6's come with a standard five-speed manual transmission (unlike in most mid-size cars). Four cylinder models offer an optional 4-speed automatic, and new for 2005, V6 cars are available with a new 6-speed automatic with a manual shift mode.

My test car, a GT, had the V6 engine and the 5-speed manual. This a very smooth and quiet V6 with plenty of power for all your city and highway driving needs. Independent acceleration tests conducted by AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada) show a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.4 seconds, a very quick time in its class.

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Perhaps even more impressive is its 100 km/h to 0 braking distance of 39.2 metres (128.5 ft.), the best among its four 2005 competitors in the Canadian Car of the Year runoffs.

On the freeway, the motor runs silently at 2600 rpm at 100 km/h and 3100 rpm at 120 km/h in fifth gear - it's very smooth even at higher revs.

I liked the slick 5-speed manual transmission too, and clutch pedal effort isn't onerous.

Its fully independent suspension, provides a comfortable ride and absorbs bumps quite well even though the car rides on low profile 17 inch tires. Handling is flat and stable with mild understeer at the limit of traction. Being a front-wheel-drive car, handling is not as balanced as a BMW 3-Series, but good for a car in this price range.

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I didn't experience any 'booming' or vibrations coming from the larger opening of the hatchback - a reason often cited by manufacturers for not offering them. The body feels tight with no twisting or looseness that I could feel. In fact, I felt the opposite. This feels like an exceptionally well-built car.

The 2005 Mazda6 Sport has already won "Best New Family Car" from AJAC, and is now in the running for Car of the Year to be announced in February, 2005.

Interior is sporty too

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My GT model had comfortable leather front sport seats with power height adjustment, large side bolsters and front seat heaters with one temperature setting. The heaters get a bit hot after a few minutes, but it helps warm your butt on a cold winter morning.

A sporty three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, that tilts, is grippy and attractive - and includes cruise and radio functions on steering wheel. Bright backlit red gauges are easy to see in the daytime as well as the nighttime, but some may not like the harsh red look.

The centre stack has a bright silver finish that I found a bit overwhelming, although not cheap-looking. At the top of the centre stack is an illuminated display with the time, radio station, fan speed, ventilation, temperature, and outside temperature, while the centre stack itself contain simple controls and large dials for the stereo and heater functions. There is a CD player but not cassette player.

Two covered cupholders are located behind the shift lever, and the centre storage bin between the front seats has two levels and a 12 volt powerpoint inside. Other storage areas include a bin on the top of the dash and a flip-down coin tray near the driver's door.

The rear seating area is roomy enough for two adults, but headroom for tall adults is limited by the sloping ceiling.

For safety, there are four height-adjustable head restraints, five 3-point seatbelts, and two front airbags. Side and curtain airbags are available as an option in the Mazda6 Sport.

Verdict

A very stylish mid-sized car with good performance and the advantage of a huge cargo area and a large cargo opening.

Technical Data: 2005 Mazda6 Sport

Base price (GT Sport)	$32,995
Options	None
Freight	$925
A/C tax	$100
Price as tested	$34,020
Type	4-door, 5-passenger mid-size hatchback
Layout	transverse front engine/front-wheel-drive
Engine	3.0 litre V6, DOHC, 24 valves
Horsepower	220 @ 6300 rpm
Torque	192 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
Transmission	Five-speed manual (opt 6-speed auto w/Sport mode)
Tires	P215/50R-17 all-season
Curb weight	1,540 kg (3395 lb.)
Wheelbase	2,675 mm (105.3 in.)
Length	4,745 mm (186.8 in.)
Width	1,780 mm (70.0 in.)
Height	1,440 mm (56.7 in.)
Cargo area	622 litres (22.0 cu. ft.) rear seat up
	1662 litres (58.7 cu. ft.) rear seat down
Fuel consumption	City: 12.2 l/100 km (23 mpg)
	Hwy: 6.8 l/100 km (35 mpg)
Fuel type	Regular unleaded
Warranty	3 yrs/80,000 km
Powertrain Warranty	5 yrs/100,000 km

Greg Wilson is a Vancouver-based automotive journalist and editor of CanadianDriver

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