Reviews
2003 Mazda 6 sedan front driving

Mazda's 626 midsize sedan has long been a sales footnote to category volume leaders like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Never quite large, powerful or distinctive enough, not as sporty as the VW Passat or Nissan Maxima, or as well rounded as the new Altima, the 626 soldiered on through several unimpressive reiterations, barely competing despite big discounting and, thus, not achieving much volume. Despite Ford Motor Company's underlying support, Mazda hasn't been given the budget nor has it had the sales base to justify investing in this class. But its management always knew that to be a player, their mid-level entry had to be more than simply "me too."


And this time, there's good news. It is.

2003 Mazda Mazda6 sedan rear
Mazda's stylists and engineers completely redesigned the 626?and this car has the hardware it needs to do the job.

Think Japanese BMW, or perhaps more accurately, Japanese Audi. Mazda's stylists and engineers completely redesigned the 626—and changed its name to a more upbeat one, Mazda6. And, while they still can't justify the big volume targets of Camry and Accord (those nameplates sell about 400,000 units apiece annually), Mazda's planners have given their new car enough personality, performance, features and verve to carve a chunk out of the class leaders.


Borrowing a page from the Nissan Altima playbook, Mazda's made its new 6 a far less compromised performance machine. Not so biased as to turn off people who want a family 4-door, but appealing to those who want their sedans with personality and the ability to back up a sporty appearance with true corner-carving talent.


This car has the hardware it needs to do the job: a seriously stiff chassis with fully independent suspension front and rear, big 11.1/11.0-inch 4-wheel disc brakes fore and aft, with ABS optional on the Mazda6i and standard on the V-6s, along with traction control and EBD (electronic brake distribution). A 5-speed manual transmission is available on both the 160 horsepower 4-cylinder variant and the lustier 220 hp V-6, plus power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering with precise on-center feel, fast turn-in and a sporty response.

Continued on Page 2

Copyright autoMedia.com 2000-2009



 



Related Articles
2003 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6
2003 Toyota Camry SE
2003 Mercedes-Benz E320
2003 Volkswagen Passat Sedan
2003 Kia Rio


autoMedia Car Blog
Toyota Announces Unintended Acceleration Fix
In a safety drama that has unfolded since summer, when a high-profile case of unintended acceleration brought floor mat issues to national prominence, ... more...

Sneak peek: 2011 Kia Amanti
Kia unveiled its all-new K7 sedan in Korea today, offering the world a sneak peek at a car known as Cadenza in the Middle East and Amanti in North Ame ... more...

Koenigsegg Hits Brakes On Deal to Buy Saab
Koenigsegg Group has walked away from a proposed purchase of Saab from General Motors. The conglomerate lead by supercar-maker Koenigsegg had previous ... more...


Forum Highlights
oldsmobile -TCC
 I have a 1998 oldsmobile, achieva,  v6, auto transmission, 135,000 miles, it seemed to be missing , after changing plugs and wires, throttl ... more...

Re: Aluminum wheels and a flat tire
I am sure you have your tire changed by now, but this is a common problem when using aluminum wheels.  Once you realize you have a problem, hitti ... more...

Re: Chevy 3.8L Engine cutout
 I would call it in intermediate job.  You will need some special tools to do it, but if you have some experience doing repairs, and not jus ... more...


Car Buying Guide

QUICK SEARCH:


Specs, prices, photos & more
SEARCH BY BODY STYLE:
FREE New Car Price Quote
Get the best price - it's easy!
Zip Code

Used Car Buying Guide


2000-2009 autoMedia.com Inc. All Rights Reserved.