2009 Mazda Mazda6

Mazda’s 2003 Mazda6 midsize sedan first brought “Zoom-Zoom” to the U.S. market. Six years down the road, an all-new ‘09 Mazda6 brings both more room and more zoom. The idea, Mazda says, was to blend “the sprit of a true sports car” into a four-door, five-passenger sedan, and it worked pretty well. Compared to the fairly ordinary, dare we say, “boring” Mazda 626 midsize sedan it replaced back then, the ’03-‘08 Mazda6 looked a lot zoomier and was much more fun to drive. So why didn’t it sell a lot better?

All-New for 2009

In the first half of 2008, with the market down but the huge midsize sedan segment up vs. 2007, the Mazda6 finished a distant 10th at just 33,000 units, trailing its far more popular Japanese rivals Toyota Camry (240K), Honda Accord (206K), Nissan Altima (158K), rising domestic stars Chevy Malibu (89K), Ford Fusion (88K) and Pontiac G6 (86K), Korean Hyundai’s Sonata (66K) and Chrysler’s Sebring (48K) and Dodge Avenger (41K).


Mazda candidly admits that the Mazda6’s two major strengths—sporty good looks and agile dynamics—were offset by three important weaknesses: less-than-class-leading size and roominess, less-than exhilarating engine performance, and less-than competitive quality. So Mazda has done what car companies do to improve the appeal of a next-generation model: it has built on the outgoing car’s strengths and attacked its weaknesses.


The previous Mazda6 was a true global car, the same size in North America as in Asia, Europe and everywhere else. That put it near the bottom of its North American segment in size and interior room, smaller than most Americans prefer. But Toyota, Honda and Nissan have upsized their North American midsize cars to make them larger than their global counterparts to better fit North American torsos and tastes. Now Mazda has done exactly the same.


Next, Mazda has upsized and up-muscled both available engines. The standard DOHC, 16-valve four, up to 2.5 liters (from 2.3L), generates a respectable 170 hp and 167 lb.-ft. of torque. The available DOHC, 24-valve V-6—designed by part-owner Ford, assembled in Japan by Mazda and shared by the CX-9 crossover—is up to 3.7 liters (from 3.5L), pumps out a best-in-class 272 horses and 269 lb.-ft. Both feature aluminum blocks, variable (intake) valve timing and port (not direct) fuel injection. Both also run happily on regular fuel.

Fundamental Features

On the quality front, the ’09 Mazda6 will be assembled at Mazda’s Flat Rock, Michigan plant with every effort made to ensure impeccable initial and long-term integrity. The previous-generation car was far behind its top rivals in J.D. Power’s 2008 Initial Quality Survey (IQS) rankings, for example, so we’ll have to accept Mazda’s good intentions on faith for now.


Mazda6 Program Engineer Hiroshi Kajiyama’s immodest objective for this ‘09 model was to make it “widely recognized as the best vehicle available in the midsize market”—a tall order given the overall excellence of all the segment’s current top sellers, both domestic and import. He supports that lofty ambition on three “fundamental pillars.” First, a “sporty appearance” integrated with highly dynamic character; distinctive, striking design combined with true sport sedan handling (the outgoing model’s clear strengths). Second is a unique experience that results from the emotional connection and pride of ownership based on the combination of “exquisite craftsmanship” and smile-inducing special features. Last, an “insightful package,” from a combination of an attractive interior and innovative packaging inside a larger (than before) envelope that includes highly flexible seating and storage.