Mazda Mazda6 Review (2002 to 2007)

Quick Summary

For a long while it seemed that there was very little realistic opposition to the Ford Mondeo in this sector of the market. Then within a year of each other along came the trio of the Honda Accord, the Toyota Avensis and the Mazda6, all credible rivals for your money. As a used prospect the Mazda is possibly the most appealing due to the fact that it was the least expensive from new, is the best looking of the bunch and it's just so much fun to drive. Your only problem is trying to prise one from the previous owner's grasp.

Overall:

Models Covered: 4dr saloon, 5dr hatch, 5dr estate (1.8, 2.0, 2.3-litre petrol, 2.0-litre diesel [S, TS, TS2, Sport, Sport4])

SIX SHOOTER GUNS DOWN THE OPPOSITION

Nobody quite saw the Mazda6 coming. It's predecessor, the 626 series, was inoffensive, utterly reliable and massively bland, automotive Teflon that few missed when it slipped from view. The Mazda6 on the other hand was a revelation. Few gave much credence to the 'zoom-zoom' advertising that claimed that Mazda's new mid-range contender had the soul of the MX-5 sports car. Until, that was, we got behind the wheel. No other car in this class is such a fun drive, not even the all-conquering Ford Mondeo, and soon the Mazda6 was hoovering up awards and plaudits. Used examples are now becoming a little more commonplace so here's an opportunity to discover the car that really accelerated the ongoing Mazda success story.
Used Mazda Mazda6 for sale

History of the Mazda6

Much of the credit for the excellence of the Mazda6 can be laid firmly at the door of Ford. With a controlling share in the Hiroshima company, the Blue Oval sent some of their best managers, engineers and designers to lick the company into shape, aware that it was becoming very much a one-trick pony. Beyond the MX-5, Mazda had very little to crow about. Things are very different now. The success of the Mazda6 has been followed by the Mazda2, the Mazda3 and the stunning RX-8. The Mazda6 is the car that really turned people's head though.Launched to an unwitting public in 2002, the 6 offered a lively ride, a range of interesting engines, ultra-competitive equipment levels and, best of all, a sticker price that read almost like a South-East Asian cheapie. It couldn't possibly fail, especially as critical acclaim followed soon after launch. The 1.8, 2.0 and 2.3-litre petrol engines kicked things off, although it wasn't too long before a pair of 2.0-litre diesels and an estate variants were added to the range with a Sport4 all-wheel drive estate model debuting in early 2003.A reasonably thorough facelift was unveiled in the summer of 2005. Visually, this added up to reprofiled bumpers, a revised grille and new headlight clusters which pick out the four individual lamps in chrome. Interior materials were upgraded at the same time while body rigidity was improved, emissions were reduced and some engines received more power. Most notably, the 136bhp diesel unit was boosted to 141bhp. The 256bhp Mazda6 MPS went on sale early in 2006 with a 0-60mph acceleration time of 6.4s. An all new 6 made its debut in the autumn of 2007.
Used Mazda Mazda6 for sale

Mazda Mazda6 Road Test

Mazda identified three key requirements in the development of the Mazda6, one of which was to exceed the quietness and refinement of the best Japanese midsized vehicles. You'd have to say that of the three petrol powerplants, only the largest could be thus described, doing a passable imitation of a lazy V6. The other two petrol engines both fall victim to another of Mazda's aims, namely to meet or beat the driving dynamics and performance of the best European midsized vehicles. You see, the Mazda6 is fun to drive. You will feel inclined to occasionally acquaint throttle pedal with carpet, to wind on extravagant licks of steering, to palm the gear selector about the gate with smug deftness. It's that sort of car. Driven in this manner, the 1.8 and 2.0-litre engines can get a touch raucous, but it's a small price to pay. Although the steering could use a little more heft and a meatier wheel, it's certainly accurate enough and the chassis feels well up the task of handling all three engines. Unlike in many sports saloons, the extra weight in the nose of the 2.3-litre car seems to suit the Mazda6 best, the 2.0-litre certainly feeling a touch dartier. Unlike the 2.0-litre powerplant, however, the larger engine is something of a gin-sling, preferring to surf languidly along on a rising swell of torque.
Used Mazda Mazda6 for sale

Buying a Mazda Mazda6

The Mazda6 has proved very reliable, but there are a few minor niggles worth looking into. The air-conditioning system is not the most durable. Check the footwell carpet for signs of mould or damp and blast the air-con up to full on a test drive. It should blow icy-cool in less than thirty seconds. Interior plastics quality is not the greatest and the silver finish is prone to scratching and wear. Mechanically, the 6 has been reported to suffer from premature clutch wear. There have also been a number of recalls to fix small problems, so its worth getting a full service history just to make sure.
Used Mazda Mazda6 for sale

Mazda Mazda6 Typical Pricing

Given that the Mazda6 was distinctly affordable from new and the market took a little time to catch up with its all-round excellence, there are still some real bargains to be had. The 1.8-litre models kick off at just under £4,050 for an S with the TS variant a few hundred pounds above this psychological barrier, both cars on a 2002 02-plate. Opt instead for a 2.0-litre TS model and you can expect to pay from £4,450 with the desirable 2.3-litre Sport trim starting at £5,700. That's a lot of car for this sort of money. The turbo diesel models are worth looking at if you want to make even bigger longer-term savings and the 121bhp TS saloon opens at £4,700, the 136bhp Sport saloon starting at around £5,325. Insurance is very reasonable, starting at Group 7 for the 1.8-litre entry-level models and topping out at a modest Group 13 for the 2.3-litre Sport.
Used Mazda Mazda6 for sale

Mazda Mazda6 Parts

(approx. based on Mazda6 2.3). Parts prices aren't cheap, although they aren't too different from some of the Mazda's more alluring rivals. A clutch assembly will cost around £140, while a new radiator is a reasonable £130. An alternator weighs in at around £220, while a starter motor retails for about £180.
Used Mazda Mazda6 for sale