Quote:
1) Reliability
2) Backseat comfort for an adult
3) Interior/Ergonomics
4) Build Quality
5) Rattles/Squeaks
6) Wind and Road Noise Compared to the Mazda3 and Accord?
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- If you're comparing to Honda, then Mazda reliability has always been somewhat less.
- About the same as the Accord in the 6. Worse than the Accord in the 3.
- Interior on the 6 is very ergonomic and tastefully designed. Tasteful design IMO is all together lacking from the Accord. However the Accord interior is more likely to be superior from a build quality point of view. I prefer the 6 interior over the 3.
- The 6's exterior build quality is top-notch. The interior suffers from poor quality fabrics in the case of the lower models. Also, dashboard squeaks have been reported quite often on the 6.
- Interior rattles and squeaks have been reported by a few owners
- The Accord is a quieter car than either of the Mazdas
Now... to put my response into context:
The Accord is made for comfort. Hence it appeals to a certain type of driver/owner. Now, the 6 is comfortable and all, but its main focus is to generate that "zoom zoom" feeling... to put a smile on the face of the driver (and also of the 5 year-old kid in the back seat egging the father to "go faster daddy...weeee")
An Accord driver probably doesn't look forward to taking S-bends at 50mph, nor does he shift gears around 4000rpm or higher. A Mazda6 driver does.
Hence, the car's engineered with a stiffer harder suspension. The engine has a difference power band.
People looking for high class perfection and pin-drop silence inside the cabin aren't going to like the 6. Best stick to an Accord or even a Camry.
Just my couple of cents worth.
PS! If you're considering the Mazdas, then I'd buy it with a 5-speed manual.