2009 Mazda 6 GT-V6

2009 Mazda 6 (Titus Hsu/The Epoch Times)

The Mazda 6 is the bigger of the two Mazda family sedans. For 2009, both the 3 and the 6 received extensive exterior re-styling. The previous design of the 6 aimed to be sleek, but the lines of the headlights, fenders, and the grill just didn’t come together as a whole. In contrast, the new fascia looks bolder and better integrated. The lines flowing from the front fender into the front wheel well remind me of the RX-8. The look is clean and classy, and the chrome accent around the fog lights adds some flair. Overall, I think it’s the image change that has been long overdue for the Mazda 6.

One of the Mazda 6’s strongest competitors, ironically, is the company’s own highly successful Mazda 3. The 3 has been such a great value proposition, Mazda was not able to duplicate the success story when it introduced the bigger 6 for the higher-end market segment. The 2009 re-design has the mission of revitalizing the 6 in the market. In order to succeed, it must distinguish itself from its smaller sibling as a car in a separate class. In addition, it has to compete against offerings from other brands in the same segment, including the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Volkswagen Jetta.

The Mazda 6 is available in GS and GT trim levels, with a choice of a 170-horsepower inline-4 or a 272 horsepower V6 engine, so a total of 4 combinations. The base GS-I4 model is priced at $18,550, and includes a long array of features including TCS, ABS, 17-inch alloy wheels, power windows and locks, heated mirrors, cruise control, keyless entry, and anti-theft alarm system with engine-immobilizer. An additional $4,000 will bring you up to the GT trim, which adds among other things, DSC, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather interior, moonroof, power-adjustable front seats with heating, automatic dimming mirrors, Homelink garage door remote control, a better climate control system, and a better audio system. Taking the GS from the I4 to the V6 model adds $5,300. This upgrade adds foglights and HID taillights on top of the 6-cylinder engine.

Doing the same for the GT trim adds $6,000 to the price, but the GT-V6 level also adds HID headlights and driver seat memory into the mix. Each trim level also has its own options package. The test vehicle was the $28,000 (MSRP) GT-V6 with the $2,000 luxury package, so the only thing left to add is the $2,000 GPS navigation system. The luxury package includes a more advance keyless entry and ignition system, SIRIUS satellite radio receiver, Bose audio, Bluetooth, and blindspot monitor. The blindspot monitor warns you through an audio tone and a small flashing icon on the side mirrors, when you change lanes with something in the vicinity of the blindspot. If I were in the showroom contemplating this car, I would probably be standing there for a while debating how badly do I need these two packages.

The Mazda 6 is a full-size sedan. The interior is roomy with good headroom, and the leather seats are soft and inviting. The new audio and climate control panel on the centre console is laid out nearly the same as before, but with some minor cosmetic improvements.

Driving the V6 Mazda 6 is a highly motivating experience; it zooms forward smoothly and effortlessly when you  press the gas pedal. Driving a 3527 lb chasis with a 272 horsepower engine is a good weight-to-power ratio. The 6-speed Tiptronic transmission provides a good coupling between the engine and the drive axle. The tires and suspension grip the road well when driving around corners. The steering wheel feels quick and light. The basic character is very similar to what I remember of the Mazda 3, but all feedback seems to have gone through a thin layer of cushion. From the reaction of the car, I can tell that the suspension and wheels are fairly taut and firm, but the raw feedback is slightly smoothed before it reaches me. This, together with the soft and comfortable seating, is like being presented with an easier, lightly sugar-coated, version of the reality. Fortunately, the feedback is just sweetened and smoothened, not filtered, so the driver still has a fairly good sense of what the car is doing, and maintains a good level of confidence driving this car. The only thing I had to gripe about is the braking performance. It feels the brake pads aren’t gripping the rotors as tightly as I would normally expect, so the force exerted on the pedal wasn’t very linear.

The roomy interior, ease, comfort, and smoothness distinguishes the Mazda 6 from the 3 and elevates it to a separate class of family sedans. The 3.7L V6 engine gives this car much spirit and energy on top of the ease and smoothness, but being a 3.7L engine, the gas consumption would be on the high side of the family sedan class. Overall, it offers a great level of comfort with very good performance, and is good competition against other vehicles in its class. Buyers who are looking for a full-size family sedan around the under $30,000 range should definitely give the new Mazda 6 a test drive.

2009 Mazda 6 GT-V6
3.7-litre V6
272 bhp @ 6250 rpm, 269 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm
6-speed Sport mode automatic transmission
Front-wheel drive
Fuel consumption (mpg: 19 city/29 highway)
Curb weight: 3,550 lb
Price as tested: $27,630