2014 Mazda6 First Drive

[SSLByron]

And I like the new Passat. Yes, conservative, but that doesn't have to mean boring (although the interior could use a bit more personality, but I don't mean the spaceship look that so many cars have these days). It has a very muscular look. And I've been seeing them all over the place lately. I would call the Jetta boring conservative though.

The Jetta looked decent until the Passat came along. The bigger car wears the look much better, and now when I see Jettas it's like I'm looking at a Passat that somebody sucked all the money out of.

[anthonymindel]

The new 6 is the best looking mid sized sporty sedan since the Acura TSX,all very well proportioned

[caliatenza]

it looks really good but after my dreadful experience with my 2003 Mazda6s, im gonna stay clear from Mazda now .

[firstorbit84]

i showed my wife this picture of the new 6:


first thing she said was, "it looks like an altima."



i really love the look, and it definitely looks better in real photos compared to renderings. however, the same is true for the new fusion, which looks good, has better tech and is also available with their new 240hp 2.0T...

if i get serious about getting either of these cars in a couple years then it will probably come down to driving dynamics and my preference of fuel economy vs power

[choochoo]

[koko12]

Tha wagon looks nice, but i'm frustrated with all the press coming out on this car. Everyone seems to be holding back all the real information i guess to squeeze all the publicity they can.

[BRealistic]

The Jetta looked decent until the Passat came along. The bigger car wears the look much better, and now when I see Jettas it's like I'm looking at a Passat that somebody sucked all the money out of.

Then VW also sucked the money out of the base 2.5 S Passat.

[AKADriver]

The Jetta looked decent until the Passat came along. The bigger car wears the look much better, and now when I see Jettas it's like I'm looking at a Passat that somebody sucked all the money out of.

Nah, I think a small car (well, midsize, really) wears the drab look better than the Passat. The extra rear quarter window in the Passat makes it look EXACTLY like a W-body Chevy Impala.

[randy]

As a B5.5 Passat owner- I am even amused how this Mazda thread got hijacked for Passat love .

TCL- make up your mind. For years you have ragged on the Camcord manufacturers to quit making boring cars. Now Mazda is stepping up to the plate- with good looks reminiscent of an Austin Martin or Jaguar- but with Japanese reliability and perhaps Mazda DNA of good handling..... and let me understand this - you scoff at it?

Here is a car that underwent a Jenny Craig diet , is sexy as hell, will handle well and quite possibly will come with an amazing diesel when gas prices are going crazy.

There should be so many TCLrs lining up at the next car show to circle jerk at the 2014 Mazda 6 revolving car platform that Kleenex stock would skyrocket.

[someguy123]

Then VW also sucked the money out of the base 2.5 S Passat.

That looks really dated now.

[BLK9GEN]

That looks really dated now.

Repeat after me: classy and timeless

This is the new CL definition of dated and/or boring.

[ToucheTurtle]

i showed my wife this picture of the new 6:


first thing she said was, "it looks like an altima."



i really love the look, and it definitely looks better in real photos compared to renderings. however, the same is true for the new fusion, which looks good, has better tech and is also available with their new 240hp 2.0T...

if i get serious about getting either of these cars in a couple years then it will probably come down to driving dynamics and my preference of fuel economy vs power

Yeah women are pretty stupid.

[2.0_Mazda]

Yeah women are pretty stupid.

Yeah, you must be single

[koko12]

Yeah, you must be single

I don't think women are stupid, but a person has got to be pretty out of touch with reality to think the new Altima and the new Mazda6 look the same.

[2.0_Mazda]

Well, when you don't really care much about cars, I'm sure you don't pay attention to some details. You must figure that since both designs are similar in size and overall shape, that they must be the same car.

I don't care much for flowers, so when I see a red flower, I think its a ... umm forget. That red flower everybody knows. I'm tuned to reality, but don't know sh!t about flowers. I guess it would be the same with cars for someone who doesn't really care.

Another

[VarianceVQ]

Then VW also sucked the money out of the base 2.5 S Passat.

You're nuts. That Volkswagen Accord looks the flaggiest of ships.

[mr. history]

I love the new looks. Longer, leaner....more of an upscale look. But after owning an 08 speed3 I wouldn't buy another Mazda. Great performance but, lots of rattles, super cheap interior, suspension squeaks, and transmission grinded a lot when cold out.

[Oliver@triplezoom]

The Passat is known as the most fun to drive in its class right now..

In the new Car and Driver the Passat was dead last in the fun to drive category when compared to the new Accord, Fusion EcoBoost 1.6, and Altima.

[Mike!]

In the new Car and Driver the Passat was dead last in the fun to drive category when compared to the new Accord, Fusion EcoBoost 1.6, and Altima.

To its credit, it did win the comparison before this one. The newer cars have just leapfrogged it.

[worth_fixing]

The new 6 destroys the Passat in styling. I just hope its sexy wheel arches won't turn into a pile of rusty carnage like the older 3s have. But honestly, it's one of the most attractive family sedan on the market. Drivetrains are interesting too, but lack of a wagon kinda sucks.

[J-Tim]

The new 6 destroys the Passat in styling. I just hope its sexy wheel arches won't turn into a pile of rusty carnage like the older 3s have. But honestly, it's one of the most attractive family sedan on the market. Drivetrains are interesting too, but lack of a wagon kinda sucks.

I am sure wagon is going to be released 6 months after the sedan, just like with the current model.

[Impeccable]

The back end kinda leaves me cold, fusion and optima are still the best in class IMO

[randy]

Hoping the new 6 will be at LA Auto Show next month.

[AKADriver]

I am sure wagon is going to be released 6 months after the sedan, just like with the current model.

No wagon in North America.

[caj1]

When it comes to looks

Passat:

Still posting pics of your wife?

[Seabird]

No wagon in North America.

Cue TCL reaction:

[worth_fixing]

I am sure wagon is going to be released 6 months after the sedan, just like with the current model.

Yeah, but North America won't see it.

[xdre]

The extra rear quarter window in the Passat makes it look EXACTLY like a W-body Chevy Impala.

THANK YOU. Bland car is bland. Inoffensive and mildly attractive, sure, but definitely not worth trashing a daring (and good-looking) design like the new 6's.

[OrangeA4]

Given the amount of new subaru legacy outback that I see on the roads in LA and the new jetta wagon, and the allroad I dont understand why Mazda doesn't bring the wagon. I see a lot more wagons lately.

[VarianceVQ]

Given the amount of new subaru legacy outback that I see on the roads in LA and the new jetta wagon, and the allroad I dont understand why Mazda doesn't bring the wagon. I see a lot more wagons lately.

I think you do, you just don't want to understand it.

[S4cabriofox]

As a B5.5 Passat owner- I am even amused how this Mazda thread got hijacked for Passat love .

TCL- make up your mind. For years you have ragged on the Camcord manufacturers to quit making boring cars. Now Mazda is stepping up to the plate- with good looks reminiscent of an Austin Martin or Jaguar- but with Japanese reliability and perhaps Mazda DNA of good handling..... and let me understand this - you scoff at it?

Here is a car that underwent a Jenny Craig diet , is sexy as hell, will handle well and quite possibly will come with an amazing diesel when gas prices are going crazy.

There should be so many TCLrs lining up at the next car show to circle jerk at the 2014 Mazda 6 revolving car platform that Kleenex stock would skyrocket.

Maybe since TCL finally hates it, the sales will be class-competitive

A 6 diesel is definitely what I'd pick in this class if all the hype comes to fruition.

[kingrukus]

vw fanboys in here are funny as ususal.

the new 6 looks great - can't wait to see one in person.

[Vanilla_Coke]

I like it, but they probably will only offer the manual on the base model....

[randy]

You know, I saw the dash in the new CX-5 and I hated it.

However, when I see the similar dash in the new 6, I really like it. There is something to the simplicity of it. I can't wait to see it for real.

[BLK9GEN]

I agree about the interior. For such a large car, the area surrounding the driver seems very intimate (in a good way) and the dash is simply laid out. It's refreshing and reminds me somewhat of old BMW. I just wonder how it looks without the NAV screen. Hopefully better than the Fusion.