Mazda is far from being the No.1 Japanese car maker on a global scale in terms of sales volume. Nevertheless, they offer anyone interested in something different and affordable sport-oriented vehicles which have pleased many generations of drivers around the world.
Available in Japan since the beginning of 2008 and now about anywhere in Europe and the USA, the new Atenza or Mazda6 once again shows direct competitors its advances in terms of design, and offers a lighter and more agile version of the its new family Sedan.
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Design:
This very attractive family sedan with sporty looks not only stands out from its Japanese competitors, but also from its European. With bold, dynamic, and modern lines our Mazda6/Atenza 2008 turns habits upside down. It takes a few of the voluptuous lines of its little sister, the Mazda2 (Demio), that we already had the chance of testing here.
Interior:
More consensual inside, the Mazda6/Atenza 2008 however was given some very interesting stylistic effects. Very nice rave and speedometers placed in nice, little tunnels surrounded by a soft blue light that are also found in the Japanese MPV. As announced earlier, Mazda worked hard to reduce both cost and weight as much as possible, and this choice has a direct impact on the quality of some materials. In terms of insulation and plastic quality, materials are slightly inferior to those used by Mazda’s competitors.
On the Road:
Lighter (-35kg) and more agile, thanks to a better chassis rigidity, combined with a double triangles suspension kit in front and multilink in the rear and coupled to a 4-cylinder 2.5L DOHC motor producing 170hp, this new "6" has all in hand to make most of us drool like babies...But once behind the wheel, even if we have on the road a well balanced car capable of being sharp and safe even in fastest corners, the lack of “power” mainly due to long gear box ratios and torque, spoils all the fun and dooms most sporty ambitions.
Don't get us wrong, the Mazda6/Atenza is quick, just don't expect to be stuck to the back of your seat anytime soon.
We're also surprised by the new direction with electric assistance that's formidable in town, but lacks firmness when driving fast.
Conclusion:
The Mazda6/Atenza is undoubtedly a very attractive family sedan thanks to its lines and very attractive price, at least in Japan. Unfortunately, this sedan lacks the lunacy that could spice things-up. The same thing applies to the interior which would have benefited from better chosen materials.
So what if you love the shape, but worry about performance? In that case, the upcoming "MazdaSpeed" version presumably providing up to 300hp transmitted to all 4 wheels should do the job. If what you need is a solid style/price/driving pleasure ratio to move your family around, the new Mazda 6 has got what you want.
Posted on 21/07/08 By G-A.G
