- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
2.3i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
122kW, 207Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 8.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Used car review: Mazda6 2002-05
The early part of this century was a highlight in terms of mid-sized Japanese cars.
Anticipating the slide in full-sized family car sales - their claim, not ours - importers got serious about medium-sized wheels and gave us a wide choice of quality options.
Stalwarts such as Subaru's Liberty continued to sell well and newcomers such as the Honda Accord Euro received a warm welcome.
And into the midst of that lot, Mazda lobbed its all-new 6.
The 6 replaced the long-lived 626 which, by then, had really seen its best days pass it by.
The Mazda6 was everything buyers had hoped for and it was pretty much an instant hit.
There's nothing truly amazing in its technical make-up, but what it did have was an inherent balance that most vehicles never really achieve to the same extent.
Everything in the 6 seemed to come together and it really clicked with buyers, giving Mazda a showroom winner.
Part of the 6's success was its diversity. Sedan, hatch and station-wagon variants in a broad range of trim levels provided the right car for almost every buyer.
The base-model Limited scored you air-conditioning, a CD player, remote central locking, power windows and power mirrors.
On the safety front, Mazda was right to recognise the 6 as prime family wheels and equip even the base-model with dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, brake-force distribution and seatbelt pretensioners.
The Classic was the next trim level up and gained climate-control for the air-conditioning, alloy wheels, a six-stacker CD, fog lights, a leather-clad steering wheel and a trip computer.
The Luxury model was the range-topper and added bigger alloy wheels, leather upholstery, a powered driver's seat and, most significantly, head and side airbags.
Head and side airbags became standard on the other trim levels in early 2004, so those cars are worth finding.
The Limited was restricted to the four-door sedan body while the Luxury flagship was available as either a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback.
And if the Luxury trim package wasn't enough, the hatch also came in a Luxury Sport trim level that extended to a body kit and better interior trim presentation.
The mid-spec Classic was the everyman version of the 6 with both the four-door sedan and five-door hatch available. There also was a rather handsome station wagon.
All 6s used the same 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine which, while more than adequate for the job, was possibly the element of the car with the least inherent sparkle.
With 122 kW of power and 207 Nm of torque, it made decent numbers and was flexible and refined enough for any tastes.
But it simply didn't match the rest of the car for brilliance.
In fact, you could probably put the early four-speed automatic transmission (a five-speed auto became standard with the 2005 facelift) in the same category: up to the job, but not a show-stopper.
In any case, the 6's chassis was so darn good that the five-speed manual gearbox was the way to go to maximise driver enjoyment.
It rode like a much bigger car - a sign of composure - and was involving enough to keep keener drivers entertained.
It could also be driven with enthusiasm without degenerating into a tyre-squealing mess, and the steering retained more feel and feedback than a lot of big front-wheel-drive cars.
The manual gearshift was accurate and precise and even the clutch and throttle pedals enjoyed a good relationship that allowed the driver to feel as if they were in total control.
Perhaps the 6 was a bit flattering in that regard, but even so, it's actual abilities put it near the very top of its class with only the odd vehicle besting it in any particular area and barely a single car getting near it for all-round brilliance.
Need to know
- Unstressed big four-cylinder hasn't shown up any dramas yet. Even so, a car as new as this should have a service record intact. If not, you need to ask why.
- Families - especially those with small children and big dogs - can be hard on a car's interior. Check for scuffs, grime and other damage.
- Be a bit suspicious of a Mazda6 with a tow-bar fitted.
- They were capable of towing a trailer or small boat but bigger, heavier loads can stress the driveline and bodyshell.
What we said then
Mazda6, reviewed July 28, 2006
We liked: Good brake feel and power, ride on rough roads, versatility of three body styles.
We didn't like: Interior plastics, road noise.
What to pay
Model | Year | New | Now |
Limited | 2002 | $30,350 | $14,500 |
Limited | 2003 | $30,350 | $17,600 |
Limited | 2004 | $31,000 | $19,600 |
Limited | 2005 | $29,690 | $21,600 |
Classic | 2002 | $33,785 | $16,300 |
Classic | 2003 | $33,785 | $19,700 |
Classic | 2004 | $34,685 | $22,000 |
Classic | 2005 | $33,345 | $24,300 |
Luxury | 2002 | $40,270 | $19,100 |
Luxury | 2003 | $40,270 | $23,000 |
Luxury | 2004 | $40,520 | $25,700 |
Luxury | 2005 | $38,940 | $28,400 |
Luxury S | 2002 | $43,250 | $20,500 |
Luxury S | 2003 | $43,250 | $24,700 |
Luxury S | 2004 | $43,500 | $27,600 |
Luxury S | 2005 | $41,800 | $30,400 |
Source: Glass's Guide