Article Comments - Mazda 6 vs. Honda Accord vs. Nissan Altima

120 messages, Last post on Feb 27, 2009 at 2:31 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA6, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Finding the Sweet Spot in Family Sedans - After all the poking, prodding, driving and scoring, the $30,690 2009 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring earns a total of 70.3 points in our comparison for a 1st-place finish. (more)

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#37 of 120 Re: [jeffyscott] by bvdj84 Sep 10, 2008 (6:52 am)
Replying to: jeffyscott (Sep 10, 2008 6:33 am) Well I have noticed many new models are gearing more for luxury/sporty feel. Im with you on the wood trim, their are few cars that can pull it off well, depending on how its used and the quality of it. It looks a bit dated on an otherwise new car.
#38 of 120 Re: Where's the V6 Camry SE, o I forgot your haters! [gpmillar31] by mz6greyghost Sep 10, 2008 (8:56 am)
Replying to: gpmillar31 (Sep 09, 2008 6:27 pm) It's clear the mazda tried to copy the camry se styling. Right... If anything, Mazda stayed away from the "me-too" aero-kit that the Camry SE is cursed with, and made a more flowing, pleasing overall design instead. And the current SE is a clear rip-off of the 1st-gen 6 with sports package they offered in '03-'05. Who's ripping off who? You guys think you know who is the best, but the sales show me that you don't know **. Sales mean nothing, I repeat, NOTHING to a true car enthusiast that values steering, braking, and overall handling just as much as straight-line acceleration. The 1st-gen 6 was still the enthusiasts (and car magazine editors) pick despite it's lower sales and HP compared to the competition. And SE package or not, Toyota cannot say the same thing. BTW, I've driven the Camry SE, and despite the faster straight-line performance, it's still a miserable apex-cutter. Tons of body roll and flex compared to the 1st-gen 6 that's my daily-driver. The suspension was soft, almost Buick-like, just like every other Camry I've been in, yet still jerked over pavement imperfections. The steering wheel felt like it was attached with string, giving NO feedback to the driver. The brakes felt mushy and faded quickly, and don't get me started about the vastly-inferior dash and park-bench-like seats. Toyota may win in sales, but that's about all it wins in. IMO it doesn't get an Honorable Mention in ANY performance category that involves something other than an accelerator.
#40 of 120 Re: Will adding the $4,200 Premium package turn the tables? [maxamillion1] by cx7lover Sep 10, 2008 (9:37 am)
Replying to: maxamillion1 (Sep 09, 2008 7:03 am) Yes actually it was much worse. I've been in a CX-9 for an extended amount of time and at night the lighting is softened by more than half of what it was during the daytime. Same gauges... The reason why you compare the GT to the SL is because the base prices are inline with each other more so than the SE, regardless of the fact that it can have all of the features found on the SL. The SE starts where the Touring does, and is more similarly equipped at the same starting price point. Regardless of the handling too because the SE clearly didn't ride as softly as the 6 (the 2.5L S I drove was a bit of a clunker over pavement imperfections). These aren't serious corner carvers so the SL will do, it can't be THAT much worse. Replies to this message: maxamillion1 (Sep 10, 2008 10:34 am) cx7lover (Sep 11, 2008 12:50 am) maxamillion1 (Sep 16, 2008 1:32 pm) and 7 more...
#41 of 120 Re: Will adding the $4,200 Premium package turn the tables? [cx7lover] by maxamillion1 Sep 10, 2008 (10:34 am)
Replying to: cx7lover (Sep 10, 2008 9:37 am) if you say so...going based on what you say the Grand Touring competes with the Camry XLE too..and we both know it wouldn't. Furthermore, the Mazda6 while a better handler is not leaps and bounds better than the Altima is...I think you'd be one of the few who actually believes the SL competes more with the GT than the SE does...but to each his own. Replies to this message: cx7lover (Sep 11, 2008 12:50 am) maxamillion1 (Sep 16, 2008 1:32 pm) aviboy97 (Sep 16, 2008 1:39 pm) and 6 more...
#42 of 120 I'm liking this new mazda by vqpower Sep 10, 2008 (7:20 pm)
I have always been a fan of the sportier car in comparison groups. Before the new 6, the Altima was the only mid-sized sedan I liked. The Accord and Camry are just too bland, too much of passenger focused as opposed to driver focus. So props to Mazda for coming out with a great performing and handling family sedan, that registered better fuel economy than the other two. BTW, Lexus' are the most boring luxury cars made. If old people in America didn't grow up driving domestics, you would definitely see more Lexus' as opposed to Cadillacs, Chryslers, and Lincolns as the grandma cars of choice.
#43 of 120 Re: Will adding the $4,200 Premium package turn the tables? [maxamillion1] by cx7lover Sep 11, 2008 (12:50 am)
Replying to: maxamillion1 (Sep 10, 2008 10:34 am) Are you serious? It does compete with the Camry in any configuration regardless of handling. Based on what you're saying the SE doesn't compete with the 6 in any configuration because it doesn't have a gaudy "sporty" tacked on body kit. And if you didn't know the SE is still no where near the 6 in sportiness, based on my test drive today. Oh and it is BETTER than the Altima in a lot of aspects. Replies to this message: maxamillion1 (Sep 16, 2008 1:32 pm) aviboy97 (Sep 16, 2008 1:39 pm) maxamillion1 (Sep 16, 2008 2:05 pm) and 5 more...
#44 of 120 by ribbonspeakers Sep 11, 2008 (7:15 pm)
For Camry apologists equating pure numbers sold to quality: If numbers sold told the whole story then Big Macs would be the best food on earth. A test drive of an '05 Porsche 911 Cabriolet Tiptronic was my very best automotive driving experience. The red '09 Mazda 6i Touring A/T just purchased is the best car I've owned. It's not a 911, obviously, & nothing else is. But it's extremely satisfying for an affordable family car. A smooth, uphill grade, 180-degree-curved freeway on-ramp was taken flat out yesterday. Very mild four-wheel drift, no oversteer, no understeer, transmission stayed in the same gear in which the ramp was started. It's not a high-performance sports car by any stretch but does provide a lot more fun than most family cars. The Camry is the epitome of boring; it was correctly left out of the comparison because as posted earlier, it's a carryover for '09 & earlier vintages were not top rated (Toyota's busy w/ the Venza/Camry wagon). There's obviously nothing wrong w/ the Honda Accord 4-cylinder 190hp I got to test drive alone (no salesperson), but compared to the Mazda the Accord lacks panache, lacks low-end torque, is a bit louder when revved, handles less good & lacks the Mazda's gauge/interior design. IMO it's remarkable that Mazda went from the middle of the pack (overall) to the front of the most hotly contested of all car markets. I'm glad I got mine early before they become commonplace on the road, which probably won't take long. Replies to this message: moparbad (Sep 12, 2008 1:02 pm) keitha3 (Sep 12, 2008 2:02 pm)
#45 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by moparbad Sep 12, 2008 (1:02 pm)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Sep 11, 2008 7:15 pm) MO it's remarkable that Mazda went from the middle of the pack (overall) to the front of the most hotly contested of all car markets. I'm glad I got mine early before they become commonplace on the road, which probably won't take long. Which attributes of the new 6 change it from mediocre to best in class? You praise the 09 for handling and the previous generation was already best in class for handling. 09 is IMHO not as fun to drive as the previous 6. My comments are in regard to four cylinder models and not the V6's. I don't care for the V6's.
#46 of 120 by ribbonspeakers Sep 12, 2008 (1:27 pm)
Maybe it's more accurate to call the earlier version middle of pack or somewhat better as an overall package. I did not use the word "mediocre" which means moderate or lower quality. Ditto, prefer the I4 (to the V6) because of better front-rear balance, less understeer, better fuel economy, etc. I'm 6-3 230 lbs. Base on its handling reputation I sat for long stints in the earlier Mazda 6 trying to convince myself I could be happy in that interior space, smaller than average for the mid-size class IIRC. There's no way that interior would fit me for even moderate length trips. Considering the overall advances throughout the car as compared to '08, it seems safe to assume that any handling advantage in the earlier model would be only related to lower weight. The '09 is a lot larger. Also the inevetible (& sometimes senseless) increase in features comes w/ a weight penalty. Per manual my '09 6i Touring A/T (third in ascending list of four trim levels) is 3309 lbs; pretty good considering the features & interior space (includes largest in class trunk). What is weight for erlier-generation I4 A/T? Money considerations are always personal. IMO the "Touring" upgrade in features & interior design/materials is well worth the extra $2200 MSRP. This particular car even included heated front seats (contradicts brochure which sates heated seats only offerred on the top trim level).