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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#111 of 120 6 or accord? After owning 5 Mazda's got my first honda by su_a_ve Jan 04, 2009 (8:10 pm)
Looking at the base models, 4cyl. Both are priced basically the same. Mazda offering 2.9 instead of 3.9% by Honda. However, my concern is service. One of the local Mazda dealers closed a while ago. The one I currently service my MPV, well, I don't expect it to last much. The store has not been updated in over 15 years, comparing to the their across the street VW dealer. And of course, my other concern would be resale value, which should not matter much if I keep the car for 10+ years. Except the main reason of getting this is to get away from my awful Tribute which has been a disaster of a (Ford) truck. Basically, two dealers that I've been talking to, don't seem that desperate to sell, even though they are not selling at all. Their staff seems to have been gutted and usually there's only one person in the sales floor. 3 times that I stopped by a Honda dealer, the place was packed and had to wait to get to talk to a sales manager. Love my mazdas (626, protege, tribute and 2 MPVs), but this time honda won. Replies to this message: bvdj84 (Jan 24, 2009 11:08 am)
#112 of 120 Re: 6 or accord? After owning 5 Mazda's got my first honda [su_a_ve] by bvdj84 Jan 24, 2009 (11:08 am)
Replying to: su_a_ve (Jan 04, 2009 8:10 pm) I think the mazda and the nissan are lacking ever so slightly in fit and finish. Their all good, but lacking.
#113 of 120 Re: Article Comments - Mazda 6 vs. Honda Accord vs. Nissan Altima [KarenS] by 201mph Feb 07, 2009 (11:31 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Sep 08, 2008 9:04 am) I wanted to comment on some of the earlier comments inferring that the authors of the comparison chose the Mazda because they are obviously sports car oriented, and therefore the Honda would be the choice for many people interested in other attributes. I have to confess that I have a 2007 MazdaSpeed6 so I most certainly do trend towards the sporty side. That said, I think you can make a very good argument that the sort of handling and braking Mazda provides have a real world application as far as safety goes. Who would not want the best braking, for instance? Previous to my "6" I had a 2007 Mazda 3 Grand touring that I bought new. Less than a month after buying it I was driving down a four lane road when a woman that simply did not see me pulled out in my lane less than 50 feet away while I was traveling about 30-35 mph. Seeing me just as her car entered my lane and with heavy traffic to my left, and only a second or two separating us, she threw her arm up over her head bracing for the collision. I was certain as well that I would hit her, and was determined in the second or two available to get my speed down as much as possible. I jammed the brakes as hard as I could and with assistance from the electronic brakeforce distribution (that I previously thought was kind of a a gimmick) startled both of us when I simply stopped-in little more than a second- a car length away from her! She looked startled, and then sheepishly drove away and I knew that Mazda had done as good a job on the brakes as they had done on the handling. My Speed6 (like the "3 I had) stops in only about 116 ft from 60mph, which was Porsche quick only a year or two ago. I sold the 99' Honda Civic EX I bought her at the age of 16, and got my 20 year old daughter a 2005 "3" as well, within a month or two of my near miss which she loves because it is both quicker and better handling than the Civic she had liked so much, but which was a little underpowered for her. The Honda's great resale value helped me to spend very little getting her a much newer car and we are both big fans of the zoom zoom thing that Mazda has going. I was simply amazed at how well they tune suspensions for good ride quality while giving handling that borders on excellent for the same money (or less) as other car makers. I like Honda's, and had a 280 hp Acura 3.2 CL type S, but I sold that to buy my Speed6 because I feel like the "6" is a better car in almost every way, plus all wheel drive, and with no reliability problems with any of the Mazda's I have owned (just like my Honda's) they are a better car for the money. I know it sounds gushy, but I couldn't be happier with my decision to make driving FUN again while commuting, or wherever I go.
#114 of 120 by ribbonspeakers Feb 07, 2009 (8:37 pm)
The '09 Mazda 6i is my favorite car of all I've owned (about 35); RWD would make it about perfect. IMO 4-cyl midsize sedans are capable of the best balance of performance & economy. It's shameful & almost unforgiveable that Detroit has ignored this segment in favor of gas guzzling pigs associated w/ our current wars. The coming Chevy Cruz promises economy & performance as a compact. GM & Ford midsize cars are too heavy to provide fun w/ 4-cylinder motors, something both should look at seriously & correct if they want to stay in business. Americans scrimp & cheap out on 4-cylinder technology (unrefined, rough, underpowered), forcing buyers to prefer the sixes, which suck up fuel & are too heavy to "toss around". I may try the estimated $29k Mitsu Lancer Ralliart DSG AWD. The Mitsu is almost certainly too cramped for my 6-3 230 lbs, which is too bad because its DSG is IMO the aboslutely most fantastic gearbox on earth, period. The AWD is nice, as is the power & economy of the inline-4-turbo & its fantastic EVO suspension. OTOH we can always hope the Mazda Speed 6 is just around the corner; though it will probably lack the state of the art DSG. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Feb 24, 2009 8:46 am) bvdj84 (Feb 24, 2009 9:16 am)
#115 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by thegraduate Feb 24, 2009 (8:46 am)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Feb 07, 2009 8:37 pm) GM & Ford midsize cars are too heavy to provide fun w/ 4-cylinder motors, something both should look at seriously & correct if they want to stay in business. A little research goes a long way. 2009 Ford Fusion Base Weight - 3,101 lbs 2009 Mazda 6 Base Weight - 3,258 lbs (Both the most basic model, with manual transmission and 4-cylinder engine). For 2010, the 2.5L engine in your Mazda will be the same engine in the base Fusion. Guess if the Ford isn't fun, the Mazda must be a pain in the rear to drive, to you!
#116 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by bvdj84 Feb 24, 2009 (9:16 am)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Feb 07, 2009 8:37 pm) WOW!!! I could not have said it better! At least I am not the only one that holds that opinion on how Americans scrimp out on the 4cyl engines!! That is exactly right! You have to get the V6 in order to get a bit more refinement, but comments then are its still rough, unrefined when compared . I test drove an 08 Jetta Wolfsburg with the 2.0T turbo, and it was so much fun!! I took that baby out on the interstate, and it was truly a machine. Now, you cannot get that on a 4cyl GM car. Even its regular 2.5 5cyl engine in the Jetta is awesome! It is available on a great lease, and totally worth it!! I would pick that over the Honda product I want. The fun factor is high!! That car in the red, WOW!! 2.0T, tinted windows, I love it!! There is this parent that drives one at my work, I practically drool when I see it...lol. Because I know its level of fun! My mom has always leased Jetta's. I am a big fan of them. She has an 08 Jetta SE. Very sharp! I get worse gas mileage in my 08 G6 4cyl than I do in the slightly larger 06 Accord I had. The Accord 4cyl was so much more powerful, torquey. Was so much more refined. Why did I choose the 4cyl G6? well long story, I am over it. But, I will no doubt get what I want next time. The Accord is nice, a bit big, I still love it, the Mazda, looks very nice, I would try that. The altima doesn't do anything for me. Too heavy looking, looks like a slug. lol. Its just an odd car. But, you know, there are many odd cars out today..lol
#117 of 120 by ribbonspeakers Feb 24, 2009 (4:32 pm)
I'm age 54, 6-3, 235 lbs (bench press 280+ lbs). The Fusion is absolutely too tight for me; the '09 Mazda 6i fits me very well even though a little easier entry would be appreciated. Comparing 4-cyl motors the Mazda vibrates less, makes more torque & power, has better throttle response & sounds better when revved (as is the case when power is required from a four). Handling wise, as well documented by every professional & non-professional source, the Mazda's handling is best in class, no contest. There's a lot more to the driving equation than comparable/similar weight. Up to now the American companies smugly designed, sold & made most of their profits from gass-guzzling war-causing pigs. They should be punished for such careless negligence. Still, I wanted to buy American. I drove the Malibu but it's no contest if balanced 4-cyl performance is a priority. Again, I sat in the Fusion several times trying to justify it but I don't fit. Replies to this message: thegraduate (Feb 24, 2009 9:12 pm) ribbonspeakers (Feb 27, 2009 2:31 pm)
#118 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by thegraduate Feb 24, 2009 (9:12 pm)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Feb 24, 2009 4:32 pm) Comparing 4-cyl motors the Mazda vibrates less, makes more torque & power, has better throttle response & sounds better when revved (as is the case when power is required from a four). Handling wise, as well documented by every professional & non-professional source, the Mazda's handling is best in class, no contest. Found a comparison between the upgraded Fusion, 6, and Accord, thought I'd post some notes from it, from C/D. The Mazda’s four-cylinder is up from 2.3 liters and 156 horsepower to 2.5 liters and 170 horses—168 in PZEV (Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle) California editions such as our test car. Although the Mazda’s powerplant comes up seven horses short of the Fusion’s, it registered identical times in our benchmark sprints: 0 to 60 in 8.0 seconds, the quarter-mile in 16.1 at 88 mph. We’re talking subtle distinctions here. Brake-pedal feel, for example, wasn’t quite as positive as in the Accord. The Mazda turned in readily, the Accord decisively. The Mazda’s freeway ride was good, but it verged on harsh when we operated on patchy pavement. Its suspension tuning was more overtly sporty than the Accord’s, but the Honda held a tangible edge in transient response while delivering a more supple ride on just about any surface. Just posting some notes. Having driven both the new 6 and the new Accord, neither makes me want to trade my current 06 Accord in on either of them, especially since its paid for! Replies to this message: ribbonspeakers (Feb 27, 2009 2:31 pm)
#119 of 120 My decision by lewisinde Feb 27, 2009 (12:12 pm)
I test drove the 4 cylinder Altima, the Accord, and the Mazda6 twice each. I wanted to go with a car that had better gas mileage. Who know how high prices will go in the future. All three were comfortable to drive, responded well to and had good acceleration for a four cylinder engine. I personally felt that the supsension on the Altima and the Accord were better than the 6. As far as reliability goes, Honda > Mazda > Nissan. What drove my decision in the end was that were so many Accords and Altimas on the road now that it wasn't exciting owning one. To top it off, the dashboard set up and lighting in the Mazda6 was outstanding and closest to the Acura TL and I was able to get bluetooth in the Mazda and I don't think it was available for the Honda. I've had my Grand Touring i for four weeks and love it. So far I can only find two negative issues with the car: The suspension on bumpy patched roads here in town is worse than expected which was previously mentioned. The other issue is the lumbar support wheel doesn't really do much to add much addtional support. Overall I think its a great car. Had the dealer add an identical aftermarket spoiler for $350 and it looks hot.
#120 of 120 Re: [thegraduate] by ribbonspeakers Feb 27, 2009 (2:31 pm)
Replying to: thegraduate (Feb 24, 2009 9:12 pm) By "best in class handling" I mean shorter lap &/or slalom time than any other same class car. When someone finds a reliable independent source showing a stock same-class car beating the Mazda6, please post it here. I agree there are smoother suspensions on patchy/bumpy roads. I believe C/D is a Honda lap dog, far less objective than CU, Edmunds & Autoweek, which agree w/ my subjective conclusion favoring the Mazda6 handling over all same-class comers. The Mazda’s freeway ride was good, but it verged on harsh when we operated on patchy pavement. Its suspension tuning was more overtly sporty than the Accord’s, but the Honda held a tangible edge in transient response while delivering a more supple ride on just about any surface. With all due respect: "...more overtly sporty...tangible edge in transient response..."? What does that jibberish mean? Overtly vs. covertly? Tangible vs. intangible? Was this idiot paid by the word? (See above: Honda lap dogs) What were C/D lap &/or slalom times if such were published?