Test drive Mazda Mazda 6 (Atenza) Sedan since 2007 sedan

Beautiful rivals

The famous Italian comes to Russia with renewed vigor. Representatives of Alfa Romeo have serious intentions.
Mazda 6
The European premiere was held in 2002,
restyling in 2005. They produce sedan, hatchback, station wagon with bodies.
Engines: gasoline 1.82.3 l (120260 hp), diesel 2.0 l (120136 hp). It is delivered to Russia only with gasoline engines. The front wheel drive or full (2.3 l of the station wagon and MPS).
Gearboxes: 5- and 6-speed mechanical, 5-speed automatic.
Complete: Base, Touring, Sport.
Price in Russia: $ 22 90041 050.

Alfa Romeo 159
The model made their debut in 2005. Body options: sedan, station wagon.
Engines: gasoline 1.93.2 l (140260 hp), diesel 1.9; 2.4 l (100 200 hp). In Russia, only gasoline.
Gearboxes: mechanical 5- and 6-speed, robotic mechanical Selespeed (6-speed), hydromechanical automatic (3.2 l). The front wheel drive or full (with a 3.2 l engine).
Configurations: individual.
Price in Russia: є22 10047 200 ($ 28 73061 360).

The Russian market is growing an unprecedented pace. Therefore, even those brands that have long left him, without winning the laurels, are returning. Among them are Alfa-Romeo with model 159, who replaced the 156th. We will compete with her popular Mazda-6 with the most powerful atmospheric engine.

Eight -eyed
In which program do the current designers draw the appearance of the car? It seems that both Alfa-Romeo and Mazda-6 are created using the same software. Or are they designer templates? Eight luminous rounds in the front of the car is a random coincidence? Or are the headlights now, like fifty years ago, can only be round? Under the common glass at the Mazda headlights of high and near light, foglights and turning pointers. At the alpha, a smooth surface of the front line was donated, leaving three round optical elements open, and the foggy tumors were located at the bottom of the bumper. Such a solution may lose in aerodynamics, but much more spectacular. Even evokes the memories of Aston-Martine Lagonda, who, I remember, had six (though rectangular) headlights. And in combination with the traditional shield of the radiator of Alfa-Romeo 159, the owner of a tightly memorable appearance. The rest of the avant -garde decisions is not visible what is the best: ideal proportions have been determined for a very long time, but not outdated.

Red on white
In the middle lane this winter was a serious shortage of snow, but on the day of the test it suddenly fell. The snow-ice landscape has pretty much shifted the perception of cars, controllability was evaluated mostly on slippery roads. Both cars were shod in the season, in 16- and 17-inch Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5, so the comparison is quite legitimate. Winter studded tires do not particularly contribute to comfort, but the difference in sound insulation is excellent. Contrary to assumptions, Alfa Romeo 159 was not only quieter than Mazda-6, but also demonstrated good smoothness. Her suspensions were better coped with small irregularities on the asphalt, and with ice, and with openly broken areas. For a car with an obvious sports bias and origin from the southern country, this is perhaps surprising. As well as the fact that the energy intensity of the suspension of the mazda, at first glance stiff and dense, turned out to be low. However, abuse the speed on bad roads is safer on the Mazda she has a more road clearance, 133 mm. Alpha under a sagging plastic lid in the middle is only 90 mm! However, fasteners 30 mm.

Modern cars rarely indulge in good visibility. In Alpha, she is completely lower than the average with an acceptable thickness of the racks, the overhanging roof presses, an impressive hood and front overhang are not felt at all, and a view back is difficult. When parking perpendicular to the sidewalk or turn on the street with high borders, you need to be very neat. Even an overly felled lying policeman can pose a threat to Bampper. And this is in a car without a sports package of that front bumper even lower! The driver of Mazda feels more confident and is able to put the car almost close to the obstacle without getting used to it.

On a slippery road, the advantage again returns to the alpha. She reacts less to the rut and crests of uncleaned snow. Despite a very sharp steering wheel, feedback is enough even on ice. VDC and ASR systems are responsible for the operating mode. The first controls the sliding corners, the second prevents the slipping of the drive wheels. Both can be turned off, then the alpha will demonstrate the natural character of the chassis. It allows you to pass in sliding, but requires stable skills. An attempt to refuel the car into a turn for discharge of gas with insufficient lateral acceleration is doomed to failure: the car slips from the trajectory with front wheels. But if everything is done correctly at the time of the entrance, the alpha will reciprocate and obediently obey the set trajectory. Although it is obvious that the chassis was not set for ice ballet, it is clearly imprisoned on the asphalt, which requires accurate, predicted reactions and a minimum of sliding.

Mazda, on the contrary, is easier to change the trajectory at the entrance to the turn, but it is more difficult to control it on the arc. It is more difficult to stay in ice rolled ruts on the highway too actively the car is trying to jump out of them. On pure asphalt, Mazda behaves more understandable. But excessive sharpness is maintained: you should not be distracted from management! However, there is nothing particularly distracted by even the on-board computer is controlled by just one button. By the way, an advanced audio system includes Chainer for six discs in the central console, but does not know how to lose the notes in the MP3 format.

Without unnecessary modesty
Alpha engine starting with a button. Protection from the fool needs to squeeze the clutch or brake pedal. This does not fully guarantee from an involuntary jerk, but leaves a chance to drive to a starter in an emergency. Alfa’s on -board computer does not know the Russian language, but when choosing between English and German, I wanted to put Italian. It seemed that Livello Olio Motore is much more logical here than the Motor Oil LEVEL. The spirit of the car requires a native language!

The motor is understandable without translation, and its voice sounds very pleasant, especially at high speeds, obviously, they thoroughly worked on the timbre. The alpha engine pulls well from below, but is really revealed only after 4000 rpm. In combination with a mechanical gearbox, this pushes to active driving, and therefore it will be difficult to realize potentially high efficiency in life.

The kinematics of the gear shift mechanism is not perfect: the first and second is almost twice as close to neutral than the fifth sixth. It would be better with uniform intervals. There are no complaints about other governing bodies. The brake pedal allows you to easily adjust slowdown even on smooth ice. Clutch is a good compromise between the course and effort, to move off at any pace. To enjoy driving a high -speed car, you need to feel like a single whole with it. Therefore, focus on the driver's seat. Despite the leather upholstery, it holds perfectly in a bend.

Forty years ago, Fiat-124 hit Soviet motorists with a powerful and effective stove. Today, the alpha pleased with a climate installation with a developed air flow control system, central defroster, three adjustment zones (for a driver, front passenger and rear seat). Numerous shutters with electric drives live their own life, which is well audible with the engine turned off, but work impeccably.

It is no wonder that against this background Mazda looks rustic. Modest plastic, ordinary ignition key, standard set and location of the devices, climate control without separation into zones, even heating the front seats without adjustment. But all this is familiar and understandable at first glance. It is difficult to find a button or switch that would raise questions. And since the test car was an automatic transmission, the number of claims to ergonomics was reduced to a minimum. The main of them to the driver's seat. For a car without sports ambitions, it is acceptable, although the pillow is short. But the character of Mazda-6 (even with a machine gun) does not have a calm movement, and the back of the seat does not give proper side support.

The climatic setting is rustic and does not hold the temperature gradient in the height of the cabin too well, but it copes with the main task quickly and almost silently. There is no separate climate adjustment for the rear passengers, but they themselves have enough space for the legs, even if the driver and his neighbor of grenadier growth. And the main advantage behind the back of the rear seats: a huge trunk with excellent transformation capabilities. And under the floor, a surprise: a small subwoofer in the niche of the spare wheel.

Stereotypes
Italian means temperamental, by no means restrained. Japanese neat, modest and polite to boring. Neither alpha nor Mazda fit into the usual cliches. Alfa-Romeo convincingly proves superiority in many nominations: from an outstanding climatic installation to exemplary brakes and an excellent motor. The suspension and controllability is matching the temperament, but the car also copes with the unimportant road. Most of the disciplines lost by Italian continuation of extraordinary appearance. Review and modest luggage compartment are the most obvious examples.

Mazda was done differently. Obviously, each element was considered not only from the standpoint of aesthetic perfection and pleasure from driving, but also in accordance with the price and requests of practical buyers. Behind the bold lines and the aggressive nature of the Japanese machine, repeatedly verified solutions and a balanced approach. Very good, but by no means an outstanding technical level, the traditional Japanese quality, not without looking at the price, which is noticeably more attractive than Italian. above. With a more thoughtful design, the difference in road lumen would be halved.
In alpha, perhaps more talent, in the Mazda of hard work. But neither one nor the other in itself guarantees perfection
Mazda 6 Bright car with good dynamics still turns pale next to Alfoy Romeo. Bribes a combination of a living nature and practicality, as well as a reasonable price at excellent equipment.
General assessment 7.8
+ Good accelerated dynamics, acute controllability, excellent ergonomics, large trunk, moderate fuel consumption.
- limited selection of completion, increased noise at high speed, modest decoration materials, insufficient energy intensity of the suspension.

Alfa Romeo 159 looks divine and luxuriously rides, while comfortable. Possessing the properties of a four -door sedan, Alpha has retained the spirit of the racing machine.
General assessment 7.9
+ A frisky, evil motor, an accurate steering wheel, excellent brakes, a comfortable suspension, a rich finish, corporate identity, individual equipment.
- Poor visibility, small road clearance, close rear seat, uncomfortable trunk, limited service network, high price.

Anatoly Fomin: For a long and happy life, measured and prudent, Mazda, of course, is preferable. But if you have changed it with an alpha at least once, the previous system of values \u200b\u200bwill crumble.
 
 
 
 

Anatoly Fomin
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"