Mazda Mazda 6 (Atenza) sedan test drive since 2012 sedan

Dust in the eyes

Honda Accord and Mazda 6 are related not only to a purebred Japanese origin. These cars, perhaps, are the most immodest representatives, which is already a sin to hide, a rather boring family segment D
Judging by the results of sales, Honda Accord and Mazda 6 are one of the leaders of the segment D: They are chosen by almost every fourth Russian who decided to purchase a family sedan. This fact once again confirms well -known sayings both about the love of our compatriots for fast driving, and about such a line of national character as the desire to put dust into the eyes - in this case, a bright design of cars.
For a comparative test, we took maximum capacity cars in almost top trim levels. ACCORD TYPE-S 2008 of the model year with a manual transmission and a capacity of 201 L.S. The Russian representative office of Honda recommended selling 940 thousand rubles to its dealers at a price of 940 thousand rubles. And the Mazda 6 (also 2008 model year) with a 170-horsepower 2.5 liter engine, a mechanical gearbox (an automatic machine is offered only for 2-liter engines) costs 968 thousand rubles. As we see, the current generation of Accord in the Russian market is slightly cheaper than Mazda 6 (I note that we are talking about prices recommended by the manufacturer without taking into account anti -crisis shares). Four years ago, when we compared these two Japanese cars, the situation was the opposite. In addition, the previous generation’s Accord was one of the most stolen foreign cars in Russia. Therefore, when buying a car on credit to its cost, the price of an expensive satellite security system was added - this was a mandatory requirement of insurance companies. As a result, the advantage of the Mazda 6 over the Accord in the consumer rating was overwhelming. But today, the price policy of Honda in the Russian market has changed to a party favorable for fans of this brand. In addition, the new Accord unexpectedly ceased to interest the hijackers. As a result, the difference in the sales volume of Mazda 6 and Accord has significantly reduced, and the flour of choosing from those who plan to buy a class D sedan has significantly intensified. Well, let's try to put the emphasis and, perhaps, will help you decide ...
New notes
In the war for the buyer’s wallet, of course, all funds are good, but the most effective combat unit in the production system of automobile companies is a team of designers. The car has a bright, memorable appearance - there are sales. No beauty - no sales. Example? Yes, at least the recent, somewhat premature debut of the sixth generation Volkswagen Golf. The fifth Golf is good for everyone, it is almost perfect engineering, but a boring appearance did not allow this car to traditionally become a bestseller.
The previous generations of Honda Accord and Mazda 6 surprised and conquered the automobile world with their fresh, sharp, sports appearance. For this they fell in love. Considering the new Accord and Mazda 6, you feel in the inside that without the subversive activities of marketers who attached their hand to design, it was not done. New generations of Japanese models have become visually heavier and more solid than predecessors. Yes, cars are still beautiful and look very sporty, but from now on cold calculation and glamor in them there are more than elegance and clarity, which previously highlighted this couple among competitors.
Both Accord and Mazda 6 are one hundred percent recognizable Japanese cars. You will not confuse their national affiliation. But Mazda looks a little warmer, lively. Honda, in my opinion, is more technocratic and arrogant. I don’t know what images inspired Honda designers who painted Accord. It is possible that they were looking for inspiration in the space topics of the distant future, and the ASIMO robot, which became a permanent exhibit of the company's stands at international car dealerships, brought their pencils.
The designers of Mazda are more frank - the chief designer of the new Mazda 6 Joui Sato explains that in the appearance of the car he tried to convey the meaning of three hieroglyphs: Rin (strength and calm), Seiti (attention to details) and Yugen (hidden depth or principle of gradual transition). Everything is very Japanese, and everything is very difficult.
Well, not without reason they say: simplicity is worse than theft. Owners of Honda Accord and Mazda 6, indeed, will practically not feel deprived of anything. Unless the passengers in the rear seat of Accord will be surprised: why did the external dimensions of the car increase, but there was no more place inside? In terms of accommodation and space on the second row of Mazda seats, Honda is superior to the head.
Representing the new generation of Accord, its creators did not hide that they were going to the Premier League. Honda is trying to play Accord in a party against the BMW 3 series, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, Lexus is the desire for the sun-the goal, of course, is commendable, but no matter how to weave wings until I imagine a person who would change his new BMW (or other car from the current premium community) for the new Accord. Unless for a good surcharge. But in general, the eighth generation of Honda Accord, in terms of a common sense of quality and premium, is half a hundred higher than the new Mazda 6. To a lesser extent, this is manifested at the level of materials used in the decoration of the salon, tactile sensations on the governing bodies and to a slightly greater extent in acoustic and sled comfort .
Are you hot
Driving new Honda Accord and Mazda 6 is very convenient. However, there are nuances: Mazda 6 seats are almost perfect, but Honda has a seal pillow does not have enough length - even with my standard 180 cm, the legs sag slightly.
The ACCORD dashboard space design was more ergonomic compared to the laconic style of the control functions of the Mazda 6. I put the fat minus of the Mazda for the CF-Net interface, which allows you to control the dual-zone climate control and radio without tearing hands from the steering wheel . It would seem that it is convenient but the main handles of the microclimate control system are more handy, and the characters on the tiny central display of the Mazda, displaying the modes of operation of the climatic system and the musical center, are too small and poorly read. But the premium Mazda 6 audio system from Bose sounds cleaner and more powerful than the not -free Premium Audio System of the eighth Accord.
Review of the driver’s place is noticeably better for Mazda 6. This allows you to better feel dimensions and creates a feeling of space. And in the Honda, the side racks prevent you from testing your eyes on the road in corners.
In a city such as Moscow, cars with automatic boxes confidently displace cars with mechanics - too much energy consumption requires manual transmigration when driving in traffic jams. But in the case of Accord and Mazda 6, even traffic jams cannot spoil a pleasant impression of a living car control process with mechanics. A perfectly configured clutch, a clearly working transmission mechanism - and you forget about the absence of a machine gun for a while. I especially liked the work of the box at Accord. And not only perfectly selected gear relations, but also the clarity of the shift drive, working with the accuracy and speed of the arms shutter.
The exterior of Japanese sedans sets up the aggressive driving style. The interior this desire enhances. A three -spoke helmet and a short lever of gearboxes require active actions. The lateral stops of the chair tightly and gently grab the body these cars ask for speeds. Well, let's not restrain ourselves.
Under the eighth-generation hood, Accord costs a 2.4-liter 201-horsepower I-VTEC motor. Mazda 6 cannot boast of electronic gas distribution control systems for its 4-cylinder 2.5-liter engine. ACCORD is more powerful than Mazda by 31 hp, but up to 100 km/h of the car accelerate the nostril into the nostril: Honda requires 7.9 s, Mazda lags behind only 0.1 s. In maximum speed, they also practically do not differ. Nevertheless, playing with speed is more pleasant on accord than on Mazda 6. The Honda motor is more elastic, allows you to less often switch the gears and provides a sharper acceleration at high speeds.
The controllability of Accord compared to the previous generation of the model and the new Mazda 6 is shifted towards comfort and stability. Accord copes well with road irregularities, including lying policemen, and at the same time allows you to actively pass, without annoying the rolls and demolitions of the front axle, it stands steadily on the straight line.
The new Mazda 6 is still a joy for an active driver. Despite the weighted appearance, the car dropped weight and pleases with light and gambling, the chassis is perfect, the steering wheel is informative, the hard suspension allows you to merge with the car. Nevertheless, sometimes you get tired of games with Mazda 6 - sometimes you want more acoustic comfort, smoothness. And, of course, it is a shame that the Zoom-Zoom car is so afraid of meetings with the bedridden police and other major irregularities on the road, nervously trembling when they contact them with all its glamorous body.
So, Honda Accord or Mazda 6? In my opinion, the choice of Mazda 6 is more rational. Spacious interior, powerful engine, rich equipment and sports control. In addition, in addition to the sedan, you can purchase Mazda 6 in the back of the hatchback or station wagon. In addition, the price policy of Mazda dealers turned out to be more flexible: in January 2009, the prices of living Mazda 6 were even lower than the manufacturer recommended by the manufacturer, the Honda was the opposite situation. Accord is more selfish. He is unlikely to cope with the role of the only car in the family. But to satisfy the pride and the demanding of the held representative of the middle class is quite capable.
 
Igor Komarov
Photo by Yana Segal
 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine