I just traded in my 2007 Audi A3 for my first Mazda ever, a 2014 Mazda 6 Touring (Liquid Silver) with the automatic. It has no options beyond what comes in the Touring package. I paid $24,100 for it, plus a very fair value for my trade in.
Some initial impressions after a few days and 155 miles:
-Styling: Obviously I'm a big fan as I just bought one. That said, every single colleague at my workplace that has seen it has made unsolicited comments on how good the car looks. Those that have been inside the car also were impressed with the interior. All were shocked when I told them what I paid for it. Most figured it was a $30k+ vehicle.
-Base vs. Touring: As an aside -- I was looking at both the base and Touring trim and test drove both trim levels. IMHO, the interior of the Touring takes a big step up in classiness/luxuriousness compared to the base model. The pleather seats are very nice, very supportive, and do much to provide a higher luxury feel to the interior of the vehicle. The dual-zone climate control is a feature I value, particularly the ability to set a temperature and forget. Having back-seat vents will likely also be appreciated by the kids.
The blind spot detection was nothing I was particularly interested in, but after living with it for a few days, I actually like it. The lights on the mirrors are unobtrusive and non-distracting when you are not actively looking at them, and the system works well. I actually find it useful when merging and having to change lanes coming off a highway off-ramp where I live... I'll often know there is a car there in the lane I'm trying to merge to, but the system is nice in helping determine when it's all-clear to change lanes (and 6 lanes of traffic are converging at speed into a 2 EZ-Pass lanes). Anyway, it's not a must-have feature, but I will say, I like it now that I have it. 19" wheels were also not a must-have. That said, I test drove both the base and Touring and couldn't detect much of a penalty comfort-wise (I was concerned 19" would be too harsh). Comfort has been fine, and improves as both tires/suspension break in. The look of the 19" is badass. In hard cornering, the 19" have a very slight edge in feel/stability, but the 17" give up little, if anything.
-Engine: Super smooth, with good torque/hp. I haven't floored it as I don't want to abuse it until 500 miles, so I can't comment on wide-open-throttle response yet. It doesn't compare to the unbelievable 1850rpm peak-torque curve of the 2.0T in my A3, but I don't find it wanting in day-to-day driving. It has plenty of pick-up, and the transmission makes the most of the power that is there.
-Transmission: I absolutely LOVE the auto transmission. I've driven stick since '88, and had multiple cars with stick (pause for a moment as I remember my beloved Ford Contour SVT, taken away prematurely by another vehicle running a stop sign at 40mph), multiple automatics, and even a DSG in the A3 I just traded in. The automatic in the '14 Mazda 6 is the best I've driven, beating even the DSG in shift speed and smoothness. In manual shift mode, downshifts are instantaneous and perfectly rev-matched, much like the DSG in the A3 (I've been to Grand Prix racing school at Bob Bondurant and learned heel-toe from the best.. DSG's are cheating, but undeniably effective). Upshifts in manual mode are surprisingly laggy (Audi DSG was better in this regard). I struggle to understand why upshifts are so laggy... That said, most of the time I leave in automatic mode, where it is very effective. It is very responsive in downshifting when needed in auto mode. In terms of low-speed smoothness-- the torque converter for 1st gear is BRILLIANT. The Audi DSG is sometimes herky-jerky, and even would produce disconcerting lags at initial-start (worst lags would be making a fast turn from a standstill from a side road). The Mazda transmission produces none of these ill effects. Starts from a standstill are very smooth and direct. There is also no herki-jerkiness in stop-and-go driving. They really nailed it with this transmission.
-Handling: Tight handling, decent road feel. Corners very well and stays flat even in hard, fast, 90-degree turns. The handling is why I bought this car. Just as impressive is it's feel at 85mph on the highway-- very rock-solid and Germanic. It's hard to quantify, other than its feel at fast highway speeds makes me smile.
-Fuel Economy: This was a major consideration, combined with handling, styling, responsiveness, and price point. The Skyactiv program is legit. In my commute home, with a completely un-broken-in car with < 100 miles on it, I got 33mpg with 85% highway at ~75mph. In more heavy city-driving mix, it's been in upper 20's. I've been resetting my avg-mileage computer fairly often to see what comes up in city vs. highway driving. That said, I'm still on my first tank of gas with only 155 miles and 3 days on it, so I don't have much comprehensive to say regarding MPG other than it looks fairly promising so far.
-Reliability: It's my first Mazda, so I'm hoping for the best. I traded in the Audi because as wonderful as their 2.0T engine is, mine burned oil like a '92 Hyundai. Countless other 2.0T drivers have the same problem. Seeing Mazda #2 after Toyota in quality for all car manufacturers is a big plus in my book.
In summary, GREAT car so far. I think it's a tremendous value at its price point, and its styling makes it look more expensive than it is. A few years driving will confirm/deny, but I think it already close to being my favorite car ever. Again, what makes it so compelling is how damn good it is for a $24k 4-door sedan. It's tremendously good at that price... All of the reviews coming in on the auto blogs/magazines has been generally glowing, which, in addition to styling, is what got me in the showroom. The test drive is what made me sign the check.
Some initial impressions after a few days and 155 miles:
-Styling: Obviously I'm a big fan as I just bought one. That said, every single colleague at my workplace that has seen it has made unsolicited comments on how good the car looks. Those that have been inside the car also were impressed with the interior. All were shocked when I told them what I paid for it. Most figured it was a $30k+ vehicle.
-Base vs. Touring: As an aside -- I was looking at both the base and Touring trim and test drove both trim levels. IMHO, the interior of the Touring takes a big step up in classiness/luxuriousness compared to the base model. The pleather seats are very nice, very supportive, and do much to provide a higher luxury feel to the interior of the vehicle. The dual-zone climate control is a feature I value, particularly the ability to set a temperature and forget. Having back-seat vents will likely also be appreciated by the kids.
The blind spot detection was nothing I was particularly interested in, but after living with it for a few days, I actually like it. The lights on the mirrors are unobtrusive and non-distracting when you are not actively looking at them, and the system works well. I actually find it useful when merging and having to change lanes coming off a highway off-ramp where I live... I'll often know there is a car there in the lane I'm trying to merge to, but the system is nice in helping determine when it's all-clear to change lanes (and 6 lanes of traffic are converging at speed into a 2 EZ-Pass lanes). Anyway, it's not a must-have feature, but I will say, I like it now that I have it. 19" wheels were also not a must-have. That said, I test drove both the base and Touring and couldn't detect much of a penalty comfort-wise (I was concerned 19" would be too harsh). Comfort has been fine, and improves as both tires/suspension break in. The look of the 19" is badass. In hard cornering, the 19" have a very slight edge in feel/stability, but the 17" give up little, if anything.-Engine: Super smooth, with good torque/hp. I haven't floored it as I don't want to abuse it until 500 miles, so I can't comment on wide-open-throttle response yet. It doesn't compare to the unbelievable 1850rpm peak-torque curve of the 2.0T in my A3, but I don't find it wanting in day-to-day driving. It has plenty of pick-up, and the transmission makes the most of the power that is there.
-Transmission: I absolutely LOVE the auto transmission. I've driven stick since '88, and had multiple cars with stick (pause for a moment as I remember my beloved Ford Contour SVT, taken away prematurely by another vehicle running a stop sign at 40mph), multiple automatics, and even a DSG in the A3 I just traded in. The automatic in the '14 Mazda 6 is the best I've driven, beating even the DSG in shift speed and smoothness. In manual shift mode, downshifts are instantaneous and perfectly rev-matched, much like the DSG in the A3 (I've been to Grand Prix racing school at Bob Bondurant and learned heel-toe from the best.. DSG's are cheating, but undeniably effective). Upshifts in manual mode are surprisingly laggy (Audi DSG was better in this regard). I struggle to understand why upshifts are so laggy... That said, most of the time I leave in automatic mode, where it is very effective. It is very responsive in downshifting when needed in auto mode. In terms of low-speed smoothness-- the torque converter for 1st gear is BRILLIANT. The Audi DSG is sometimes herky-jerky, and even would produce disconcerting lags at initial-start (worst lags would be making a fast turn from a standstill from a side road). The Mazda transmission produces none of these ill effects. Starts from a standstill are very smooth and direct. There is also no herki-jerkiness in stop-and-go driving. They really nailed it with this transmission.
-Handling: Tight handling, decent road feel. Corners very well and stays flat even in hard, fast, 90-degree turns. The handling is why I bought this car. Just as impressive is it's feel at 85mph on the highway-- very rock-solid and Germanic. It's hard to quantify, other than its feel at fast highway speeds makes me smile.
-Fuel Economy: This was a major consideration, combined with handling, styling, responsiveness, and price point. The Skyactiv program is legit. In my commute home, with a completely un-broken-in car with < 100 miles on it, I got 33mpg with 85% highway at ~75mph. In more heavy city-driving mix, it's been in upper 20's. I've been resetting my avg-mileage computer fairly often to see what comes up in city vs. highway driving. That said, I'm still on my first tank of gas with only 155 miles and 3 days on it, so I don't have much comprehensive to say regarding MPG other than it looks fairly promising so far.
-Reliability: It's my first Mazda, so I'm hoping for the best. I traded in the Audi because as wonderful as their 2.0T engine is, mine burned oil like a '92 Hyundai. Countless other 2.0T drivers have the same problem. Seeing Mazda #2 after Toyota in quality for all car manufacturers is a big plus in my book.
In summary, GREAT car so far. I think it's a tremendous value at its price point, and its styling makes it look more expensive than it is. A few years driving will confirm/deny, but I think it already close to being my favorite car ever. Again, what makes it so compelling is how damn good it is for a $24k 4-door sedan. It's tremendously good at that price... All of the reviews coming in on the auto blogs/magazines has been generally glowing, which, in addition to styling, is what got me in the showroom. The test drive is what made me sign the check.