great car for the money
Nice car for the money. A REAL performer in town and on the road. I get 28mpg @ 65mph with cruise on. A fast car off the line/stoplights.(get the V-6) Roomy, comfortable interior, trunk has ample room. Handling is comparable to my Mazda Miata Convertible and is great in the twisties. I drove Camry, Accord and Altima and they are 4 cylinder plus more expensive. Mazda gives you more car for less money.
Really enjoying - except....
Drove all the "Camcordias" - new 6 as comfortable as they are -you don't see it "coming and going" - to me that's one of the best features. I got the 4 cyl - my first 4 banger - engine in smooth - but I miss the power and pickup of a 6 cyl. Gas mileage is about 25mpg around town - have 800 miles on the car (10 days driving). Automatic 5 speed is good on upshifts - downshifts are rough when coming around a turn and stepping on gas - it waits too long to shift and kind of bangs into lower gear. The "tiptronic" is lots of fun and works really well (though I find the "pushing forward" for downshift and pulling back for upshift to be backwards) Next time - 6 cyl with manual trans!
- s Grand Touring SedanMSRP: $9,99552 mi away
- s Touring SedanMSRP: $6,785209 mi away
- i Grand Touring SedanMSRP: $4,995235 mi away
Drove it and Loved It
I was looking at this and the Altima. Liked the Altima but loved the Mazda. Steering is tight like a sports car, yet it sips fuel (30 MPG on a 200 mile trip averaging 75 MPH). Not bad for a lead foot! Wind noise was very minimal. Great fit and finish on the interior materials. Love the Bose speakers, bluetooth, and noise reduction feature. Push button start is fun too. Smooth to drive and the 4-cyl engine provides power when needed. I am 6'3" and have plenty of room. Dealer was 6'5" and could sit comfortably behind me on the test drive. On my way home from the dealer, I had two people ask me at a light what I was driving!
Value Plus
Had the car for 3 weeks now, replacing an 05 Altima. I do both highway and city driving, and this car has a ride quality you would find in a larger sedan but with power and maneuverability when you want it. Where the Altima was harsh and noisy, the Mazda exudes confidence, handling all road surfaces with ease. From a style standpoint, you can't beat the aggressive stance and overall lines - borrowing cues from Lexus and Infiniti isn't such a bad thing, and the design is hands down nicer than Camry or Accord, and the "happy face" grille of the Altima. Fuel economy is about the same as the Altima - it's reasonable given the power and performance of the V6.
Whats not to Love
Very Stylish best of all the sedans. Very quick acceleration, smooth transmission shifting. Handles curves like a real sports sedan should, yet has a very pleasant ride on the highway and over bumps, the 18 wheels are a plus. The car is roomy with options that you would normally find in cars twice the price. Overall: The best car I drove in its class by alot.