2014 Mazda6 - General Discussion

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yum-yum..
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Oh man, that looks fantastic on the outside, though I'm not sure about the navigation screen area. I feel like those buttons would be better served placed elsewhere. That screen just looks tiny in that giant cubbie hole.
 
Mazda delays diesel 6 again in the US.....:(

At the 2014 Mazda 6's U.S. launch in November 2012, the company made us all giddy by announcing they would sell a 6 diesel in America. It was supposed to arrive shortly after gas 6 in summer 2013. Then it was pushed to spring of this year. Now Mazda is pushing the 6 diesel further down the road.

In a statement released today, Mazda says it's delaying the diesel's launch further because it wants to meet emissions requirements without using a urea injection system and without overly sacrificing performance and economy. It's an interesting move, given that pretty much all U.S.-bound diesels are getting urea stuff to combat pollutants.

Mazda released no timetable for the 6 diesel, other than that more information about the fuel economy and on-sale date would be released closer to its launch.
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Jalopnik
 
Every time I see a Mazda 6 (2014 model), I turn my head like I do when I see a Porsche 997 or 991.
 
While the styling of the lights and grille are rather unusual, the 6 has got some sexy, sexy curves. Even Astons and Jags seem slab-sided by comparison.

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Mazda will have to cure the oil dilution issue on their diesels, as well, before hitting the US... though that one appears to be more of a calibration issue rather than something serious.

Seems like they want to do a Honda... meet emissions requirements with less complication than anyone else (remember the EPA-compliant catless Hondas from way back when?)... a nifty goal, but one they shouldn't dither on.

Of course, it makes sense to try to meet US diesel requirements without urea... this would allow them to sell one set of diesels everywhere in the world with no additional (production) cost for the US market.
 
niky
Seems like they want to do a Honda... meet emissions requirements with less complication than anyone else (remember the EPA-compliant catless Hondas from way back when?)... a nifty goal, but one they shouldn't dither on.
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Oh yeah, we remember. Mostly because Honda promised we'd get them, and then, they killed the project off completely.

You'd think that, with Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Volkswagen absolutely killing it with diesel sales, more brands would be jumping in. Of recent memory, GM is the only one to have gotten off the ground with the Cruze Diesel.
 
Mazda needs to fix the god-awful infotainment system before it dedicates any resources to anything else. That thing is TERRIBLE.

The Mazda 3 outclasses it, which is pathetic. It's funny because I'd buy a Mazda 6 if it had the 3's interior. And I'd buy a 3 if ingress/egress wasn't comparable to a Peel P50. Seriously, that back seat is a joke.
 
I'd seriously consider a 3s Grand Touring if they allowed a manual.

On the topic of the 6 though. I wonder if and when we'll see a Mazdaspeed6.
 
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Blackbird.
On the topic of the 6 though. I wonder if and when we'll see a Mazdaspeed6.
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Given Mazda's financial situation, I'd lean heavily toward probably not. If they're going to make a Mazdaspeed product, my guess is that the MS3 will be the first to happen, and maybe an MX5 after that. With Subaru jumping out of the hot sedan segment, and really nothing compare it to, I don't know if Mazda could make a serious business case for it.
 
YSSMAN
Given Mazda's financial situation, I'd lean heavily toward probably not. If they're going to make a Mazdaspeed product, my guess is that the MS3 will be the first to happen, and maybe an MX5 after that. With Subaru jumping out of the hot sedan segment, and really nothing compare it to, I don't know if Mazda could make a serious business case for it.
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That's really too bad, the car looks amazing. It just lacks power really, maybe some slight bodywork to seperate it from the regular 6. Even a Mazdaspeed6 diesel i'd be down for, hehe.
 
I don't mean to lower the tone in this thread or anything, but after seeing so many of these things on the road, I'm wondering why so many people are praising the new Mazda 6 on its exterior design. Just comparing it to the previous generation, IMO it has taken a massive step backwards. The new car is just nowhere near as pretty by comparison... And I think it generally looks less modern. Especially the proportions (front overhang, etc).

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If I hadn't seen either of these two cars before, I'd have a rough time understanding that the car in the first picture is the newer one. Am I missing something about it?
 
JacoJa
If I hadn't seen either of these two cars before, I'd have a rough time understanding that the car in the first picture is the newer one. Am I missing something about it?
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Yeah, you're pretty much missing everything. Maybe Italian-style curves just aren't your style but many people really like sexy cars. It's not about looking new or modern, it's about looking good. Good looks don't get old.
 
JacoJa
I don't mean to lower the tone in this thread or anything, but after seeing so many of these things on the road, I'm wondering why so many people are praising the new Mazda 6 on its exterior design. Just comparing it to the previous generation, IMO it has taken a massive step backwards. The new car is just nowhere near as pretty by comparison... And I think it generally looks less modern. Especially the proportions (front overhang, etc).

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If I hadn't seen either of these two cars before, I'd have a rough time understanding that the car in the first picture is the newer one. Am I missing something about it?
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Congratulations, you take the poor taste crown from Slashfan.
 
Thanks chaps. Actually, I'm not entirely sure why I brought it up... I just had to get it out of my system. These new Mazda's just annoy me, much like that Nissan NV200 taxi, the Mitsubishi Mirage, and every new car from Subaru.


Keef
Yeah, you're pretty much missing everything. Maybe Italian-style curves just aren't your style but many people really like sexy cars. It's not about looking new or modern, it's about looking good. Good looks don't get old.
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I think you've got a good point there. While in many ways the new car looks less modern, the lines on the new 6 (especially the creases down the sides) I think are an improvement.

Omnis
Congratulations, you take the poor taste crown from Slashfan.
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One day I'm going to find someone who has the same views on car design as me... One day. Until then, I'll take that crown, thanks. :D
 
JacoJa
If I hadn't seen either of these two cars before, I'd have a rough time understanding that the car in the first picture is the newer one. Am I missing something about it?
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I was an instant fan of the previous generation style when it came out. The way the curves and accent lines all flowed together across multiple panels and even invisibly between panels is awesome.

The new styling... took time for me to wrap my head around. I still find the "beak" on the CX-5 a bit awkward, but it actually works on the Mazda6. But while the styling around the light clusters may take some getting used to, the shape of the car is much, much better. The older 6 is great looking from some angles, but it's slab-sided and the rear end has always looked a bit unfinished. Lower the car (as many secondhand owners are now doing) and it looks even more slab-sided...

The new car works from all angles. The only thing I don't like is the trendy "blade" accent between the tail-lights, because it looks just like the one on the Camry, but that's easy to rectify in a facelift. The way the curves dip and swoop around the shoulders makes the Mazda6 look more like a Jaguar sedan than current Jaguar sedans...

And to drive... I've driven both cars... and while both are fantastic fun to drive, the new one is much better. The Mazda6 has always been a driver's car. The hydraulic steering on the first generation was perfect. Second gen, a step back. The previous one, a step forward... it was good for an electric rack. This new one? Almost as good as the hydraulic system on the first. More feedback. More feel. More fun. And the ride and road noise are nowhere near as punishing as the previous car.
 
Kosher. (I want to make a gravel/gravlax joke here)
 
The previous car was a lot better in terms of three point turns than the first... which did U-turns like a battleship. The new one actually seems better still... Errh... I mean even less battlesip-like.
 
That's good. So it's a normal car then. The first gen's radius was comically huge. I remember a friend picking me up at school. He had to make a 3 point turn every time we had to squeeze through the parking garage. That or I had to get out and move the cones. :lol:
 
JacoJa
Thanks chaps. Actually, I'm not entirely sure why I brought it up... I just had to get it out of my system. These new Mazda's just annoy me, much like that Nissan NV200 taxi, the Mitsubishi Mirage, and every new car from Subaru.
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Now those cars are ugly.
 
Omnis
That's good. So it's a normal car then. The first gen's radius was comically huge. I remember a friend picking me up at school. He had to make a 3 point turn every time we had to squeeze through the parking garage. That or I had to get out and move the cones. :lol:
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Oh good, it's not just me who thought that the first gen 6's turning radius was large. Encountered that problem when I tried to make a U-turn to leave right after buying one.

I've really enjoyed driving the first gen 6; it's a really nice mix between fun to drive and comfortable. Sounds like this new one is quite good as well.
 
Crash
I've really enjoyed driving the first gen 6; it's a really nice mix between fun to drive and comfortable. Sounds like this new one is quite good as well.
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I commute with a '14 daily and it's a great DD. It's definitely not a powerhouse but it's enough and handles quite well, averaging 32mpg.
 
The new one is excellent. Was one of my cars of last year. Felt like a big MX-5, rather than just a sportified regular sedan. All the basics are inherently right. New Skyactiv engines are particularly good.
 
I've been hearing from other automotive sites that there may be a Mazdaspeed variant and a Coupe variant by this year.
 
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