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I just test drove a Mazda6 GT diesel sedan and I have to say it is a worthy competitor.
The diesel is super quiet both from the outside as well as from within the cabin. Standing outside the car at idle there is a slight rattle that could be mistaken for some direct injection petrol. Both around town and at freeway speeds the cabin was almost completely hushed. Very few passengers would pick it for a diesel.
The 6 speed auto was very smooth and it was very difficult to spot the change points. The steering has a more sporting feel / weight than that of the Passat.
The interior plastics are top notch but the indicator stalks were at little below par. The central display / nav unit was a bit small and was recessed to effectively protect it from glare. There was also an iDrive type control knob. The black leather seats had a contrasting double red stitching which enhanced the sporting feel of the interior. The rear leg room in the sedan was enormous, while the centre seat belt arrangement with the rear seats folded down was amateurish connected to and extending from the rear parcel shelf.
To sum up, if you like the prestige Japanese aesthetic, then Mazda6 would certainly tempt you. It is not better or worse, it is a different horse from a different course.
Before I bought Golf, Test drove Mazda. NOT comfortable re seat compliance and road
potholes. Darned well felt bumpy!
But now I have 125TDI on order, exit Golf. (Goes to a family member)
Hope for a better ride.
MY13 Passat 130TDI Sedan. Autumn Brown Metalic, Desert Beige seats. Sat nav, Rev camera, Dynaudio, 12way adj seats. No ACC Previous Golf 118 TSI with ACC given to my son
Wonder how far new 6 has come re NVH into the cabin. From drives I had, the previous 6 & earlier models were always critisized for poor NVH levels due to less than stellar sound deadening insulation.
I ask passengers that have been in the back of my Passat (young daughter excused) how it was & they all to the last person have said they could have a conversation with front seat passengers without raised voices & found it comfortable.
*MY12 B7 Passat V6 4-motion Highline wagon.... *Sport pack (Kansas wheels) - Active cruise City EB - Driver Assist Vis pack - Auto tailgate - Candy White with dark tint.
At $75k plus on-road costs, it's also miles ahead on price.
Street price is significantly less. Expect $10k discount on the vehicle & an inflated trade-in price. It pretty well brings an V60 T6 R-design to a competitive price with the Passat wagon.
Still wouldn't recomend it as the Swedes don't seem to have a handle on build quality these days despite 5-5-5 service-roadside assist-warranty package
carandimage The place where Off-Topic is On-Topic I used to think I was anal-retentive until I started getting involved in car forums
Having owned a Mazda and a number of Japanese cars and now a VW. Not sure I could go back. The Euros are just so well put together and I am pretty converted now.
Despite some laughs directed at Mazda I think it is instructive to compare how they are handling their small defect: loaner cars for those inconvenienced, free first service, warranty extensions for time lost, pretty open and fast communication. I don't see any unhappy new Mazda-6 buyers in the forums.
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