2009 Mazda6 Starts at $18,550
The redesigned Mazda6 will start at $18,550 for the base SV trim with a six-speed manual transmission, Mazda has announced. Prices exclude a $670 destination charge. That represents a $590 decrease over the outgoing sedan, and means the Mazda6 will cost less than the ’09 Toyota Camry ($18,920) and Chevy Malibu ($20,745), as well as the ’08 Honda Accord ($20,360) and Nissan Altima ($18,620). The price decrease isn’t caveat-free: Alloy wheels, keyless entry and cruise control — all standard before — don’t come on the base model. Even so, it’s still fairly well-equipped: A/C, power windows and locks, antilock brakes, six airbags and a CD stereo with steering-wheel controls — though not an auxiliary MP3 jack — are standard.
Kudos to Mazda for making stability control, unavailable last year, standard across the line. A number of midsize cars, including the Camry and Altima, keep it optional. The ’09 Mazda6 also gets a new 170-hp four-cylinder — which Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes told us was “nearly as fast,” with the manual transmission, as the outgoing 3.0-liter V-6 — and we’ll call the equipment difference a wash, or almost one. As such, this could be a decent value choice.
The new four-banger sacrifices 1 mpg in the city, so a manual ’09 Mazda6 is rated at 20/29 mpg city/highway, versus 21/29 for a manual ’08. We’d like to see better mileage; all four competitors are rated in the low-30s on the highway. With an optional five-speed automatic, mileage increases to a more acceptable 21/30 mpg.
An all-new 270-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 is also available, but it teams only with a six-speed automatic and returns a disappointing 17/25 mpg. We mourn the passing of a V-6/manual combination, which the last Mazda6 offered, but Barnes said demand was very low. Besides that, the new engine, which Mazda shares with the CX-9 crossover, would have required new driveline architecture to accommodate a stick shift. Bah.
Ascending trim levels include Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. Like most modern family cars, luxuries from power seats to a navigation system are available. Load a Grand Touring to the hilt, and Barnes says it will run about $33,000. At least for now, there are no wagon or hatchback editions.
Full pricing and major features:
- Four-cylinder SV: $18,550 (manual)
- Four-cylinder Sport: $20,250 (manual, auto adds $900) – adds cruise control, keyless entry, auxiliary MP3 jack
- Four-cylinder Touring: $21,705 (manual, auto adds $900) – adds 17-inch alloys, leather steering wheel, power driver’s seat, push-button start, trip computer
- Four-cylinder Grand Touring: $24,910 (manual, auto adds $900) – adds dual-zone auto A/C, heated leather seats, power passenger’s seat, blind-spot monitoring system, xenon headlights
- V-6 Sport: $24,130 (auto) – same as four-cylinder Sport, plus 17-inch alloys
- V-6 Touring: $25,075 (auto) – same as four-cylinder Touring, plus 18-inch alloys
- V-6 Grand Touring: $28,260 (auto) – same as four-cylinder Grand Touring, plus 18-inch alloys
- Other options: Moonroof, 10-speaker Bose stereo, navigation system
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Mazda updated their website with '09 Mazda6 information. Here's the "build your own" app for this vehicle:
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/configEntryPoint.action?vehicleCode=MZ6&modelYear=2009
The 4 cylinder 6MT Touring model with the Convenience Package is a particularly notable value.
this sure does look like a camry, but good value for a base model here
Please bring back the wagon!
The previous model didn't do to well in sales and it sits with some tough competition. I wouldn't expect too much for this one either. They needed to price it below the other 4 to make it more competitive. The price you list is one that you won't see on the lots (4 cyl manual - not a chance). It will be around $21,000 which will put it the same ballpark as the others.
I'm mildly disappointed over the fact that cruise control and keyless entry are optional, but the mileage figures are borderline deal-breakers IMO.
For that reason alone, I'd prolly end-up with a Sonata GLS instead.
So, the price "advantage" when comparably equipped does not apply?
I wonder if I am not the first one thinking that this is a piece of crap. It doesn't look all that good, and it doesn't get better gas mileage.
I wonder if I am not the first one thinking that this is a piece of crap. It doesn't look all that good, and it doesn't get better gas mileage.
Oh, one more thing about this new 6.
I hear that they are putting in a 3.7L in the V6 models.
Geez, I thought only the Galant's 3.8L was crazy.
Sooner or later, we are gonna have some mid-size cars with the original Lexus LS's size engines.
It is more beautiful than a Camry (that is easy) and more sporty than an Accord (Honda goes BMW), and you can get it manual. This is going to be a great car, like the old 6. No station wagon or 5 doors? It is a pity, a lot of former SUV posers would like them.
Ok. So, Camry, Accord, Altima, Mazda6, Sonata - lineup completed. But still no perfect car.
Camry - drives like 1980 Buick but has no hump in the back.
Accord - beautiful, drives super, has hump and a very small trunk
Altima - smooth, crampy in the back, and too harsh on the road
Mazda6 - disapointing fuel economy, has hump?
Sonata - nice driver, has hump
Now, put $$$ factor and Sonata is the winner!
One advantage is fun factor. For those who don't worry too much about gas prices.
I like this redesign. It's very elegant and sporty. In my opinion, the Camry is too subdued in terms of styling and the Accord, although attractive, is somewhat edgy, which makes me hesitate about falling for the styling. The Altima is eh...never thought about it much, and the Sonata is also eh to me even though it's a great value. I'm just not too sure about Mazda's reliability history. It's been mediocre according to past consumer reports. Hopefully it has improved. Overall Japanese/Korean cars have good reliability so I don't mind ending up with either of the listed above. Well, I'm not really in the market for a midsize sedan anyways, but just sharing my thoughts on the redesigned Mazda 6. =)