2009 Cash-Back Deals You Can Still Find

As the 2010 models push out nearly all of the old 2009s on dealer lots, a lot of buyers become annoyed by valid, advertised cash-back offers on 2009 cars that basically aren’t available anymore.

We tracked down some interesting offers on 2009s that are:
a.)    Cars we wouldn’t mind buying
b.)    Have a significant cash-back offer
c.)    Readily available, according to Cars.com’s new-car inventory

Check out our list below. And if you want to search our inventory scroll to the end of the post for handy links for each model.

Recall Alert: 2009 Mazda6

Mazda has issued a recall for 29,000 Mazda6 vehicles from the 2009 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall is due to a defect with the outer door handles, which may stick and prevent the door latch from catching. This, in turn, could lead to the door flying open while driving, which is a clear danger to occupants. Mazda dealers will inspect each door handle and replace or repair the handles free of charge if they’re found to be faulty.

Owners can contact Mazda at 800-222-5500 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Cars.com Podcasts Are Here

After 10 years of penning car reviews, the editors at Cars.com have finally decided to broadcast their unvarnished thoughts through the magic of podcasting. We know we’re not the first automotive publication to record a podcast, but we wanted to do something slightly different than the rest.

Each week, editors Joe Wiesenfelder, David Thomas, Kelsey Mays and Mike Hanley will hold an informal roundtable on cars we’ve recently tested. Ever wondered what all of us think of the cars that get reviewed? This is the podcast for you.

This week, we take on a number of compact cars, like the 2009 Honda Civic and outgoing Mazda3, as well as all-new midsize sedans the Mazda6 and Acura TL, all in under 20 minutes. That should eat up some of your commute and/or workday.

You can download the podcast via iTunes or listen on your browser, here. Non-iTunes folks can subscribe to the RSS feed here.

If you have any suggestions for us, please leave them in the comments or email to editor@cars.com.

Cars.com Compares Family Sedans

The midsize family sedan segment has plenty of heavy hitters, and if you’re in the market for one, there’s an overwhelming amount to consider. Cars.com can give you an assist, though, by directly comparing three of the heaviest of heavies: the Mazda6, the Honda Accord, and the sales behemoth Toyota Camry. Three of our experts face the three vehicles off against each other, feature-by-feature, to determine which one will give you the most bang for your buck and which is the best overall. Check out the full comparison and feel free to let us know your thoughts on one of the most popular segments in the U.S.

Cars.comparison: Family Sedans (Cars.com) 

2009 Mazda6 Leads 0% Pack of Midsize Sedans

If you’re out shopping for a new midsize sedan this weekend and want 0% financing, there will be a lot to choose from. Most current incentives end Monday, including a 0% financing for 36 months offer on the all-new 2009 Mazda6 sedan that Cars.com recently tested. The deal obviously features the standard “for qualified buyers” small type, but it’s still a good deal. If you want a 60-month plan, the rate is 2.9%, which is also quite good.

We figured we’d do our due diligence and check on the competition, to see if Mazda is alone with its deal. Nope; nearly every competitor has a 0% offer going on through the weekend.

Cars.com Videos: 2009 Audi A5, 2009 Mazda 6, 2009 Chevy Aveo5

2009 Audi A5: The A5 is a sleek-looking luxury coupe, but its 265-hp, 3.2-liter V-6 fails to deliver performance thrills, David Thomas says.

2009 Mazda6: With its distinctive styling, roomy cabin and solid driving experience, the redesigned Mazda6 might be a great fit for your family; Mike Hanley investigates.

2009 Chevrolet Aveo5: Bill Jackson checks out a $14,000 Aveo5 hatchback. It gets you from here to there, but doesn’t do a lot more than that.

View and share all of Cars.com’s videos via YouTube.

Cars.com Reviews the 2009 Mazda6

When you're facing competition with the reputation and brand loyalty of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, you’d best bring your A-game. Mazda's 2009 Mazda6 definitely puts its best foot forward, with unique styling that makes your right foot long for the gas pedal. Still, the Mazda6 needs to hold its own in the meat-and-potatoes categories, too. How does it ride? Is it reliable? How's the gas mileage? Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley puts these questions and more under his consideration as he evaluates the Mazda6 in its tough segment. Read his full review below.

2009 Mazda6 Expert Review

End-of-the-Model-Year Deals: Mazda

Next up in our series is Mazda. Unlike many of its competitors, which focus on regionally tailored discounts, Mazda is offering what seem to be national incentives — though, as always, you should check your zip code for availability — that include sizable cash-back deals on the RX-8, Tribute, B-Series and Mazda6. The four models also get 0.0%financing for either 36 or 60 months, depending on the model. Unfortunately, those looking for a discount on other Mazda models won’t find much to their liking.

A full list of deals and our thoughts are below:

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.

U.S.-Bound 2009 Mazda6 Revealed

• Competes with: Chevy Malibu, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord
• Looks like: The European 6 revealed last September
• Drivetrain: 3.7 liter V-6 with six-speed automatic transmission, 2.5 liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual or five-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2008

Last year, we saw the thoroughly restyled Mazda6 lineup that would be sold worldwide. We have no idea why it took so long for Mazda to finally take the wraps off of the U.S. version, seen here for the first time, since it looks so similar to the worldwide version. However, the changes are significant since Americans will get a larger car inside and out with a powerful V-6 option, and a different interior.

What of the hatchback and wagon we saw for Europe? Nope, they’re not coming to the U.S., just the sedan.

Engine choices are interesting: The top of the line 3.7-liter V-6 is the same engine that powers the CX-9 three-row crossover. In the CX-9 it produces 273 hp. If those numbers remain, the new Mazda6 would be the most powerful non-luxury midsize sedan on the market, beating out the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevy Malibu and Nissan Altima V-6s. It will be teamed to a six-speed automatic transmission.

A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine will serve as the base power plant and is the same engine that powers the European version. We’d guess power would be similar to the announced 170-hp engine for Europe, and fans of manual transmissions get a six-speed manual. A five-speed automatic is also available. Both automatics come with a manual shift feature. All North American Mazda6 sedans will be built in Flat Rock, Michigan at a plant shared with Ford.

When the Mazda6 debuted, it really set the tone for how sporting and sophisticated daily transportation could be in what is normally a rather boring segment. Since then, every automaker has caught up. With this redesign, Mazda looks to recapture its edge. One additional photo can be found below.