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2006 Mazda Mazda6 Sports Sedan
The Mazda6 is one of the hottest mid-sized sports sedans on the market, not to mention one of the most affordable. Strong performance, terrific handling and great style have made it a favorite with consumers seeking both space and sportiness. For 2006, the Mazda6 gets even better.
The exterior design is now sharper and even sportier, while the cabin is more comfortable with even higher levels of craftsmanship. Mechanically, the V6 engine is more tractable and economical, while a new five-speed automatic transmission on the four-cylinder imodel delivers better performance and gas mileage. Suspension is retuned for even more dynamic handling, while new larger 18-inch wheels, for improved handling and road holding, are offered as well.
The Mazda6 is available in three body styles: Sports Sedan, Sport Wagon and 5-Door. It’s the most extensive line-up in the mid-size category and all three body styles benefit from the 2006 upgrades.
“The freshening and mechanical improvements will further improve the customer’s perception of style and quality,” says Eiji Oyama, Mazda6 vehicle line manager for Mazda North American Operations. “The Mazda6 ’s unique competitive advantage is its sports-sedan position, and updates for 2006 further emphasize that advantage over the competition. Thanks to three different body styles, and the availability of four-cylinder and V6 engines, manual or automatic transmissions, the car that delivers the sportiest driving experience in its sector is even more desirable.”
The Mazda6 set new standards for performance, driver appeal and styling when it was launched three years ago. As a vehicle that married sports performance with refinement and practicality, it has proved a huge sales success and picked up more than 70 awards for automotive excellence.
There are two Mazda6 models: the four-cylinder i version and the V6-powered s. Each is available in one of four different packages: entry-level, Sport, Grand Touring and – new for 2006 – Grand Sport. Another new model for 2006 is the entry-level V6-powered s, giving value-conscious buyers the opportunity to drive Mazda’s superb V6 engine at the most affordable price ever.Also new for 2006 is a top-of-the-line MAZDASPEED 6 sedan powered by a turbocharged 274-horsepower four-cylinder engine offering all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission.
No other manufacturer offers a more complete lineup of luxury and performance sedans, sport wagons and five-door models in the midsize class.
The Design
Customers loved the look of the 2005 Mazda6, so Mazda designers were cautious about making too many changes.
The familiar pointed nose and sharp styling has been accented with a new sport grille on some models and angular new headlamps across the range. The headlamps on the Sport and Grand Sport packages use dark gray bezels. New for 2006 on Mazda6s Grand Sport package are High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps for superior illumination and lower maintenance. The front bumper also is new, and helps give even more edge to the styling. Foglamps are incorporated into the front spoiler. New side sills highlight the “hug-the-road” quality of the Mazda6 ’s style, while a trunk spoiler is standard on Sport and Grand Sport versions.
Revised tail lamps – using black bezels on the Sport and Grand Sport – and a new rear bumper on all models underline the sports-oriented changes. For the first time on a Mazda6, 18-inch wheels are now available on the s Grand Touring and Grand Sport packages, further improving the sporty appearance and also improving traction and road holding.
With the 2006 model year also come three new exterior colors: Dark Cherry, Bright Island Blue and Tungsten Gray.
Cabin Changes
The refreshed Mazda6 sees the inclusion of new front seats on all models for greater comfort and support. Cabin quality also is improved by using new door panels (including door handles), new cloth fabrics and a new center-console design. Auto up/down front power windows with anti-pinch mechanism are standard. The redesigned center console now has a new dark gray surface and uses a separate piano-black radio/CD face with restyled switches. The instrument panel decoration is dark gray.
The sporty interior uses a three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, offering tilt and telescopic adjustments along with fingertip cruise and audio controls. Instrumentation includes analog speedometer, tachometer, fuel and engine temperature gauges, as well as a digital readout for the outside air temperature.
Although the Mazda6 is clearly a driver’s car, it provides comfort for five adults. A six-speaker integrated AM/FM/CD sound system is standard on all cars, while upgrades for the entry level and Sport models include an in-dash six-disc CD changer, a cassette deck, an MP3 player or a MiniDisc Player. A 200-watt BOSE sound system — standard on Grand Touring and Grand Sport models — also is available, comprising an in-dash six-disc CD changer, four 25-watt speakers, a tweeter mounted in the A-pillar of each front door, a 100-watt subwoofer and an amplifier.
The latest in limited voice-command DVD satellite navigation is available, for the first time on any Mazda6, on the Grand Touring and Grand Sport models.
Improved Performance
The range-topping 3.0-liter V6 engine has been noted for its strong performance and refinement, and now gets a torque boost from 190 to 199 lb-ft (at 5,000 rpm). The change makes the engine even more tractable and the car easier to drive, and also will improve off- the-line performance. In addition, fuel economy is improved by one mile per gallon on both manual and automatic vehicles. Because of changes to the exhaust system to boost torque, maximum horsepower is reduced slightly from 220 horsepower to 215 horsepower (at 6,000 rpm).
As before, the V6 is mated to either a five-speed manual gearbox or six-speed Sport A/T automatic with manual shift. The Mazda6 is in the only vehicle in the class to be offered with a six-speed automatic transmission. The wide number of ratios improves performance, drivability, smoothness and gas mileage. The tall top gear also improves comfort and quietness on the freeway, while a short first gear gives aggressive off-the-line performance. These are all examples of Mazda6 ’s sports-first philosophy.
Other improvements for the Mazda6 for 2006 include bigger ventilated front disc brakes – up from 11.1 inches to 11.8 inches – to further cut stopping distances, resist brake fade and improve pedal feel. Solid 11.0 inch disc brakes are used at the rear. As before, anti-lock brakes (ABS) are standard – to cut stopping distances, allow drivers to steer when braking hard, and to stop skids. Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) automatically balances front-to-rear braking forces, irrespective of the vehicle’s load. Electronic traction control, which minimizes wheel spin in poor weather or slippery conditions, is standard across the range.
Secondary safety features include Triple-H body construction, which gives superb strength to the unitary construction body, front and rear side door beams, three-point seat belts for all five occupants, dual front airbags, and front and rear whiplash-reducing head restraints. Side airbags and side-curtain bags are standard on all models apart from the entry level iversion, on which they’re optional.
The keyless entry has remote locking/unlocking, automatic opening and closing of the front windows (a new feature for 2006), a trunk release and a panic button.
Handling and Equiptment
Double wishbone front suspension and ‘E’ type multi-link rear suspension give the 2006 Mazda6 superb wheel control for excellent handling and ride. The wide track and standard stabilizer bars reduce roll and improve driver response. A long wheelbase and short front and rear overhangs further improve stability. The power-assisted rack and pinion steering has a very quick ratio – only 2.54 turns lock to lock – to improve handling nimbleness and ensure driver involvement. Yet its variable assistance means it is light and easy to use at parking speed, while firming up at higher speeds to give full feedback from the front wheels to the driver’s palms.
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