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Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Jun 2002 Class: Large cars New price: - Used price: From £1,095 On sale:

Performance:

Ride comfort:

handling:

★★★★

★★★★

★★★★

Boot & Storage:

Safety:

★★★★

★★★

Reliability:

★★★

Total score:

73%

Great value for money.  Good build quality.  Impressive ride and handling. Difficult visibility.  Not much rear legroom or cabin storage spaces.  Awkward access to saloon’s boot. 

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Overview The Mazda 6 is a good-looking car which is nice to drive, with lots of equipment and room for passengers. It comes as a four-door saloon, five-door hatchback and roomy estate. It’s good value second-hand, especially since the launch of a new Mazda 6 model in 2008.  It’s not hard to see how the Mazda 6 has gained a firm foothold in this highly competitive class.This 2002-2008 model was very affordable when it was new, and its running costs are remarkably low, thanks to modest insurance and servicing charges.It hasn’t held its value particularly well, but that’s good news for second-hand buyers.   The 6’s day-to-day fuel consumption is average for the class; the 1.8 managed 33.6mpg in our tests, less than the manufacturer’s claimed figure of 36.2. You can expect the diesel models to do better than this, while sporty and automatic versions will be thirstier. The sporty-looking  6 drives well, and the handling is excellent even on poor roads. It’s also surprisingly nippy if you make full use of the gear range. The cabin is spacious but it’s not so comfortable for passengers in the back; the headrests are high and there’s not much legroom for adults. The 6 has a large boot (495 litres in the hatchback, and Mazda claims the estate will take 505 litres with the seats in place); the rear seats fold flat at the tug of a handle in the boot. The hatch has better access than the saloon. Reliability is average for this generation Mazda 6, according to our latest Which? Car survey. The most common problems involve the air con (15% of cars), followed by the exhaust, washer/wipers and battery.  

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Cheapest Model to buy used 2.0 S 5dr Used price:

£1,095

Cheapest Model to Run (new) New price: Running costs: (3 years/36,000 miles)

Owner’s View I have owned my Mazda for between 6 and 7 years,and it has never let me down.I love it especially when setting off on a long journey,knowing how reliable it is, and such a comfort to drive.

Which? Car review

Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Large cars

On the road

How we test

The Mazda 6 has a terrific drive to match its sharp looks. Suspension is well balanced, steering is responsive and, when using its full rev range, acceleration is impressive.

Performance

Performance

★★★★

The 1.8 petrol engine doesn’t feel particularly powerful but, when using its full rev range, it accelerates well enough and is largely free from vibration. The five-speed manual transmission is well suited to the engine and shifting gears is easy.  Aside from being a bit rough when started from cold, the 136bhp diesel is a refined unit with no shortage of overtaking urge. There’s a surprising rev range for a diesel unit, and vibration is well suppressed. As with the petrol variant, the gear change is first-class. Model tested Acceleration (37-62mph) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) 6.5 secs diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) 6.5 secs diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) 5.8 secs petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002) 7.0 secs

Rating

★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★

Ride comfort

★★★★

The Mazda 6’s suspension is well-balanced. It absorbs all bumps in the road and offers decent road handling.  Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Rating

★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★

We use the sophisticated electronic timing equipment to record standing-start and in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test several times. Ride comfort

Ride comfort is assessed by our laboratory experts who have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a myriad of different models.

Which? Car review

Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Large cars

On the road continued...

How we test Handling

★★★★

Handling

Directional stability is good and the precise steering requires very little driver effort. The Mazda 6 understeers if pushed too hard into corners, which is easier to control than oversteer. Electronic stability programme (ESP) with traction control helps prevent skidding and keeps the car on course in critical situations; this was offered as an option so try to find a car which has it.  Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Rating

★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★

Brakes

★★★★★

Brakes

The brakes are responsive and precise. Brake assist helps the driver make full use of the car’s braking potential and ABS ensures predictable braking. Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) equally distributes braking force between the front and rear brakes as needed. Model tested Braking distance (62-0mph) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) 36.5m diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) 39.5m diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) 40.5m petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002) 40.4m

★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Refinement and noise

Rating

★★★★

Cabin noise is relatively hushed but at high motorway speeds the 1.8 petrol makes itself heard. As you might expect of a Japanese car, the Mazda 6 is well-made. The interior is finished to a high standard and the dashboard includes a smart metallic-look centre console. Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

On-the-limit handling is explored well away from public roads to ensure a fair test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of the harshest tests in the industry..

Cruising noise 68dB 68dB 69dB 68dB

Rating

★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★

The Which? Car braking test measures stopping distance from 62-0mph and is repeated ten times in quick succession to highlight any brake fade issues. Refinement and noise

The Which? Car experts use a decibel meter to record interior sound levels at common UK motorway speeds, and combine this with subjective assessments to arrive at an overall score.

Which? Car review

Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Large cars

On the road continued...

How we test Cabin and controls

★★★★

Cabin and controls

On the whole, the Mazda 6’s controls are functional and easy to operate. Important instruments are large, clearly-defined and well positioned within the driver’s view. The steering wheel is fully adjustable and the audio system is easy to operate. Powered door mirrors and windows are straightforward to operate and the car is equipped with front and rear reading lights. There are a couple of criticisms, though. The electric windows only work when the ignition is switched on, the switches for heating, air conditioning and screen de-icing are positioned too low down, and their symbols can barely be seen in the dark. Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Rating

Visibility and parking

★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★

★★★

Visibility and parking

Although interior and exterior mirrors are big, overall visibility is poor. Wide pillars and large rear headrests (which can’t be lowered down into the seat) obstruct the view out of the back. And at night the backlit red dash display reflects onto the windscreen, which can be distracting. Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

We penalise cars with difficult controls, and we look for things like backlit light switches and easy-to-use heating and ventilation adjustments.

Turning circle 11.9m 11.8m 11.8m 11.9m

Rating

★★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★

Visibility is a major issue for motorists today, so each car gets a 360-degree swivel view test to reproduce the driver’s eye view and any obscured areas.

Which? Car review

Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Large cars

Comfort and practicality

How we test

The Mazda 6 is roomy, with comfortable seats and a powerful heating system. A lack of rear legroom means it doesn’t feel quite so spacious for back-seat passengers, however.

Getting in and out

Getting in and out

★★★★

It’s easy to get in and out of the Mazda 6. But once inside the front of the cabin, movement can be slightly restricted by the slope of the windscreen. However, the driver’s seat can be pushed back to accommodate taller drivers and there’s plenty of headroom. Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Seat space and comfort

Rating

★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★

We take measurements all around the driver and passenger’s door apertures and note the height of the seat, door sills and step down onto the car floor. The best cars don’t require too much bending or stretching to get in and out. Seat space and comfort

★★★

The seats are firm but comfortably sprung. In the front, the backrests and seat cushions are well padded and offer good support but it’s not so comfortable for passengers in the back. The headrests are high and there’s not much legroom for adults. Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Rating

★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★

We assess seat comfort subjectively, using our road testers’ expert knowledge and experience from thousands of different cars. And we measure the head-, legand elbowroom on offer in every seat, to see how well the car caters for people of all shapes and sizes.

Which? Car review

Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Large cars

Comfort and practicality continued...

How we test Boot and storage

Boot and storage

★★★★

For its class, the Mazda has a very large, practically shaped boot (492 litres in the hatchback and 501 litres in the saloon) and, by folding down the rear seats, you can increase its size further. But the saloon has a small boot aperture which makes it hard to fit bulky items inside and, because it’s so deep, it’s difficult to access the back of the boot. There are no storage pockets for small items and there’s a general lack of storage for knick-knacks in the cabin, too. Model tested Boot space (seats up/down) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) 495 litres / 830 litres diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) 395 litres / 865 litres diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) 395 litres / 395 litres petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002) 495 litres / 800 litres

Heating and ventilation

Rating

★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★

★★★

Carmakers give official stats for boot space, but our tests are more realistic. We load the boot up with measuring blocks only as far as the rear window line, so that luggage is well secured and won’t obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test with the rear seats up, and folded down (where possible). Heating and ventilation

The powerful heating system takes very little time to warm up the cabin. All models came with air conditioning or climate control as standard. Unfortunately, the heating and ventilation controls are positioned too low down so they’re hard to find when you’re fumbling around in the dark. Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Rating

★★ ★★ ★★★ ★★★★

Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in our climate chamber. Starting with a cold engine, we measure how long it takes to warm up the front and rear of the cabin. Diesel cars usually take longer. We also check the effectiveness of air conditioning, where fitted.

Which? Car review

Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Large cars

Running costs and depreciation

How we test

Low prices are a big bonus; there aren’t many large cars this good that can be driven away at such costs. Running costs are fairly low (although the diesels are rather pricey to service) and depreciation (loss in value) is average. Insurance costs are reasonable; the Mazda 6 starts at group 7 for a 1.8 S 5dr, rising to group 13 for a 2.3 Sport 5dr. The rapid, range-topping 2.3 MPS saloon ramps up the bills, as it sits in group 16. 

Fuel consumption Overall, the 6’s fuel consumption is typical for the class, if not particularly impressive. The 1.8 managed 33.6mpg in our test, which is down on the manufacturer’s figure of 36.2. You can expect the diesel models to do better than this, while automatic and sporty versions will fare worse (the 2.3 MPS claims to return only 27.7mpg combined, for example). Economy is reasonable with both 2.0 diesel engines - the 136bhp unit we tried returned 40.9mpg compared to the official figure of 44.0mpg.

Petrol (combined mpg, claimed)

26.2 mpg - 36.7 mpg

Diesel (combined mpg, claimed)

42.8 mpg - 47.1 mpg

Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Urban (claimed/measured) 37.2 mpg/37.2 mpg 37.2 mpg/37.2 mpg 34.5 mpg/34.0 mpg 24.1 mpg/26.6 mpg

Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Extra urban (claimed/measured) 54.3 mpg/55.4 mpg 54.3 mpg/51.4 mpg 52.3 mpg/51.4 mpg 44.8 mpg/45.6 mpg

Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Motorway (measured) 44.1 mpg 39.8 mpg 37.7 mpg 30.7 mpg

Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Combined (claimed/measured) 46.3 mpg/46.3 mpg 46.3 mpg/43.5 mpg 44.1 mpg/40.9 mpg 34.0 mpg/33.6 mpg

Fuel consumption

We test fuel economy under strict lab conditions – using realistic test cycles – to reveal the facts behind the figures. Our figures rarely match manufacturer claims as, unlike the official mpg test, we measure economy with both a hot and cold engine, and on the motorway.

Which? Car review

Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Large cars

Running costs and depreciation continued...

How we test Emissions

Emissions Carbon dioxide emissions are on the high side; the lesser-powered diesel hatchback manages 165g/km with the later six-speed gearbox, but the five-speeder’s a VED band higher, and even the 1.8 petrol  puts out over 180g/km; the later six-speed 2.3-litre petrol gives a hefty 207g/km, and the earlier five-speeder 214g/km. Expensive tax discs, then. 

Petrol (CO2, claimed)

184g per km - 257g per km

Diesel (CO2, claimed)

165g per km - 177g per km

Model tested diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 4-door (2007) diesel 2.0 (120bhp) manual 5-door estate (2006) diesel 2.0 (135bhp) manual 5-door estate (2003) petrol 1.8 (120bhp) manual 4-door saloon (2002)

Emissions (claimed/measured) 167g per km/159g per km 167g per km/170g per km 176g per km/190g per km 198g per km/194g per km

Safety and security Euro NCAP score

★★★★

Here is the video of the 2002-2007 Mazda 6 saloon Euro NCAP frontal crash test.       Please enable JavaScript to access this content. Adult occupant Child protection Pedestrian protection

While testing fuel economy, we also collect exhaust gases to enable us to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted. We also check whether particulate filters are effective at removing sooty emissions from diesel engines. Safety

We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP crash test scores (where available), alongside our own comprehensive safety checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results from our accident avoidance test – after all, it’s far better to steer around a crash than rely on the airbags... Security

★★★★ ★★★★ ★

★★★

Which? safety rating Active (crash avoidance) Passive (crash safety) Child Pedestrian

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Security Theft of car:

Theft from car:

★★★★★

★★★★

Security scores come from the security experts at Thatcham, who break into hundreds of cars each year. Most modern cars are very difficult to drive away, but are still too easy to steal from.

Which? Car review

Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Large cars

Which? Car Survey results

About our survey

The Which? Car Survey is the UK’s most robust reliability and owner satisfaction survey. In 2015, drivers told us about 58,000 cars, covering more than 484 million miles in the previous 12 months (that’s equivalent to driving to the moon and back a hundred times). This unique feedback allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars. Note: Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown under ‘Most common faults’ indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the past 12 months.

Brand

Sample size: 1,914 people

Mazda ratings Overall owner satisfaction for this brand Brand reliability Dealer Servicing & repair

Model: Mazda 6 (2002-2007)Sample size:

134 people

Ownership ratings Overall owner satisfaction for this range

Ease of driving Comfort Dash layout and controls Practicality Value for money Running costs In-car technology -

Everyone who takes part in the Which? Car survey tells us about their car and the dealers who sell and service it. We analyse this feedback across all cars to give top-level satisfaction ratings for each brand, including the brand’s reliability record over the last eight years. All star ratings are out of five. Model ownership ratings

★★★ ★★

Dealer Sales Service

Driving enjoyment

83%

Brand ratings

These show how owners score this car in 12 different areas, from performance to heating. Owners’ ratings are subjective – so may differ from Which? Car test scores – but they give a good idea of what the car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars are scored against other cars in the same class (e.g. for space).

84%

★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★ ★★★ -

Owner’s View Very comfortable, especially for longer trips. Boot will take everything I need for a holiday or shopping. To date (5+ years of motoring), no serious faults developed.

Owner’s View It’s so reliable. It’s flexible - it can be driven quite economically, but can also be pushed hard with appropriate responses when asked.

Which? Car review

Mazda 6 (2002-2007) Large cars

Which? Car Survey results continued...

About our survey Reliability ratings

Reliability ratings Overall Reliability Petrol cars

Reliability

Breakdowns Average annual repair cost Diesel cars

Reliability

Breakdowns Average annual repair cost All cars

Reliability

Breakdowns Average annual repair cost

★★★

Up to 3 years old

4-8 years old

- - - - - - - - -

★★★ 6% £252

We split reliability into breakdowns (including failure to start), faults (where parts need replacing) and problems (minor issues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where the car has been on sale for some time, and we have numerous survey responses from owners, we also split scores by the age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are out of five – the more stars, the more reliable the car. Most common faults

Breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months Average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12 months

Most common faults 

Up to 3 years old

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4-8 years old

- - -

Air Con Exhaust System Washer / wipers Other Minor Battery

Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year

15% 9% 9% 6% 6%

Want to know what’s most likely to go wrong as the car gets older? These are the five most common faults reported by owners, grouped by age into new, recent and older cars. A score of 40% means four out of 10 owners reported problems with that part of the car over the previous 12 months. Engine electrics and non-engine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause more headaches than mechanical parts in most modern cars.