2013 Accord vs 2014 Mazda 6

[watchdoc]

I couldn't find any mention in the accord vs competition thread and it would appear the new Mazda 6 will be a credible competitor for the new accord. Initial driving impression have the Mazda out handling the accord and offering a few extra features here and there . Power and weight are similar so it will be interesting to see which car is faster.

Compare and contrast

A few things I noticed.

Mazda is gonna offer HD radio in addition to Pandora
Mazda will have superior EPA fuel estimates (although real world results may not be the same)
Push button start across the range
Mid level touring will come with 19" wheels, leatherette seating, and available 6MT
All trims get 6 speakers
Turning radius is listed at 35.4 feet. Much less than the Accord
Couldn't find an offer weight but the Mazda is supposed to be marginally lighter.

Accord has very good new crash scores. Wonder how the Mazda is gonna do?
Accord has tested to be the fastest 4cyl in the class. Especially with the 6MT. No numbers on the Mazda yet.
Accord has the 8" back up camera
All trims of the Accord come with dual zone climate control
Accord offers more interior trim colors. The Mazda is all black

I felt this comparison was worth its own thread rather than the old thread where the accord seems to handily be the better car.

[mitchflorida]

19 inch wheels? why not 20 inch?

Who else has 19 inch wheels in this vehicle class?

[II Kings 9:20]

Re: Wheels bigger is not always better. Why not 22 or 24? bigger wheels = more unsprung weight (unless wheels are forged which is very rare and expensive) and tires are very heavy which can work against the suspension rather than with it.

The M6 will be very nice and questions remain on interior room and crash tests. My sources tell me that they will offer a TDI engine (which Honda should have done) which will make it unique among all competitors save the Passat. I would certainly be inerested in a Diesel.

When Rudolph Diesel introduced his new engine at the Paris Auto Show in 1904, he said cars in the future can run on clean burning vegetable oils and polluting fossil fuels won't be needed. His engine ran on 100% peanut oil. He disappeared off a ship in 1913.

I'll add tha all trims of the Accord have rear cam, bluetooth streaming, USB, and alloy wheels. NO COMPETITOR offers the same and I doubt Mazda will on entry level.

If true that black is the only interior trim that is very disappointing and simply stupid.

[MTAccordEX]

Regarding fuel mileage, I no longer pay as much heed to the published figures. Hyundai/Kia have demonstrated that these numbers can be gamed, and the Fusion 1.6's giddy numbers are only attainable on premium fuel, wiping out any advantage (we learned this from a footnote in the literature we picked up at the Ford dealer when considering the Fusion). The Accord, OTOH, seems to be easily exceeding its EPA figures, at least for most drivers. We are regularly seeing 35, 36 and even 37 numbers on our EX MT on drives involving any substantial portion of highway cruising. And this is on winter fuel, in cold weather with a brand new engine. Consumer Reports reported 40 highway mpg with their LX CVT. All a long way of saying that I'd be mildly surprised if the M6 can produce superior MPG in the real world.

[blacked0ut]

Still a Mazda. Coming from owning 2 Mazdas... Rx8 and Mazda 3... And then owning now my 5th Honda....Mazda will always just be a Mazda.

[mitchflorida]

"A Mazda will always be just a Mazda." What does that mean? good or bad?


Mazda's don't tend to discount as much as Honda Dealers do, and they don't keep their value as much as an Accord does, so they are more expensive both ways. Their Mazda6 model has been a sales flop for six years .. see so few of them.

[hondamon]

Originally Posted by blacked0ut

Still a Mazda. Coming from owning 2 Mazdas... Rx8 and Mazda 3... And then owning now my 5th Honda....Mazda will always just be a Mazda.

Totally agree. I don't know why some people are so high on Mazdas. I've had friends and co-workers who have Mazdas and everytime I have ridden in or driven one, I have been pretty underwhelmed. They remind me of Fords. Okay, but nothing to get excited about. IMO, if you want an alternative to a Honda or Toyota get a Nissan.

[jshaw]

^^ Maybe Mazda's upmarket intentions will mean they finally focus on interior quality and features, as well? It seems like they dropped the entire package to focus on marginal amounts and questionable implementations of, "driving fun," at least in the past. I haven't rented any of their newer skyactiv cars.

[reframmellator]

I've noted elsewhere I've found Mazdas look better on paper than on pavement. I will say I've put about 1200 miles on two rental Mazda 3s in the last year and it was the first times a Madza impressed me from behind the wheel

[blacked0ut]

Originally Posted by mitchflorida

"A Mazda will always be just a Mazda." What does that mean? good or bad?


Mazda's don't tend to discount as much as Honda Dealers do, and they don't keep their value as much as an Accord does, so they are more expensive both ways. Their Mazda6 model has been a sales flop for six years .. see so few of them.

It means that it's not very impressive. My girlfriend has a Mazda 3. Purchased it new, she loves it. I've driven her 2011 Mazda after driving my 2008 civic 4 door and hated it. I did think the Mazda 3 had great acceleration off the line, for example getting on a freeway, but other than that I wasn't impressed.

Now to my Rx8, I owned since day 1. Original owner..6 speed manual. Quick little car, very appealing to the eye but other than that, not impressive. Handles well but performance in that price range was not worth it.

Mazdas are fords..Lincoln, mercury...etc..all worked on by FORD trained mechanics..well at my dealer anyways.

My point is, that Mazda is a good car, just not great. Hyundai is a good car..but just not great. You can sit em next to each other and they may look better, but in reality they just aren't.

I would love to see Mazda change things up. A new re-vamped version of the Rx8 or rx7 would be great. But for what they have no, IMO just isn't anything out of the ordinary.

[watchdoc]

I didn't mean for this thread to be a pep rally for Honda or a bash party for Mazda. Honda has certainly wiffed on a few vehicles lately and Mazda is having a hard time getting past its ford roots. Mazda has a lot riding on the new 6 and it certainly looks good on paper.

As others have pointed out, Mazda often looks good on paper only to be a let down in overall overship where Honda often shines.

[mitchflorida]

The Hyundai Elantra is killing the Honda Civic . . people like the long warranty and deep discounts on the Hyundai. And it actually keeps its value better than a Civic.


I think the Accord is top shelf, but the Civic is fading fast.

[johnwill]

Are you saying the elantra is outselling the civic?

[mitchflorida]

October 2012 October 2011 Year-to-Date

Toyota Corolla 20,949 16,244 243,652
Honda Civic 20,687 16,173 254,716
Chevrolet Cruze 19,121 14,295 199,721
Ford Focus 18,320 12,386 205,006
Hyundai Elantra 14,512 13,000 167,087
Volkswagen Jetta 13,476 13,059 140,504
Mazda3 9518 7095 103,223
Kia Forte 5911 4712 67,139
Nissan Sentra 5624 8364 91,464
Dodge Dart 5455 N/A 14,709
Subaru Impreza 4738 1993 68,389


I think Hyundai is having its best year ever with Sonata and Elantra.

[turdburger]

Originally Posted by II Kings 9:20

I'll add tha all trims of the Accord have rear cam, bluetooth streaming, USB, and alloy wheels. NO COMPETITOR offers the same and I doubt Mazda will on entry level.

mazda has everything above except standard alarm system and dual climate control on base models.

it has standard rear cam, 17" 10 spoke alloys, and stuff on the automatic base model.
Bonus point for 60/40 split rear bench.

I think only the accord comes with a standard alarm. Even camry makes you pay extra for it.

Mazda has a standard panic button, but no alarm system. I don't know how that works.

I bet the mazda6 will be equally as slow as the accord.


I am deciding between the mazda6 and the accord.
I am going to the mazda dealer this week to check out the 2014.

The only downsides I see in mazda are- smaller dealer network, stiffer price, questionable finances (company is losing money on the yen).
Mazda is a smaller company, so I don't expect them to outsell Honda.

Overall, I think the mazda is a bit better looking with its longer wheelbase and hood, pushed back cabin, and it's made in japan. But I wouldn't mind ending up with an accord if I could save a few thousand dollars.


here's the standard 17" wheel, and journalists have said the ride quality on them is excellent