Vehicle: 2004 Mazda 6 GT sportswagon with GFX pkg and 5-speed manumatic transmission
Price as tested: CDN$34560

Performance: Unlike Mazda 6 sedan and Sport, sportswagon only comes with one engine. A 3 liter V6 DOHC 24-valve engine that bumps out 220hp and 192 lb/ft of torque. The engine is smooth, refine, quiet and willing to rev. It also got plenty of low-end torque considered its maximum torque arrives at 5k rpm, on the other hand, it doesn’t sacifice its peaky top-end performance when you needed it. Matched to this powerplant is a smooth shifting 5-speed manumatic tranny. The beauty of this engine is the tranny allows the driver to rev into redline before upshifting. Thanks to the gearing of the tranny, it clocks 2500 rpm while cruising at 100km/h. That encourages spirited driving which true to Mazda’s zoom…zoom slogan. On the auto side, this engine is willing to kick-down and never hunt for any gears thanks to its smart fuzzy logic control.

Handling: If Mazda 6 sedan is one of the most balanced sedan I have ever driven, its wagon silibing has to be considered as one of the best handling wagon ever. The turn-in is sharp, responsive and precise. The same goes for its razor-sharp steering which provides tons of feedback. There is minimial body rolls when pushed through corners. Its so balanced that I can hardly detect any understeer when pushed. On the other hand, there is a slight oversteer when going at the end of limit thanks to its excellent rear suspension setting. Mazda 6 sportwagon is the second wagon that I drove has such a docile nature, other than the benchmark Audi A4 Avant. You would have thought a car with such a firm suspension setting would give you bouncy ride. Its a completely different story in this Mazda. Its suspension is firm enough for spirited driving while its supple enough to absorb any of the roughness on the pavements. In short, a truly impressive dynamic package.

Brakes: With 4-wheel discs and standard anti-lock brakes, 6′s pedal feel is excellent. The pedal is solid and easy to modulate while the braking distance is short. Best of all, the ABS won’t kick in until absoultely necessary.

Interior: Our GT comes fully loaded, which means it has power seats, auto climate control and Bose stereo system. Everything inside Mazda 6 has a high-quality, tactical feel. The leather seats are comfortable and supportive. It also got enough side bolsters that won’t make the driver sliding around when pushed through corners. The auto climate control is effective with an wonderful air-conditioning system that cools the interior off in a few mins under this 38 degrees summer day. Typical great instrumentation gauges, large auto climate control knobs and easily found driving position are expected.

The cargo space is very well layout with 2 sliding covers, 1 for spare tire and tool kit and another as cubbyholes. When the rear seats folded down, it creates a completely flat floor that can easily put a refrigator in no problem. It also covers in a very high-quality carpeting that has a classy, expensive feel.

Conclusion: Mazda is really a bold company. Not only does it remain true to its rotary tradition, it was also a breakthrough by bringing back the roadster thanks to the legendary Miata. A few years ago, no one thought they would have succeed with the Protege5. They have upped the ante last year with the Mazda 3 in the econocar segment thanks to great engines and chassis fitness. With the advent of the 6 sportswagon, this company is willing to bet on Japanese’s mid-size wagon market that both Honda, Toyota and Nissan have abondoned for their soft-roaders. With a price tag of nearly 35 grand for a 6 V6 wagon, there is really nothing able to beat it for price alone.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2004 MAZDA 6 GT SPORTWAGON
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Performance: 4.5/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 5/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.75/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 5/5
Value-for-money: 5/5

Overall rating: 5/5