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2004 Mazda6 Sport Wagon V6 Road Test

Fulfilling My Needs and Wants

During my test week with the Mazda6 wagon I was also trying out another vehicle, which is usually the case. Both featured more or less the same Ford-derived 3.0-liter V6, each was about the same size and offered many of the same features, but one was about $15,000 more expensive than the other.

The other car was Jaguars new X-Type, replete with high-grade soft leather seats, planks of glossy wood trim, chrome highlights through the cabin and a few high-tech goodies to play with, not to mention the revered chrome Jaguar leaper atop the recognizable grille.

So which car do you think I spent the most time in? The Mazda of course! What? Is there something wrong with me? Do I have some sort of an inferiority complex

During my test week with the Mazda6 wagon I also had the new Jaguar X-Type parked in my garage as well; you may be surprised which one I spent more time driving. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

that makes me uncomfortable in a car as prestigious as a Jaguar? Not at all. Actually Im a bit of a Euro import snob to be totally honest. But the Mazda was so good and the Jaguar so, well not good in certain very important areas that I chose to spend more time in the new 6 wagon.

The worst thing about the Jag was its front seats. While they look sensational, they were

Even as a self confessed Euro import snob, the Mazda was just that much more comfortable than the Jaguar, and hard to pass up when given the choice between them. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

the most uncomfortable Id sat in all year. It was something about the way they were designed, with a horizontal ridge that pushed out into the upper back and caused the lower back to curve in the opposite direction that it should. I dont have the best back, and I couldnt risk making it worse. Besides, why should I have to drive in discomfort when I had a perfectly good Mazda 6 wagon at my disposal with much more supportive seats?

And

The new 6 wagon obviously offers a big improvement in storage capacity over the sedan and 5-door liftback models. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

I think the 6 looks better too. Its the sleekest wagon Ive seen in years, better looking than even the sedan in my opinion... maybe thats the family guy talking? Nevertheless, I felt good being seen in the Mazda. It says, "This guy has good taste." Thank you, Ive always thought so.

I love the practicality of the wagon too. Again, maybe its the wife-and-three-kids thing. Either way it was great having that extra room to cart stuff around. Altogether the new 6 wagon offers a big improvement in storage capacity over the sedan and 5-door liftback

Two car seats, three children and two adults all fit into the wagon without a problem. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

model, with 33.7 cubic feet of total cargo volume compared to 22.0 cubic feet in the back of the 5-door and 15.2 in the trunk of the sedan. Thats a lot of Home Depot hauling.

The rest of the interior is roomy for four adults, with the ability to straddle three wee ones side by side as well. We even have two in car safety seats, one which is an infant and therefore still facing backwards and the other at three and a half years using a much larger forward facing seat. My eleven year old daughter had a little trouble getting in and out as we had her sitting in the middle, but what matters is that we got all of them in and no one

Mazda has done a wonderful job outfitting the 6 in all of its three model configurations. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

complained (beyond the usual whines) while driving around.

My wife and I sure didnt complain from being up front. Not only is there ample room, but Mazda has done a wonderful job outfitting the 6 in all of its three configurations. Plastic quality is good for this class and the optional leather seats and trim that came in my test car really make the 6 feel upscale. Ive already mentioned how good the seats are, and the manual tilt and telescopic 3-spoke steering wheel fits my hands perfectly. Whats more, the zoom-zoom team has set it up properly for the safest possible 9 and 3-oclock hand positions.

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