Hi All !

I test drove both the Mazda 6 2.5L and Accord 2.4L back-to-back on Sunday. Spent 1.5 hours in each showroom

Instead of writing a lengthy review, I'll encourage questions from you guys instead

Cheers




This post has been edited by different_view: May 13 2008, 09:59 AM

Hi Klangboy,

1. Engine performance:
Outright Power to weight ratio, the Accord wins (180ps/1525kg = 0.1180 Vs. 170ps/1469kg = 0.1157).
BUT, the M6 Torque is 226 and kicks in at 4000 rpm whereby the Accord is 222 at 4300 rpm (plus weight penalty)

Starting off the line the M6 feels more urgent. Definitely very snappy off the start.
The Accord on the other hand feels less powerful off the line but you get smoother (albeit slower) power delivery.

I got to test the M6 around federal Hwy and the Accord to Putrajaya Hwy. Both with clear traffic and managed to reach 140 km/h on each car.

0-40 km/h, the M6 feels faster (a little bit) but past 100km/h the Accord still has plenty in reserve. The Accord power kicks in at preety high rpm 6500 + ... so you really have to drive with a lead foot to see all 180ps.

2. Ride Comfort
M6 definitely is the sportier (harsher) ride. Steering is heavy at high speed (good) and you feel lots of feed back from the road in terms of both steering feel and vibration. Tyre noise is also more apparent. But all these adds to the sportier experience when you consider the body hugging bucket seats, small steering wheel, various noises and feedback.

Accord has a more balanced ride (Between Camry's soft, almost floaty ride and M6 Sporty ride). Off the line and at low speed, the Accord behaves like a 5-series (My dad has one 525i so I drive it quite a bit). As you pick up speed, the Accord feels just sporty enough without sacrificing comfort. It also feels a lot smaller than its size suggest (which is always a good thing). Comfortable bucket-like seat (side support all the way up your side torso), small diameter steering wheel, slight tyre rumble and low seating (i think you seat lower in the Accord than the M6) all adds to the sporty experience.

Both cars were tested with 4 ppl (3 of whom sat in both cars, the salesman being the only variable). All rear seat passengers agree that the Accord is a more comfortable place in the back. Lots of space (Much more leg and headroom), large seats, and more comfortable overall. Front passenger gives similar feedback.

Performance over bumps. Unfortunately, i tested both cars on the Hwy. No bumps i could recall. Over the speed bumps that we come across, the Accord is much smoother over it and quieter too.

3. NVH Level
In terms of cabin insulation from tyre noise and wind noise, the Accord is noticeably better than the M6. However, the accord engine noise intrudes more into the cabin than the M6. Moreover, the M6 engine sounds better so i think i got less irritated by it than the Accord's

The accord sales man suggested trading in the stock tyres for Michelin ones

More specific questions ?

Cheers

Just to add to the features comparison list

M6

1. HID (Bi-Xenon) Headlights with auto leveling and auto cornering (lights move when cornering)
2. Must put gear in to sequential mode before paddle shift is activated (very irritating during test drive)
3. Only one mode sequential (i.e. no over ride mode). Sequential allows for engine braking
4. Parking sensor is after market (albeit claimed to be fully imported). Sensor display sticks out on the dashboard and looks VERY cheap and out of place. On the upside, cheapo display shows distance for BOTH front and rear.
5. No auto lock feature ! (Despite having smart key less entry ?)
6. Bose Premium sound system
7. Seat memory ! (Although not connected to side mirror )
8. Made in Japan ... (Parts also made in Japan, the JPY has been very strong recently ... you know what that means !)
9. Full LED tail lights (albeit a bit busy in design just like the RX-8 and M3 MPS).
10. Dual Exhaust
11. RM 3,770 More
12. White and Silver ONLY (Black coming in SEPT). This was a big let down for me.
13. Electric Sunroof. Some reports of LEAKING starting to emerge. Lots of issue with RX-8's sunroof. Also I question the suitability for Msian weather.
14. Not sure
15. Not sure
16. Very sporty instrument display hooded by nice circular consoles (ala RX-8/Mazda3/911). HOWEVER, unlike the other cars, the opening in the steering wheel is not large enough. As a result, adjusting tilt and telescopic on the wheel will more than likely BLOCK the view into the dials ! I think it was a poor ergonomic overlook on Mazda's part.
17. No rear power sunshade
18. Very small trip meter display (same as mazda 3). They came up with an integrated so called CF-Net system. Basically you can control most functions (eg. aircon fan speed and temp etc) through the steering wheel. Great concept, but the display is so narrow that you can only select functions left and right (Scroll type). Very fiddly and most likely to cause an accident IMO *sorry*.
19. Rain sensor wiper (nice feature)
20. 6 Airbags
21. Handbrake on the wrong side !!! (You have to reach across center console ... lol). Some things got lost in translation from LHD to RHD
22. Electric Power Steering


Accord

1. HID with auto leveling
2. Can drop gear on the fly with a touch of a button (faster response for overtaking)
3. 2 modes. Normal Drive mode with auto over-ride at high revs. Manual mode (No Over-ride). Also allows engine braking.
4. Parking sensor is built in. No front sensor though (of course we blokes don't really need any do we )
5. Auto lock door when certain speed is achieved. Simple but VERY useful.
6. Panasonic Premium sound system. I brought a CD along. They both sounded very similar on both test cars. Accord has IPod integration built in with a USB port.
7. No seat memory on 2.4L
8. Made in Melaka ! (Friend had lots of issue with Civic BUT my mum has the CRV (Yes that underpowered car ! hehehe) ... all I can say, exemplary built quality from Melaka.
9. 1 Miserable LED light (3rd light only ... "sigh")
10. Single Exhaust
11. RM 3,770 Less
12. Many colours (But NO WHITE !) hahaha ... we are hard to please !
13. No Sunroof
14. Remote Boot opening
15. Remote ALL window down feature
16. Big, round, silver-lined instrument dials. Very Executive looking (ala BMW 5 series) ... ie. Boring ! But at the same time, very functional and should age better.
17. Rear Power sunshade
18. Large and easy to read computer display. No nonsense steering buttons.
19. No Rain Sensor
20. 4 Airbags
21. Handbrake on right side (thank god no CRV foot brake !)
22. Hydraulic steering (NOT necessarily a bad thing since the new BMW M3 (amongst others) also uses hydraulic system). It all depends on how it's executed.


That's all I can think of right now.

Feel free to ask more specific questions or correct any mistakes I made.


Cheers

This post has been edited by different_view: May 13 2008, 05:01 PM

Hi,

We are comparing M6 with Accord simply because they are in the same price range and incidentally are being launched at around the same time.

Both cars are NOT meant for racing (Track days etc).

We don't NEED twin piping other than for (arguable) aesthetic purposes.

M6 handbrake is on the LHS of the center console (where the cup holders and gear lever is).
As such, the driver has to reach across almost to the edge of the front passenger seat side edge to use the handbrake.

Current CRV is not underpowered until you drive the 2.4L version (unfortunately not available in Msia ... yet)

Cheers

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Added on May 13, 2008, 5:54 pmNo 1.8L for M6

The 2.0L M6 is RM147,913 On the road including insurance.

This post has been edited by different_view: May 13 2008, 05:58 PM

I agree that the M6 (NOT the one with 507 BHP ... lol) handles better ... only just.

Managed to do some serious (for Msian roads standard, not test track) cornering during the test drive,

The M6 turns in faster into corners (only just). Considering the much bigger Accord, it too performs almost on par with the M6.
Both gets out of corners with plenty of power in reserve.

However, on most HWY trips (say KL to Ipoh), I suspect both drivers and passengers of the M6 will feel more exhausted than those sitting in the Accord.

The M6 is a SLIGHTLY better stop-go and zig-zag around traffic and around corners kind of car ... but the Accord is definitely the better long distance cruiser.



Cheers

Yups no diesel for Mazda 6. No hatch or wagon for that matter. Only 1 leather trim and 2 colours for each engine size.

I am not comparing the 2.0Ls because I am not planning to get any.

Having not tested the M6 2.0L, I can't comment much.

Although a quick glance at equipment list, the M6 2.0L is ahead of the Accord 2.0L (NOTE: The Accord 2.0L is 6k Cheaper).

I haven't decided which car to get (it will be one of those 2). Both are very good but built with different philosophy and purpose.

Hopefully with more discussion I can decide which will be most suitable for my needs


Cheers

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Added on May 13, 2008, 6:54 pmAll of the comparison that I've made is between the 2008 Mazda 6 2.5L (NEW) and 2008 Honda Accord 2.4L (NEW).

This post has been edited by different_view: May 13 2008, 06:54 PM

Yups ! At the end of the day it's up to moi

I've tested the Accord 3 times. The last one over 20 minutes drive at the Putrajaya HWY.

Tested the Mazda 6 for about 15 minutes around Fed Hwy and back.

Looking forward to test more of the Mazda 6 (they only have 3 dealership so must use my test drives opportunity sparingly hehehe)

Hi Travies,

M6 2.0L is 143,933 + 3,979 (Insurance) = 147,912.90 (Amt covered 143,000)
M6 2.5L is 170,888 + 4,682 (Insurance) = 175,570.20 (Amt covered 169,000)

Note for both insurance in the event that you totaled or lost your car due to theft, the insurance company will reimburse the FULL insured amount (if the incident occur within the first year).

The insurance company for Honda Accord will compensate based on mkt value at time of accident/theft. So, your full insurance amount gets depleted from day 1.

Hi,

The 2.5L Mazda is NOT a V6 ... hence the comment on dual exhaust piping being aesthetic in nature

"Friend" ... please take time to read previous pages in this thread