2009 Mazda 6 vs. 2008 Honda Accord vs. 2008 Nissan Altima

SEE THE FULL COMPARISON:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=131667?tid=edm...

Our recent test of the 2009 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring showed us that Mazda can still offer sporting dynamics in its all-new family sedan, even while providing more room, more features and more power. We were concerned that the sporting spirit of the last-generation, fun-but-snug Mazda 6 might have been lost in the search for commercial success, but we came away believing this new car still has that zoom-zoom thing.

Like Mazda, we believe a family sedan can be lively as well as practical. So to gauge the way in which the 2009 Mazda 6 fits into the new world of family sedans, we figured a comparison is in order. A 2009 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring would be our starting point.

Then we enlisted the 2008 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE with its continuously variable automatic transmission. It's the car that most people consider to be the sportiest in this category, matched with a transmission that shatters all expectations about CVTs. (We know this car is available with a manual transmission, but we also know the CVT is a better choice. Trust us.)

The all-new 2008 Honda Accord is the standard of the category, the winner of our last comparison test of family sedans. A 2008 Honda Accord EX-L Navi matched up nicely. Hailed for its value, refinement and excellent quality, the well-mannered Accord would challenge the Mazda's practical abilities.

And so we began our family sedan comparison test, and we're wondering how far the Mazda 6's fun-o-meter has swung away from "I could use a Red Bull" toward "My adrenal gland is sore and I need to grow up."

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 2009
• Mazda
• 2008
• Honda
• Accord
• Nissan
• Altima
• Edmunds
• Inside
• Line
• car
• auto
• motor
• sedan

[coandcaiv]

honda loses...check out all these gay fanboys coming out to bash honda now....its hilarious...even though they lost this comparison ...they are always at the top in comparisons......but you never see all the other guys start nerd raging on all the mazda and nissan problems......lmfao....get a life you morons

[benchod94]

I think we can all agree Hondas suck!

[ratpie]

how is a CVT sporty?

[jaymax06ny]

Dude a altima 3.5 does better then 7.0 0to60. They must be bad drivers.

[MultiChicklets]

Euro accord beats the 6 hands down

[sszhao11]

@moyBMW Engine may be, but the car sqeeks and rattles on EVERY BUMP, at least the LX models, there are so many plastic panels, just not up to par if you have any standards. Honda and toyota is making too many cars per year even able to care about quality.

[djkasdjkasdjdjdj]

@tony23zz mazdas nowadays are as reliable as honda & toyota, their lack of popularity is what caused them low in reliability report

[tony23zz]

@mjpitche the one i drove was a 2008 3.5 coupe. to me it was great. i never had test driven its competitors though (accord 3.5, camry v6, mazda 6) but to me it was really nice. im not sure if its better than a accord 3.5 coupe but first hand driving the altima made me want to get it right there.

[mjpitche]

@The04maxima Maxima is in the TL market segment. If it didn't have that shitty slow ass CVT, it would give the TL a run for its money.

[mjpitche]

@walkthrough1234 The v6 Camry blows all these cars away except the Accord has the most room in the driver's seat.

[mjpitche]

@tony23zz I had an 03 Altima 3.5 and it was all over the road. Couln'd handle worhth a shit. Are they still like that?

[ThePuglover7]

Toyota is TERRIBLE