2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring: Open Thread

Are there a lot of good reasons to buy this over a similarly-packaged Mazda3? Looks to me like all you are getting is a slightly bigger car, which I think is a poor way to spend $5k.

I own an '09 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring. It's fully loaded with the moon and tune and nav options. Sticker was $32,690. I bought it for dealer invoice less $1,000 rebate and 2.9% apr. For me, the $2,000 price difference between the s and i models was not even a discussion point. This car with the 272 hp V6 is so much better. It never lacks power whatever the situation with the V6. It cruises effortlessly over the rolling Tennessee interstates and biways. When the road gets twisty, my wife loses patience long before the car loses grip.

I have two tween-aged children and the car is a great compromise. It's large enough to carry us and our luggage on road trips. With leather and the electronics package, it has the comfort and entertainment options needed to help pass the miles. The V6 and 18" wheels provide a level of excitement that keeps driving fun if not exhilerating. As for the styling, I've had several people mistake it for a Lexus at first glance.

How much better is the Hyundai Genesis V6 than the Mazda 6? Enough better to justify the cost? How do the options compare? If the Mazda were the s model, how much would it close the gap?

Genesis = RWD
Mazda6 = FWD

I think this enough to justify extra $$ if any.

As the happy owner of a 2007 6i 5-door Touring model, I'm interested in how this new 6 model does in your long term and comparison tests. I'm glad it's a family favorite and the staff love it. I only wish that Mazda would also build the 5-door and wagon in the US like the last series. I love the sportier look and the utility of my 5-door. My only complaint is the poor quality of the my leather seats compared to my last 2003 6s sedan (which was stolen and totaled). I also think that Mazda needs to re-think the option and trim packaging to make the heated leather seats and moonroof available and/or std. on the Touring series. Thanks for the updates and all the great info Edmunds provides.

I would like to know the editors' opinions of road noise in the cabin. I drive a 2005 Mazda3 and love it. My only complaint of the 3 is that the road noise becomes tiresome on long trips. I have to turn the stereo up to combat the excessive cabin noise.

I have the '04 Mz6 4-cyl auto. I would love it if they came out with a Mazdaspeed6 for this generation!

I seem to get the impression that this generation is not quite as nimble or fun to drive as the previous? Too bad, I liked it smaller and nimble, not bloated like the (current) Accord or (most generations of) the Camry.

They should have called this the Mazda9. It's just too big to be the 6 replacement.

I like the front and mid portions of the car especially in combination with the larger rims on the top trims. I hate the typical Japanese rear blob styling. Same with the G37 sedan.

Although I liked the interior design/layout the materials used looked recycled or pre-aged. When I sat in one (and the CX9) they just didn't feel fresh or new.

"I would like to know the editors' opinions of road noise in the cabin. I drive a 2005 Mazda3 and love it. My only complaint of the 3 is that the road noise becomes tiresome on long trips. I have to turn the stereo up to combat the excessive cabin noise."

I have the S GT. So I have the lower profile, wider 18" tires. (235/45/18 I think). They are quiet on the smooth roads here in the southern US. When I took a mid-western roadtrip a couple months back, I found expansion joints and concrete highways around St. Louis to be annoying. The rutted, pot holed city streets seemed a little harsh as well.

If I didn't live where the roads don't rot, This car might be a little too stiff, too noisy.

I'd say the 17's are quite a bit quieter.