2003 - 2008 Mazda6 review

Strengths

- Stylish, sporty look
- Well-designed, sharp-looking interior
- Excellent handling
- Comfortable, fairly quiet ride
- Available as sedan, hatchback or wagon
- Variety of available options
- Available Bose audio system
- Reasonably priced

Weaknesses

- Poor fuel economy, especially for 6-cylinder models
- Wide turning radius
- Models without side airbags scored poorly in side impact crash tests
- Some interior materials are not of top quality (e.g. cloth seat material)

Overall

The 2003-2008 Mazda6 is a Driver's Car with distinctive sharp styling in and out, sporty handling and variety of available options. Besides sedan, Mazda6 offers rare sporty-looking hatchback and wagon body styles. I definitely recommend models with the 2.3L 4-cylinder engine, as the 3.0L V6 is quite thirsty and produces more greenhouse gases. The 4-cylinder engine is also easier to work on.
If safety is important to you, look for the model with side airbags - Mazda6 without side airbags scored low in side-impact crash tests. Overall, Mazda6 is a very nice, well-built car, but don't expect it to be completely trouble-free. It also needs to be maintained well if you want it to last. Both, the 2.3L 4-cylinder and the 3.0 V6 engines are quite good, but lack of maintenance could easily lead to serious problems.

What to look for buying a used Mazda6

As a first step, check used car history records. A history report may help you to uncover some of the problems the car might have in the past such as accidents, flood damage, rolled back odometer, rental use, etc. Follow this link: How to check used car history
- Check the service records if available - it's important to verify that the car was properly maintained.
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a dealer before buying a car; in worst cases the repair might be very expensive.
- Blue smoke at start-up may indicate engine problems - avoid such a car.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
- Prior purchase have the car inspected by a mechanic of your choice.
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition. Check our step-by-step used car buying guide for more information.
Some models may be costly to insure. Get the insurance quotes first.
Consider an extended warranty to protect from unexpected repair costs.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your car regularly to protect the paint.
- If you live in the area with high humidity, rustproofing will help to protect the car body from corrosion.
- Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in good shape.
- Check engine oil level regularly - running the engine low on oil could lead to serious problems.
- Synthetic oil can offer extra protection for the engine.
- Change transmission fluid regularly using only original Mazda transmission fluid.
- Stick with original Mazda parts.
- Follow recommended maintenance schedule and keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- Have your car inspected, at least once a year, in a garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. ball joints, brakes, steering) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at fast lube places; the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more Car maintenance tips

2005 Mazda6 specifications

Links

If you are looking for Service Manual

If you need a repair manual with diagnostic procedures, check engine codes description, wiring diagrams, maintenance schedule, component location, technical service bulletins, recalls, etc, follow this link: Where to find repair manual

by Vlad Samarin