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The all-new 2014 Mazda6 will feature even more all-new groundbreaking technology. i-ELOOP, the world’s first capacitor-based brake energy regeneration system to power all the vehicle’s electrical systems, makes its global debut. The SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine and the front collision-detecting Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system make their first appearance in North America. (Mazda)<\/p>\n
\u201cZOOM ZOOM\u201d reads the Mazda6 ad as I enter Laguna Seca racetrack \u2014 aka, the\u00a0Mazda The 2014 Mazda6, as you may have heard,\u00a0is<\/i>\u00a0the bomb.<\/p>\n It is Mazda\u2019s new sleek, nimble-handling cure for the boring midsize sedan. It has us auto scribes in a swoon. We love it as much as the new sleek, nimble-handling cure for the boring compact car, the 2014 Mazda3. Indeed, as you descend into Mazda Raceway\u2019s paddock what looks from a distance like rows of comely Mazda6 racing school\u00a0cars \u201cIt\u2019s the best handling small car I\u2019ve driven,\u201d says one Laguna Seca racing instructor. \u201cIt\u2019s even better than the old 3.\u201d<\/p>\n So why pay $21,000 for a base 6 over a $17,000 base 3? Or eight grand more for a loaded Mazda6 Grand Touring edition over a 3 Grand Touring? After all, compact cars have evolved. Compacts such as the 3s, Ford Focuses and Honda Civics are as big as 6s, Ford Tauruses and Honda Accords used to be. Which is why we now have subcompacts like Mazda 2s, Ford Fiestas, and Honda Fits. Roomy four-door compacts offer space, handling and fuel efficiency. And looks.<\/p>\n Which to buy? Let\u2019s let the sibling rivals slug it out.<\/p>\n The game is over before it\u2019s begun, brother 6. They call you a 6, but you don\u2019t offer a 6-cylinder engine like most midsize cars. So we\u2019re both four-bangers. And your 2.5-liter four has only 30 more horses than my four. And I\u2019m 400 pounds lighter in the butt. Do the math. I go 0-60 in 7.9 seconds \u2014 less than a second slower than your 7-flat. I handle better, I get better fuel economy. So why would a hard-working couple fork over $8,000 more for less than a second of acceleration time? Heck, they could buy a nice used 2008 Mazda6 for the money they save and have his\u00a0and<\/i>\u00a0hers\u00a0Mazdas Oh, I\u2019m not done. Today\u2019s compact is the new midsize. I\u2019m as big as a 2003 Mazda6, can seat five and stow all the luggage for a road trip. And speaking of trips, I am loaded with features that make you think you\u2019re in an Audi A4. I got an Audi-like rotary console nob that controls my touch screen, heated seats, keyless entry, dual climate control, leatherette seats (betcha can\u2019t tell the difference), blind-spot monitoring, traction control, four-wheel disc brakes, rearview camera, and a kitchen sink (just kidding about that last one). And is that 30 horsepower really an issue? I\u2019m optioned with the same 2.5-liter powerplant you have. Beat that.<\/p>\n Seriously? Just look at me. I\u2019m beautiful. I\u2019m the ultimate realization of Mazda\u2019s Kodo design language. If Marilyn Monroe were a car, she\u2019d be me. Sure, you\u2019re not bad looking yourself, brother 3. The face, the flowing lines. Definitely a family resemblance. But that nose. It\u2019s out of proportion to the rest of your body. You look like that Doberhuahua from the Super Bowl commercial. I\u2019m gonna call you Big Nose.<\/p>\n Remember, little brother \u2014 size matters. You\u2019re a C segment platform and I\u2019m a D segment. I have more cubic feet of backseat space than you or a BMW 3-series. And I come loaded with all the electronics that you\u2019ve got \u2014 plus luxury upgrades such as variable cruise control and rear cross traffic alert system found in a 3-series. But a Bimmer buyer won\u2019t give you a second look, Big Nose, whereas he\u2019ll fall in love with me. I\u2019m prettier, roomier, e-outfitted, and equipped with real leather (yes, they can tell the difference) \u2014 all for 10 grand less than a BMW. I\u2019m the affordable luxury buyer\u2019s dream. You\u2019re good, kid, but you\u2019re coach class. With my looks, I scream First Class.<\/p>\n And by the way, don\u2019t knock my fuel efficiency. My 40 mpg highway is almost your 41 \u2014 plus 30 horses.<\/p>\n Okay, okay, boys. Stand down. That\u2019s good stuff. Let me just say it\u2019s nice to hear you Mazda guys talking about good looks. After those last-generation Jack o\u2019 Lantern faces of yours, I was worried you had lost your aesthetic perspective.<\/p>\n So there you have it, folks. Three plus six equals a wealth of choice. As for me? I choose 3 because I want to throw that short-wheel base through some Mazda Raceway corners.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The all-new 2014 Mazda6 will feature even more all-new groundbreaking technology. i-ELOOP, the world’s first capacitor-based brake energy regeneration system to power all the vehicle’s electrical systems, makes its global debut. The SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine and the front collision-detecting Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system make their first appearance in North America. (Mazda) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14293"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14293"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14297,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14293\/revisions\/14297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"http:\/\/images.intellitxt.com\/ast\/adTypes\/icon1.png\")
<\/a>\u00a0Raceway. Nothing shows the Japanese automaker\u2019s commitment to selling sporty midsize sedans in the USA like its sponsorship of the legendary 11-turn roller coaster track on California\u2019s\u2019 Monterey Peninsula.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0are, in fact, rows of comely Mazda3 racing schools cars. The 3 and the 6 look uncannily similar until closer inspection reveals the 3\u2019s shorter wheelbase and stubbier rear end.<\/p>\nMazda 3 GT (2.0 liter, $25,000)<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\u00a0in the garage.<\/p>\nMazda6 GT (2.5 liter, $33,000)<\/h3>\n
Conclusion<\/h3>\n