Mazda6 vs Subaru Legacy and Outback

misha1641

i am planning on purchasing a wagon, read some great reviews about subaru and also Mazda 6. this will be my first wagon. any thoughs?

krzyss

If you are in Canada then it is still a choice.
You can buy Outback.

Krzys

misha1641

i did not know that, what about a year old one? any thoughs?

shrinermonkey

...and their are even less now because you can no longer get the Legacy Wagon, instead you have to get the Outback version. I was considering the same vehicles when I was looking to replace my horribly unreliable 2001 VW Passat Wagon. We were originally thinking of going smaller with a Matrix/Vibe or Fit. Fit was unobtanium and the Matrix/Vibe had a terrible driving position that neither of us could get comfortable in. The only 2 choices left that I was considering were the Mazda 6 and the Legacy. The Mazda 6 dropped off of my list because it can only be had with a Ford built V6 and therefore the fuel economy is not great, not to mention the spotty reliability. My wife did not like the SUVness of the Outback or Forester(which I still consider a wagon), we both prefered the more sporty styling of the Legacy version. We also didn't want the turbo version because of the poor fuel ecomomy and bad experiences with or VW turbo. We went with a 2006 2.5i SE Wagon with the automatic and couldn't be happier. We also got a great deal on it paying under invoice after incentives. The AWD was not really needed and was just an added bonus. There are times I wish I had some of the more rugged features of the Outback (better bumper protection, higher tow rating, ground clearance, heated everything, etc...) but overall I am glad I went with the Legacy.

I wish Honda and Toyota would offer wagons again, preferably with Hybrid or Diesel power like they do in Europe.

paisan

Just picked up a great 05 LGT Wagon 5MT. So far with 30k on it I'm lovin it! I considered the Mazdaspeed6 but the dealers and national sales folks at the auto-show had no compelling reason or sales pitch to persuade me away from a Subaru, which left me with the feeling of "well if they don't want to sell it to me, then why should I buy it?"

-mike

misha1641

Thank you Both very much for sharing your opinions!! i am a big fan of Manual plus with GT 240 hps that is very attractive, how is it on gas?

shrinermonkey

Gas mileage tends to be pretty poor on the GT model, most people are getting below the EPA ratings. You might want to check out some Legacy GT specific forums to get a better idea. Seems you have to drive very conservatively to get good mileage with the turbo. But what is the point of having it if you aren't going to use it?

paisan

So far on mine with 30k miles, I'm turning 28+ mpg on the highway at 75-80mph. Haven't done any city or mixed driving yet with it.

-mike

shrinermonkey

I regualarly get 31-32+ mpg on the highway with my N/A 2.5i wagon with the automatic. Recently got 32.3 mpg on a 1400 mile road trip 70+ mph most of the way with some city driving thrown in. It is the city drving that tends to be quite poor on the GT because of increased dip into turbo boost. It was the same with my old VW Passat 1.8T, decent hwy mileage but struggled to get over 18 mpg in town and that was w/o AWD.

paisan

I'll keep you guys posted when I start driving it on a daily basis how it does in city driving.

-mike

suydam

I had a 1999 Subaru Forester. We sold it because we didn't like the gas mileage, the back seats were torture for us (we are tall), and the local dealer service was awful.

I then bought a Mazda6 wagon (2004) which I loved except for the atrocious gas mileage -- between 18-20 mpg around town.

You are right. There are not too many choices. We sold the Mazda, and then bought a used Pontiac Vibe. Better gas mileage -- between 26-28 mpg around town-- and way more comfortable rear seats. I have heard people complain about the driving position but for me it's fine. It isn't as zippy as the Mazda for sure, but costs a lot less to drive.

So if gas mileage matters, the Matrix/Vibe is the way to go. If you like a car that has a lot of zoom zoom, the Mazda is much better. Subaru's advantage is in snowy climes where you need the AWD, but it takes a toll on mpg.

ateixeira

For me the driver's seat on the Vibe/Matrix is too high. Might be tolerable if it had arm rests or something.

We're all shaped differently, though. So try before you buy, preferably a long test drive.

moparbad

I obtain 26 mpg in city and 30 to 35 mpg on highway in my Mazda6.

ateixeira

Which engine and trans combo? Also, what body style?

paisan

I obtain 26 mpg in city and 30 to 35 mpg on highway in my Mazda6.

That's gotta be FWD and 4cylinder maybe with an MT also. I highly doubt the Mazdaspeed 6 would get that milage!

-mike

moparbad

2.3L 5 spd automatic 5 door

I really like the Legacy Wagon and decided on the 6 due to dealer preference and handling of the 6.

You can't go wrong with the Subaru or the Mazda.

ateixeira

Sounds about right, then.

I love 5 doors but wish it were a tad bigger. I guess there's always the wagon, with those cool release buttons for the rear seat.

shrinermonkey

However, the wagon can only be had with the V6 which does not get good gas mileage.

moparbad

The 5 door has cool release levers for the rear seat.

ateixeira

Cool, I think even the sedan has them. Very nifty.

Do your side mirrors break away? I test drove a sedan a while ago and it surprised me that the side mirrors were fixed.

We have a narrow car port and my wife has bumped them a couple of times.

moparbad

Mazda6 GT Wagon

Hatchback
Mazda6 GT Hatch Review

ateixeira

I always felt the Speed6 should have been the hatch model.

Wonder if now that they will drop that turbo model, whether the 3.5l V6 (or even 3.7l the CX9 is getting) will make its way in to the lineup?

paisan

I'll let you guys know how the LGT Wagon does on the track this weekend.

-mike

chikoo

http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2007/200706/070612.html

Mazda Awarded First Place in Auto Bild Magazine’s “Quality Report” for the Third Year Running

HIROSHIMA, Japan— Auto Bild, Germany’s largest car magazine, has ranked Mazda in first place in its highly respected “Quality Report” for 2007, which was published on June 8. This was the third straight year that Mazda has been awarded first place in this annual report.

moparbad

The Mazda6 sold in Germany is made in Japan and the Mazda6 sold in USA is made in Michigan. There may be major differences in quality between assembly plants.