'18 Mazda6 2.5 Turbo vs Accord Sport 2.0T 10 speed full test drive review.

"KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time" (kngt) 05/14/2018 at 12:06 • Filed to: mazda6, Honda Accord, Accord, Mazda, Oppo review, Car Review, Review

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Went to test drive these fun to drive Family Sedans this weekend . Here are my thoughts.

Let’s start with this beautiful Red Signature Trim on display

Disclaimers : Driving was done on 30mph city roads, 45mph suburban curvy roads, 70mph freeway. I didn’t turn off Stability and Or traction control off on either car. I didn’t test the Audio system, Navigation or any of the safety systems.

Accord 2.0T Sport 10 Speed Automatic MSRP $29.5K

Exterior/Interior: Black exterior Black InteriorRear 3 quarters view is best. I don’t like the grill at all. The Black Chrome on the Sport trims makes the Unibrow tolerable. The interior is good quality, comfortable seats, typical Honda switchgear, and plastics not too bad. Visibility out back was more limited than Mazda6. Out the sides are fine.

Picture after the test drive

The tacked on screen itself looks less thought out than the one in the Mazda and looks just slapped on, but infotainment is really my least priority in cars unless it’s really bad (Cough CUE Cough) But the overall look, layout and use of the infotainment was better in the Honda. All-digital gauge was crisp but it felt flat as opposed to the Mazda’s tri-gauge with inbuilt screen

Also points for nice metal volume and tuning knobs on the infotainment screen.Special shout-out to the temperature control knobs that have a high quality finish with a nice click and change from blue to red backlit color as you rotate it. Loved it. One of the things that irked me the most is that how much they’ve lowered the car. I know this is the Sport trim but it was just too low. I had to fall into the seats. The rear seats were worse. Low roofline and low seats make it more difficult to get in and out than the Mazda. Same problem with the new Camry, it is low for older people and parents to bend down and put kids in the car seat etc. No wonder they move to crossovers. Trunk was very spacious.

The Drive: The car feels big, drives big and it is WIDE. But you get used to it quickly. Driving position feels low even with raising up the seat. It really does try to channel a sports sedan.

Steering was good, as much as you can expect from a mainstream electric steering system.

The 10 speed Auto is really good! Quick shifts and most of the time it is imperceptible. It holds gears in sport mode and manual mode was a very good. You’d think it would be switching gears all the time but no, it’s quite seamless. it works quietly and smoothly and is aggressive when you want it to be. Not a fan of the button shifter system. Sport mode was sportier in this than the Mazda6

OK the 2.0T. This is more tuned for mid and top range power than low end torque like the Mazda 6. It really wakes up after 3000RPM and there’s definitely some turbo lag. Car and Driver, Motortrend have tested it at 5.7/5.8s 0-60 and it feels that way. It was more fun to merge this on to the highway at 80mph than the Mazda which was fantastic for suburban driving. The Sound was decent. More road and wind noise than the Mazda which was whisper-quiet but I read the EX and Touring trims are quieter. Handling was very flat and ride was actually pretty good despite 19 inch wheels. I couldn’t feel any outward understeer and turn-in was quick in this and the Mazda. I didn’t notice any excessive body roll in both cars.

I can see why people miss the V6 though, nothing matches the immediate response and linear power delivery of a good V6 especially Honda’s V6s.

Had a lot of torque steer , wheel spin but I was really pushing it in Sport mode. Especially evident when you want to turn left in front of traffic, or merging into a 50MPH road from a standstill. Of course you can modulate your right foot to be skillful about it but I am used to managing wheelspin and oversteer on my RWD-based car.

Mazda6 2.5T Grand Touring MSRP 31K.

Exterior/Interior : Gray exterior, Black interior with brushed metal trim. Best looking midsize sedan, Grill finish is my favorite touch looks very classy. Clean lines on the interior and exterior.

DIdn’t get a pic but same car

Impeccable interior, cover the logo and you’d think this is an Audi. Brushed metal feel, door handles, leather, buttons all feel premium. Most buttons on Accord also good but not across the board like Mazda

Guages are nice and legible. HUD is excellent no more pop up glass. Shifter feels nice. Visibility is good all-around but like all cars nowadays rear windows are getting smaller.

Seats are very comfortable and good bolstering. Heated AND ventilated and damn does the Ventilated seats cool your butt, legit.

So much rear space, I am 5’11” I can sit behind myself very comfortably. Rear seat (heated) legroom and headroom is even more than the Accord, HUGE trunk with fold down seats. It sits higher than the Accord so is easier to get in and out both front and rear. Outside of ride height, ease of ingress/egress and AWD there is NO reason IMO to get a compact crossover.

Exact Trim on the test car

The Drive: Let’s address the elephant in the room. THIS is the ONLY engine that should be in the 6, period. Smooth, responsive Torquey, very very little lag and pulls strong 2-4.5K which is exactly what you need in the city. Max torque is at 2000 RPM. Sounded better than the Accord 2.0T for sure , BUT it runs out of steam at 5K, and I think it might be overhyped by some publications and it’s definitely a 6.5 or lower 0-60 car but not a 5.5s 0-60 car if you see what I mean . Also, could have been filled with 87 Octane so putting out 227HP and not 250HP. The torque comes like an up-heaving wave and not a rushing rapid. They have managed to mitigate understeer and torque steer but it’s definitely there. Handling is very, very flat and secure. But the usual FWD characteristics come up. The car drives small and it was really evident when I drove the Accord after it. Wheel spin, Torque steer and weight over the front wheels of the car. Yes, I could feel all that even though I didn’t take it on curvy backroads. This and the Accord 2.0T are begging for an AWD system. Also, they did it guys! NVH and loudness issue is all but GONE . This is quieter than some luxury sedans at 80MPH. I was floored!

Electric Steering was good but end of the day it is electric steering after all. Auto was seamless shifted well in manual mode but not lightning fast like the Accord 2.0t.

I am very impressed by this car. If this had a world-class torque-vectoring AWD with the 2.5T, I would choose it over an Audi A4 , Lexus Is300, TLX SH-AWD, Buick Regal/GS , Infiniti Q50 or F30328i. Perhaps not a C300 because I love that Mercedes’ interior.

The 2018 Camry looks and drives ordinary compared to these two IMO. Sure the V6 is nice but the interior and exterior is not up to scratch. Top trim Optima/Sonata are also really good alternatives.

Final verdict: I will vouch for the 2018 Mazda6 2.5T and say that if you’re in the market for a premium midsize sedan, this wins- THE best midsize sedan out there, Accord 2.0T is a close second. Get the Accord if you want a manual.

Funny thing was after driving these back to back and then my car made me appreciate how much more I appreciate a good-old fashioned stonking NA V6 that revs to 7500RPM in a RWD based sedan with hydraulic steering. Just feels rawer, mechanical and connected, even though it’s only an auto. A manual would have been even better.

Bonus pic of this odd couple at the dealership for your time:

M.T. Blake > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 12:27

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Excellent. But will it do drive thrus? Does it baby? Is glitter easily cleaned from the seats? How many pigmy goats fit inside. People NEED answers.

interstate366, now In The Industry > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 12:32

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Great review. My girlfriend and I were out to dinner the other night when I saw a new Accord Sport in that lovely blue that they offer with it. I peered inside and it was indeed a manual. I occasionally get her opinions on cars I like, even though she’s not a car person at all (as I obviously want to get her approval for future purchases) and she likes the Accord. We didn’t see any new 6’s while we were out.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > M.T. Blake 05/14/2018 at 12:36

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It will do drive thrus no biggie and the cupholders are big enough

I have no babies of my own , nor could I rent one to test it out but I can say even rear facing child seats will fit comfortably in the back seats and the Trunk will fit strollers and more.

https://www.cars.com/articles/2016-mazda6-car-seat-check-1420680349606/

I would say about 8 well fed pygmy goats-don’t quote me on this though.

Also, once you get Glitter inside your car it automatically becomes a Salvage title, dontchya know?

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > interstate366, now In The Industry 05/14/2018 at 12:37

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Thanks! More people should buy Mazda6 especially now with the updated interiors, NVH reduction and the sweet 2.5T. It’s underrated and overlooked. The pricing was also very good.

interstate366, now In The Industry > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 12:40

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I can see that. A couple years ago a friend and I test drove the last Accord Sport and a 2.0? (Maybe a 2.5NA) 6 back to back. The 6 was just slightly better in little ways.

M.T. Blake > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 13:29

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You just know exactly what to say to get me all hot and bothered.

mn_test347 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 13:33

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and it’s definitely a 6.5 or lower 0-60 car but not a 5.5s 0-60 car

Odd that we don’t have an accurate 0-60, or any other measurements for this car.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > mn_test347 05/14/2018 at 13:43

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Several Candian publications and Youtube channels have done reviews but no instrumented tests. Motortrend is the only major US publication to test it so far and even they didnt have an official time. I guess we have to wait for owners to test it in real world conditions and post to forums/youtube.

chitown7777 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 16:22

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I test drive both of these over the weekend (an Accord Touring and a Mazda 6 Prestige) and I’m not sure what you were experiencing re: turbo lag with the Accord. Neither had particularly notable turbo lag. The Accord’s turbo kicks in at 1500RPM. I felt that the Accord felt more powerful across the board, which is likely due to Mazda’s puzzling decision to limit themselves to the 6-speed, and the 6's corresponding struggle to remain in its ideal power band under hard acceleration. I do think the Mazda handles very slightly better...both handle well enough that the luxury segment should feel a bit inadequate about their own FWD offerings. Overall though I’d put the Accord in the slight lead, with both being well ahead of their peers. I just feel like the Accord’s real-world performance advantage and better infotainment system put it over the top (also, the Accord Touring’s two suspension modes), though I could see where one might take the Mazda for its fantastic exterior.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > chitown7777 05/14/2018 at 17:25

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The Accord was great in mid range and top end, not so much in low end even though I am sure it is very underrated and making more than claimed, and I could definitely feel it especially when I punched it when cruising. and there’s a definite dip between 2000 and 3000 as some dyno tests have shown, that could be what I was experiencing.

And the Mazda was almost the complete opposite with a very strong low and mid range and tapering off as you approach 5000RPM. I didn’t notice any problems with the 6 speed struggling to maintain it in the the powerband, only felt slightly out of breath hitting nearly 80 on the ramp merging into the freeway but that’s just how it’s setup.

AestheticsInMotion > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 20:46

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Good review. But it’s time for the tough questions:

Using these platforms, Accord Si or Mazdaspeed6?

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > AestheticsInMotion 05/14/2018 at 22:11

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Yes.

AestheticsInMotion > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 22:16

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After taking ample time to review your response.... Good answer.

Chariotoflove > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 23:09

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Well done. You answered the most important questions for the Mazda: does the engine finally have enough power, is the interior finally premium, and would they ever get rid of NVH? So much about the 6 was always almost there, and I was wondering if this edition would finally be it.

Shift24 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 05/14/2018 at 23:14

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My thoughts on both cars

Engineering - Accord

It has less displacement but more power, 10 speed is actually good unlike TLX 9 speed, and Manual option which can’t be stated enough

Style - Mazda

No contest

Interior comfort- Accord

Get in the back seat to see what I’m talking about. 7 series leg room

Infotainment/Cluster - meh

Both lose points for tablet dash, Mazda more than Accord.

Overall Accord.

With the option of a manual and type-r power, it will be hard to say no.

M.T. Blake > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 08/12/2018 at 01:07

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Do you work for a dealer or just pester them to drive all the new cars?! Either way, good job. You seem to keep a steady flow of new car material!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > M.T. Blake 08/12/2018 at 08:46

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Thanks! It’s only this summer I really tried to go on  test drives with some gusto, and I think the Mustang Gt will be the last one this year until something very interesting comes up . I usually do only 2 or 3 a year. Last time I did this many was summer 2016 before got my G in early ‘17, compared it to the competiton.

I am very uprfont about the fact I am not looking to buy, just checking out. I call and make appointments beforehand and I show that I know about the car and the brand, so as to not come across as a tire kicker. 99% of dealerships are perfectly cool with that, I was surprised myself. Sure they do a couple of phone callls and emails which I ignore, but they have never pressured me to “look at some numbers” right now. Of course i try not to go to the same delaership multiple times a year just to test drive cars LoL.

Many of the cars I tested this year are on my shortlist for my next vehicle but not for at least 3 years from now.