New Mazda6 vs New Ford Fusion

[icyblueyez]

Hello everyone,

I almost purchased a CX-5 a while back - I thought it was wonderful, but after more research (I do A LOT of research) I decided I would pass for now - too many reports of loud wind/road noise and underpowered engine. Now I'm looking at sedans (I am very partial to Mazda - family members have owned them and they have such great reliability and seem better to drive) and I've narrowed it down to 2. I like the looks of the new ford fusion and the new Mazda 6 - easily the best looking midsize sedans on the market now.

So on looks and features alone (since I know many have not even test driven the 6) which seems better? I don't think I can afford the Grand Touring (6) or Titanium (fusion) package, so it would be SE vs Touring (probably adding Tech package). So far, one huge thing that bugs me in each is:

Fusion: Must have Titanium to get push button start
Mazda 6: No Sattelite radio except in Grand Touring

So anyone care to add to list? What features does one have over the other when comparing the midlevel trims? Which do you guys think LOOKs better?

 

[Orangutan]

Mazda6 every day of the week. If Sat radio is a must-have, it's cheap to get it after you purchase the car. You could even get it installed by the dealer if you wanted. I could care less about things like push-button start. The Mazda will return better real-world fuel economy, weighs less, and will outdrive the Fusion. I think the Fusion is an attractive car, but I'd put my money into the Mazda unless you're going to get the 2.0T in the Fusion.

 

[icyblueyez]

Thanks - I know push button start seems minor, but these days I feel it's more modern and makes a car seem older not to have it. Luckily, the Mazda 6 has it on all trims.

 

[DKaz]

The 2.5L Skyactiv will get the same fuel economy and power as the 1.6L Ecoboost, without the risk of catching on fire or long term reliability issues related to a turbocharger. I assume you want an automatic transmission, the Skyactiv auto is better than Ford's DCT from what I hear. You still have a torque convertor to deal with low speeds. Ford's DCT feels like a newbie driving a manual for the first time at low speeds... although I kinda like it lol but I know most people don't.

I'm sure there's a dealer installed option on satellite radio.

Mazda 6 all the way.

 

[ManMachine]

At this point it's a bit hard to trust Ford's newer products.

I'd say the top choice in the segment will be between this and Accord, which is back on top of the segment.

 

[icyblueyez]

Hm, I am worried about fire catching issues. And I really want a Mazda..having the satellite radio installed by the dealer, will it be integrated into the screen/audio as if factory installed?

 

[DKaz]

My old 2007 Mazda 5 and current 2012 Mazda 3 has a SAT button on it, not sure about the Mazda 6. I could've installed a satellite module and antenna if I wanted. You can have the dealer install it before you take delivery of it.

 

[kinks45]

I have owned 12 Mazda's and 4 Ford's. Hands down, NO reliability issues with Mazda, but I will never buy a Ford again, if that says anything. Plus, the front of the Fusion kinda looks like a fish with its mouth open, IMO...not fugly, just weird.

 

[icyblueyez]

^ha

 

[IHeartGroceries]

C'mon now...

It is a little unrealistic to claim Mazda has superior reliability compared to Ford. My Speed6 has quite a few FoMoCo parts on it, and this was a reality for many Mazda models up until a couple years ago.

The new Fusion is a nice car, as is the new Escape. You have to admire what Ford has done, compared to other USDM makes. Never needed a bailout, and now producing (IMO) some real quality cars that can easily stack up against foreign makes. After driving the new 6 over the weekend, it is a no brainer. But I can't forget forget how seriously I was eyeballing an Ecoboost Fusion...

 

[CX-SV]

Come on now, I do not agree that it's unrealistic to claim Mazda has supperior reliability to Ford (and I like the Escape and Fusion very much). CR reliability data shows Mazda having better reliability as a brand, which for purposes of comparing reliability I view the CR data as useful.. And so does my personal ownership experience with both brands, not that it matters.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

I don't disagree with statistics.
But "superior" reliability is a stretch...

 

[CX-SV]

No "stretch", just reliability data, being superior to Ford in reliability area only isn't saying much.

Per CR in April 2012:


"Here are other highlights from this year’s analysis:


•Mazda shows the most dramatic improvement among the 13 manufacturers. It climbed to second place from last year’s seventh and increased its overall score by nine points. It was helped by an improved Mazda3 and the shedding of two models that dragged down its score, the Tribute SUV and RX-8 sports car."

 

[jcarroll07]

Hmmm... and the Tribute was a (barely) rebadged Ford... and as for the RX-8, it's very much its own beast, just look a few forums down for all the confirming evidence

 

[cburrell]

All manufacturers have their issues, if one just peals back the appearance of great reliability that Toyota and Honda have, one will find that they have had their issues with certain vehicles too, especially in the last 5 to 6 years. There reliability has slipped, but it is still good, but not great like it use to be for them. A couple models shouldn't define a whole brand, but all models with same issues is a fair standard to judge a car company by. For instance: Dodge and their horrible transmissions they put in their vehicles for over 30 years, that has affected most of their product line at one point or another.

 

[Fiji Mazda3]

The 2.5L Skyactiv will get the same fuel economy and power as the 1.6L Ecoboost, without the risk of catching on fire or long term reliability issues related to a turbocharger. I assume you want an automatic transmission, the Skyactiv auto is better than Ford's DCT from what I hear. You still have a torque convertor to deal with low speeds. Ford's DCT feels like a newbie driving a manual for the first time at low speeds... although I kinda like it lol but I know most people don't.

I'm sure there's a dealer installed option on satellite radio.

Mazda 6 all the way.

The Fusion doesn't use the DCT. It's uses a traditional automatic or a CVT on its hybrids.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

No "stretch", just reliability data, being superior to Ford in reliability area only isn't saying much.

Per CR in April 2012:


"Here are other highlights from this years analysis:


Mazda shows the most dramatic improvement among the 13 manufacturers. It climbed to second place from last years seventh and increased its overall score by nine points. It was helped by an improved Mazda3 and the shedding of two models that dragged down its score, the Tribute SUV and RX-8 sports car."

[/thread]

Sorry Renesis lovers. lulz!

 

[DKaz]

Yup, my experience with Mazda was one of the main reasons why I considered a Ford when I was in the market for a compact last year. Unfortunately, the Focus was too small.

The Fusion doesn't use the DCT. It's uses a traditional automatic or a CVT on its hybrids.

Thanks. Sounds like they concede...

 

[Fiji Mazda3]

Yup, my experience with Mazda was one of the main reasons why I considered a Ford when I was in the market for a compact last year. Unfortunately, the Focus was too small.



Thanks. Sounds like they concede...

They haven't conceded anything. They're still using the DCT in the Focus and Fiesta. Maybe they'll put an upgraded version of it in the Fusion at a later time. VW did a similar thing with the Passat, for example.

 

[CX-SV]

They haven't conceded anything. They're still using the DCT in the Focus and Fiesta. Maybe they'll put an upgraded version of it in the Fusion at a later time. VW did a similar thing with the Passat, for example.

Who knows, maybe Ford will not follow in VW's footsteps. VW has enjoyed plenty of complaints about DCT too. And even the Ford service writers were still complaining about Focus and Fiesta DCT driveability in 2012, long after it's introduction.