'16 6 Touring or Accord Sport? Both manual

Tyler Schroeder said:

As the title states, I've narrowed my choices down to the 2016 Mazda 6 Touring manual and the 2016 Honda Accord Sport manual. I've already read all the reviews and browsed each car's respective forum (will also be posting this in both places) so now I'm looking for reviews from people who chose the 6 over the accord sport and why? Please keep everything as objective as possible. Would really love to hear from someone who was also looking at both. I'll being using it as a daily and want something reliable, well-built, yet not completely numb to drive (hence the manual only requirement). Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

This is a Mazda forum, so you will likely get an opinion more biased towards Mazda. Similarly if you were to post on a Honda forum, you will be advised not to think twice and jump into an Accord. The Accord and M6 were 2 cars i considered while shopping, and i chose M6 since it stood out of the crowd, had more steering feedback, limited body roll compared to Accord and better interiors ( i have a M6 GT, and although the Accord Touring's interior is good, the M6 has better finish and looks more premium ).

Mazda 6 Pros :

1. Its a more driver oriented car in its segment. Although reading some of the posts here you may think it competes with a Porsche GT3 RS, the truth is it is an above average econobox with a more controlled bodyroll and steering feel compared to its immediate competitors in its segment.

2. Quality interior - I think this is its biggest selling point. Even the vinyl looks and feels premium. I've had friends who drive new BMWs and Lexus complimenting how good the interior looks.

3. Not really a rational reason, but you dont see many of Mazda6 on the road, so there is a bit of exclusiveness !

Mazda 6 cons :

1. There are some minor quality issues - peeling rims, thin paint, creaks over bumps.

2. Noise - The wind noise and road noise are deafening ! On highways i need to really turn up the radio volume, the noise is really that bad. Some have had better luck with new tires, but i dont know if there's much one can do about wind noise.

3. Iffy infotainment system - I think Honda wins here. The Mazda system is slow, the voice controls are useless, it lacks carplay.

4. Past baggage - Outside the enthusiast circle, Mazdas had a bad rep for unreliability , rust and bad dealer network during Ford days. So you probably will take a hit on the resale value compared to a Honda.

I guess the pros and cons of Honda Accord is well known. It is one of the best selling cars in the world and i don't think that's by accident.

I frankly like the way the new Accord looks although some people hate it. The one in Touring trim looks premium and the infotainment system is top notch. Since you are looking for a manual, you don't have to worry about the dreaded CVT. The other factor is cost - Hondas, Toyotas and Nissans always seem to have higher rebates and dealer holdbacks compared to Mazdas, so you will get good deals on Accords and Camrys throughout the year.

In the end, i suggest test driving both cars back to back, i don't think you'll go wrong with either of them.

Tyler Schroeder said:

As the title states, I've narrowed my choices down to the 2016 Mazda 6 Touring manual and the 2016 Honda Accord Sport manual. I've already read all the reviews and browsed each car's respective forum (will also be posting this in both places) so now I'm looking for reviews from people who chose the 6 over the accord sport and why? Please keep everything as objective as possible. Would really love to hear from someone who was also looking at both. I'll being using it as a daily and want something reliable, well-built, yet not completely numb to drive (hence the manual only requirement). Thanks in advance!

Click to expand...

I test drove both and decided on the Mazda (Touring manual).

Factors favoring the Accord:
* Roomier (if you or passengers are larger people)
* More Power (not just 4 bhp - you can feel it "seat of the pants")
* Better outward visibility.

Factors favoring the Mazda:
* Better Interior Quality
* Styling
* NAV-ready infotainment

For me, these factors outweighed the Honda pros. And the price was nearly the same with the Costco discount and mfg incentives.

Try this:

2016 Chevrolet Malibu vs. 2016 Honda Accord, 2016 Mazda 6, 2016 Toyota Camry ? Comparison Test ? Car and Driver

Car guys who don't own either. Mazda always wins...

MiLR,

Mind you I may be a bit more biased...

Honda's have "thin" paint too, my mother owns a 14 Accord and hers is not any better than any 6 I have seen with the same miles.

Mazda is standing behind the wheels. I KNOW this as fact. It was a supplier issue that has been corrected.

Mazda has one of the best resale values and I have yet to hear anything about them being unreliable...my daughter owns an 01 MPV(Ford days) with 125k miles and not a single issue.

Too with the infotainment, its one of the better rated. I use the voice commands all the time without issue. Maybe yours needs an update? I do agree it would benefit from carplay..

Anyway, not trying to get into an argument with you, just don't see what you are seeing.

Chris

To OP:

I was facing exactly the same choice as you were about 10 months ago -- the manual Accord Sport versus the manual Mazda 6. I am not a Mazda "fan", have not owned any previous Mazda or Honda vehicles. But I think you cannot go wrong with either vehicle.

My previous choices in vehicles tended to be high performance american V8s (I've owned a few: Mustang GT, Pontiac GTO, Charger SRT8, Challenger SRT8, etc). Those cars are (relatively) expensive and of late my primary concern has been lowering vehicle costs such as payments, etc. Previous to the 6, I was driving a slightly modified 2013 FRS (it had lightweight aftermarket wheels and the full Hotchkis suspension). I absolutely loved driving the car, superior handling, light, fantastic gearbox and torsen differential which (almost) made up for the lack power. Three reasons made me trade that car in: it was miserably small for a family car, it was incredibly loud on the highway, and I most important I wanted to get into a vehicle that could be paid off in two years or less. (If I could afford a second car for fun and/or autocross I would put that FRS on the top of my list). Also the replacement vehicle had to offer some amount of driver engagement and fun factor... even if only superficially. I give you all of the above to give you a background on my preferences on cars.

Prior to driving both I had essentially made up my mind that the Honda Accord was the vehicle for me. Among my top criteria-- it HAD to have a manual transmission. Initially I had briefly considered the Camry but ruled it out due to no manual and a significant number of reported transmission failures. CVT was NOT an option, so CVT being a dealbreaker, anything by Nissan was out.

I did countless hours of reading reviews and watching videos of both vehicles, but primarily focusing on the Honda. I test drove the Accord Sport several times both on highway and back roads. It seemed to have reasonably sporty handling (for a family grocery getter), good enough power for an I4, and had an excellent short throw shifter and the brake/gas were perfectly placed for ideal heel/toe shifting. That fact alone convinced me the engineers who designed the manual Accord had to be car guys.

I was pretty much sold on the Honda... then one lunch break I took a test drive in the Mazda 6. As compared to the Honda, I found the interior design and build quality -- especially the soft touch dash-- to be much more upscale feeling. Also I noticed the 6 engine seemed to be stronger...nothing earth shattering, but definitely distinct seat of the pants feel that it pulled harder from down low through the rpm range. The handling on the 6 is superior, more sporty and better composed when pushed hard in the corners. On the test drive I hit a tight 360 deg on ramp hard and pushed in all the way through the corner enough to scare the crap out of the sales guy in the back seat (who later confessed to me when I bought the car). And I think a 6 Touring would be a little better than the sport since it has 19" tires (IIRC, the Accord Sport comes with 18").

Also I liked the Mazda 6 engine a little better...there is not one thing I can put my finger on but it just seems more... responsive, slightly better growl, more eager. Mazda did a good job hiding the econobox roots of this car and give it just a little extra eagerness that makes it seem to want to play.

The car felt solidly built for an economy car, comfortable seats and good driving dynamics. And the deal clincher-- I got a fantastic deal on my, about $5K less than the Accord Sport (felt like I stole it).

As far as downside, there are a few but not many. I find the car noisy on the highway but for whatever reason it's all road noise, I do not have the wind noise problem others have mentioned. Hearing other 6 owners complain about wind noise makes me laugh actually as the FRS was the noisiest vehicle I had ever driven. By comparison the Mazda was almost quiet on the highway... don't get me wrong it's not quite by modern standard but it was a big improvement over the FRS. I did not drive the Honda enough on the highway for a good noise comparison, so if road noise is a big deal for you test drive both extensively on the highway.

The stock shifter is not as short and crisp as the Honda, and the pedal placement is less than idea for heel/toe... that being said you can still heel/toe it effectively. And the Corksport short shift kit and weighted knob made a huge improvement in the shifter feel. I believe the Honda gets to 60 faster than our cars because it will do that in 2nd whereas the 6 requires an upshift into 3rd... but if 0-60 is important to you, you are looking at the wrong cars. Overall I would say power is adequate but from time to time I would like a little more (so I will be doing the OVT tune, Corksport SRI and Racing Beats exhaust shortly).

I do have the "squeaky" front suspension issue (creak over low speed bumps)... this seems to be a common thing. Took it back to the dealer... they said maybe I was driving the car "too hard". When I pointed out that the issue only showed up at parking lot speeds or pulling in/out of a driveway the service manager just shrugged. The creaking is mild, and intermittent and only seems to show up in wet weather so far I just live with it...not a deal killer for me.

One thing I will say though: the Yokohama Advans that came stock on my 2015 6 are perhaps the worst tire I have ever driven. They handle just fine in the dry with predictable give at the limits, but in the rain they are downright dangerous. After 15K miles the tread on all 4 corners was over 60% worn and every time I drove this car in the rain I swear it was trying to kill me-- hydroplaning, skidding, torque steer, car all over the road. Worse than anything I have ever driven. Almost traded the car out but decided first to try new tires -- bought the Continental Extreme Contact high performance all season and haven't looked back-- superior dry and wet traction and handling. So if you get the Mazda 6 Sport do yourself a favor and plan on upgrading the tires.

Hey good luck -- and let us know either way what you decide and why.

I went through the exact same thing...

Honestly just got test drive both and see what feels best to you. IMHO the latest Mazda 6 is leaps and bounds better not only in driving dynamics but interior quality and comfort. I had driven all of the competitors vehicles (accord, camry, fusion etc.) until I drove the Mazda 6. The 6 was the last vehicle I test drove and one that I wasn't going to test drive. Why? Because at the time I didn't even know Mazda had updated their styling and design...

After seeing a TV commercial for it (I guess advertisements do work...) I went to the nearest dealer and test drove a Sport model (not even the touring which I ended up buying). Instantly from the minute we set off the steering felt more responsive with a nicer weight to it. The throttle and power felt smoother. The seats were just as comfortable and the trunk was a perfect square as opposed to the Accords awkward trunk that narrows.

I went for it. The only mistake I made was not negotiating hard enough on price when purchasing the car. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on perspective) doesn't have the same recognition as Toyota/Honda/Ford so these guys need sales. I ended up paying approx. 1.5K below sticker before taxes etc. You could easily get more than that off.

Also the comment about the CPO BMW 328i has substance but if you're looking for a new reliable car that's big enough to haul people/things in yet nimble enough to have fun in then the 328i kinda defeats the purpose. Test drive both and see what you prefer, ultimately you're the one who's going to drive it.

Good luck!

I agree with a lot of what jetblack6 said.

I already own a Honda Odyssey that is my wife's (and kids!) daily so I was naturally looking at Honda again due to good experience with the Odyssey (2012 LX).

Adding to what jetblack6 said, price was very important for me. Not just price but value...the Honda Accord sport drove really well, but they are going to be thousands more than a comparable 6. In my opinion, not worth it when you consider the cars are very similar. When I bought the odyssey, it had 35k miles on it so I was able to beat down the sales guys a lot...Honda dealers don't seem to want to negotiate, which struck me as very arrogant. This is very strange in the business world, especially for a relatively high dollar price purchase.

I've owned Toyota, Chevy, Buick, Subaru, Honda, and now Mazda. Luckily, ford got booted out of Mazda, or I would have never even considered one. Not so much me, but my wife had a 'ford family' growing up and she hates the company and all their products as a result of many reliability issues she experienced.

To the guy that mentioned the 328i...well yeah of course those cars drive super sweet, but I think the connotation is they are not reliable and they are obviously a lot more expensive than a Mazda. My dad bought a 2003 Mercedes C230 for my sister a few years back, and besides a few electrical issues like some sensors and bulbs, it has been a really reliable car. To be honest, kind of changing my opinion of German cars. I always liked how they drove but my practical side said 'NO!' to German cars.

Anyways, to op or others reading, should be a good car for you and is one of the best in the 4 door family car class. Only tip is to use the lower popularity of Mazda to get the price down.

Well, you might have already made your decision by now. If we're talking automatic/cvt, hands down go with the mazda any day of the week no question about it. I test drove the accord cvt sport and it felt quite peppy but that cvt was a piece of garbage (no offense to anyone who owns one). Like others have said, our cars are very well refined and have one of the best (if not the best) interiors under $30k. I had to get an auto so that others in my family can drive it as well but if I had a choice to get a manual, I would have easily gotten the accord. Honda makes amazing manuals and overall, the accord seemed slightly more peppy and connected to the road as opposed to our 6. I owned a 2001 accord with 150k miles, which I actually traded in for this car. I'm actually quite biased towards hondas because I love the way they drive and are very reliable but the beautiful looks inside and outside alone on our 6 sold me. And now that they've parted ways with Ford, I'm sure my 6 will last me years.