I would only consider the 2.5T in the upper trim if I were considering the Mazda. I have not driven it, though. I own a '17 Mazda6 6MT. Engine in mine is a bit weak on the bottom end (which I think I can address with a tune that is biased to bottom end torque... like at the 2000 rpm mark). The 6AT Mazda (in normally aspirated form) for my model year actually was quicker accelerating than the 6MT car. Torque converter masks the bottom end weakness a bit.
Note that the current model year Mazda6 with the 2.5 naturally aspirated... which is only available with the 6AT (no manual variants available any more) - actually has cylinder deactivation. Me, I would not go there. In fact there has been a TSB due to malfunction of the deactivation system. Note that this system also involves the A/T... in that there is some kind of pendulum-type flywheel to ease the transition between all four cylinders operating and only 2 cylinders operating. Mazda engineers are capable, in my mind, but me - I'm a bit of a Luddite. Simple, stupid is what I want.
The 2.5T Mazda6 does NOT have cylinder deactivation or that pendulum/pendular flywheel.
I have driven the Accord 2.0T 6MT. Pretty nice... but driven normally, doesn't really stand out for me. You have to rev it, to some degree, to get power. The A/T is a new ten speed unit. Lotsa shift events, lotsa wear??? The Mazda 2.5T is said to be pretty bottom-end torque biased. So a bit easier to live with being driven normally. Lots of down-low jam.
My own sense is that the Honda probably is built a bit more stoutly... thicker body, etc. Mazda paint does tend to chip, inordinately so. Mazda builds to a price, perhaps more so than Honda?
Note that the current model year Mazda6 with the 2.5 naturally aspirated... which is only available with the 6AT (no manual variants available any more) - actually has cylinder deactivation. Me, I would not go there. In fact there has been a TSB due to malfunction of the deactivation system. Note that this system also involves the A/T... in that there is some kind of pendulum-type flywheel to ease the transition between all four cylinders operating and only 2 cylinders operating. Mazda engineers are capable, in my mind, but me - I'm a bit of a Luddite. Simple, stupid is what I want.
The 2.5T Mazda6 does NOT have cylinder deactivation or that pendulum/pendular flywheel.
I have driven the Accord 2.0T 6MT. Pretty nice... but driven normally, doesn't really stand out for me. You have to rev it, to some degree, to get power. The A/T is a new ten speed unit. Lotsa shift events, lotsa wear??? The Mazda 2.5T is said to be pretty bottom-end torque biased. So a bit easier to live with being driven normally. Lots of down-low jam.
My own sense is that the Honda probably is built a bit more stoutly... thicker body, etc. Mazda paint does tend to chip, inordinately so. Mazda builds to a price, perhaps more so than Honda?
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