Originally Posted by Jake_J
As a fan of Mazda and former Mazda6 owner this new RWD inline six more upmarket 6 sounds pretty great. It's hard to beat a perfectly balanced RWD silky smooth inline six, and with the high tech sorta diesel-like Skyactiv-X hybrid engines it'll be an impressive car.
Having said all that it won't help Mazda as it lacks the brand prestige to compete above the Camccord class and in a SUV/cross-over mad market even the best cars on the market are doomed to ever shrinking sales. A RWD based drive-line is inherently more expensive then a FWD which is why RWD is limited to BMW's and Mercedes in cars, that along with the cutting edge and expensive hybrid supercharged Skyactiv-X drive train will mean there's no turning back to the Accord-Camry class and it will have to make it in the very niche near luxury Volvo-Buick class while trying to edge into the 3 series class. The CX5 is single handily keeping Mazda above water in the US market, the lesson from that should be clear, take that CX5 formula and apply it to new SUV's in the HR-V/C-HR class and Passport/Highlander class. I personally can't stand this SUV/cross-over madness that we're in, but it's better to have a Mazda that makes a bunch of SUV's and few cars rather then no Mazda.
I have to agree with your assessment. I have a 2017 Mazda6. Here's to hoping that Mazda makes marketing decisions that keeps it solvent.
I like sedans, but I do have to say that as I age, they ARE harder to get-in to... What I DO like is that my purchases, my articles - can be hidden in the trunk, away from prying eyes. Theft, or potential theft, for me, is an issue. This is not to say that the articles are safer in my sedan than those in an SUV.... but by virtue of its closed-in Design - things are neither visible, nor are they hidden under a pull-out shade.
For utility, well, I like my receiver-tube trailer hitch and my roof rack. Correct, not a convenient as an (enclosed) SUV... but that is a price I'm willing to pay.
