Honda Accord Euro v Mazda Mazda6 2008 Review

Can I tell you something? There's hope. More than that, there's excitement and even joy in our motoring lives, now and in the future. In this climate of negativity - oil prices, environmental issues, traffic congestion - good times still do exist.

I know, because for the last few days I've been driving the Mazda 6 and Honda Accord Euro. The primary purpose has been to determine how these mid-sized rivals compare in the early days of their second generation.

But there's been a deeper, more satisfying reward than just extracting a winner and loser. Courtesy of two of Japan's most interesting automotive car makers, there's also been a bolstering of faith and a reminder of why we like driving, even as we enter a daunting new motoring era.

From the driver's seat of these two it's actually possible to shut out all the static, all the unfortunate truths, and simply enjoy the unique pleasures they deliver.

They're not V8s and they're not all-conquering. But swooping through the damp, green hills east of Melbourne on a cool, crisp morning, it hardly mattered. These cars are nimble, responsive and stimulating. They have four-cylinder engines to savour, and dynamics that prove front-wheel drive can deliver much more than a packaging advantage. Yet they also fit the family comfortably and don't demand their tanks be filled too often. Accessible, credible, desirable and affordable - surely these are a template for modern motoring.

Even more affordable, in the case of the 6, than just a few weeks ago. As we were taking delivery of these two cars, Mazda announced a significant price drop across the range (in response to lower than forecast sales), stretching from a minimum of $1750 up to $3290. Our auto-only Luxury sedan fell from $43,610 to $40,990. For punters, that's great news, and for Mazda, a salutary lesson not to over-reach. Unfortuately for us, that change now meant our choice of the $44,990 Accord Euro Luxury Navi looked lopsided. No great drama, however; if you delete the sat-nav and reversing camera (saving $3000), you effectively have an Accord Euro Luxury at $41,990 ($39,990 for the six-speed manual.)

Yes, there's a $1K premium, but the Honda still has an equipment advantage. There's heating for both front seats and the exterior mirrors, memory seating for the driver, parking sensors, rear air-con vents, rear door pockets, rain-sensing wipers and 18-inch alloy wheels.

The 6 is hardly under-done. It gets a full-size spare wheel (which the Honda lacks), and if you want a hatch or wagon, the Mazda is the only game in town. Both cars share six airbags, stability and traction control, ABS with both brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, xenon headlights, fog-lights, five-speed autos with manual modes, six-CD audio, dual climate control, cruise, trip computer and leather upholstery.

The Honda backs up its deeper inventory with a striking exterior. Its bigger wheels and lower profile Michelin Primacy HP rubber fill the pumped-out arches and deliver a butch edge to its subtly restyled body that is wider and lower.

Extended in all key directions, the Mazda runs a fine balance of elegance and sportiness that works. There are hints of Lexus and even RX-8 (in the front guards). It's just a shame the alloys don't have as much character as the rest of the car.

Inside, the Honda's leather is sportily perforated, the front seats more heavily bolstered and the steering wheel chubbier. Inspiration for the instruments appears to have come straight from Benz, while the dashboard is of the sci-fi school as per the Civic Type R and the 'American' Accord. Intimidatingly busy initially, once you acclimatise it makes plenty of sense.

The Mazda goes in the opposite direction. At first glance it appears to be totally orthodox, as well as obviously better quality than its predecessor. Compared to the Honda it's less sporting and much of it is instantly easier to comprehend.

Much, but not all. The numerals in the gauges are harder to read, the trip-computer controls are impossible to understand without consulting the guide book and the auto's manual shift controls on the steering wheel are fussy thanks to downshift thumb buttons positioned too high and too far inboard.

The Honda offers one paddle to go up and one to go down and that's that. If in Drive the auto takes control back in a few ticks; in Sport mode it'll bounce off the cut-out all day.

Perhaps the Honda system is more user-friendly because it'll be used more often. The Euro's i-VTEC 2.4-litre delivers a maximum 148kW at 7000rpm and peak torque of 230Nm at 4400rpm. That translates from brochure to road better than you might imagine, but not as well as you might hope.

Driven in commuter mode the Euro is pretty lethargic and uninterested. It doesn't exactly grumble along, more snoozes contentedly. It awakes, yawns and has a good stretch at about 4000rpm, is munching PULP by 5000rpm and is happily into its work by 6000rpm.

While not explosively fast at any point, the Honda four just keeps gathering revs and momentum. Get over the instinctive urge for an upchange at around 5000rpm and soon you'll be bouncing off the cut-out at 7900rpm. Left to its own devices in Drive, the auto is smooth but conservative. Best to slot it into Sport for keener shifts and greater engine braking. Better yet, use the paddles.

The Mazda is - again - more orthodox. The MZR 2.5-litre four makes its peak 125kW at a more reasonable 6000rpm and 226Nm at a lower 4000rpm, resulting in an engine with more pep and zip at commuter speeds. The 6 whips the Euro, which barely shows an interest in third, let alone fifth.

The Mazda's more even power delivery doesn't work against it when hunting along, either. There's more pliability and less need to stir the auto manually (although it still helps). The engine goes as hard as the Honda, but does it with less fuss and intensity.

To be honest, the Honda's best performance figures were at the bowser. Despite some hard driving, the Mazda managed 10.0L/100km and the Honda 9.4L. Good for the wallet and the environment, with CO2 outputs below 250g/km for both cars.

Put the numbers to one side and you'll discover working these engines hard has its own rewards. Not in outright acceleration, more in maintaining speed once you're up there. They're helped by two of the best mid-sized front-wheel-drive chassis going. The Honda's double-wishbone front end is simply extraordinary. Jump on the quality stoppers late, dive in deep on the Michelin rubber and sink the throttle. There's no suggestion of slip, just grip. However, the electronic steering falls short, obviously changing its weighting from light to heavy a few degrees off centre. Its slightly softer suspension is also prone to body float at speed on rough bitumen, the car never quite settling.

It's something made more obvious by the 6's exemplary body control at speed, an achievement gained by trading lower-speed small-bump compliance. The Mazda's steering is also now electrically-assisted, but it has retained much of the delicacy and feel that made the original 6 so popular with discerning drivers. There's a nibble over the rough stuff but no evidence of torque steer - unlike the Honda.

Having said this, the 6's front end can't quite match the Honda's. Good brakes, good Bridgestone rubber and a high limit, but it slides into understeer earlier, albeit at speeds beyond where most will venture.

Day-to-day, buyers are more likely to discover and appreciate the 6's tighter turning circle and superior vision out of a larger glasshouse. They'll also benefit from more space in the back and a larger and more useable boot. There's also an obvious improvement in noise reduction both from the engine and through the body. However, the Honda is quieter still, and while adult passengers in the rear will find space tighter, the seats are more supportive and they alone have the benefit of adjustable rear air-con vents.

So to a winner and loser? Both of these cars are patently winners; calling either a loser is too crass. Forced to pick one it would be the Euro (in Luxury not Navi spec) because it out- performs the 6 in a couple of key areas (fuel economy, auto 'box and brakes). However, the Mazda is easier to live with.

Both restore belief and bring a smile to the motoring lover's face. Can I tell you one more thing? That's worth having.

Images: Cristian Brunelli