Mazda6 vs Ford Mondeo and VW Passat. Court case

Mazda6. Price: 738,000 RUB. On sale: 2007
VW Passat. Price: 809,854 RUB. On sale: 2005
Ford Mondeo. Price: 879,000 RUB. On sale: 2007

Once upon a time, representatives of three schools of the automotive industry — a Japanese, a German, and an American — argued over who makes the best business-class cars. They bickered for a long time but couldn't reach an agreement, so they decided to invite a Russian to be the judge. After all, their creations are sold on his land too, so let him decide.

Without much ado, the Japanese brought out their latest development — the Mazda6. The Americans, confident in their rightness, presented the Ford Mondeo, considering it the best in its class. The Germans decided not to invent anything new and simply brought the VW Passat — a solid and pleasant car in every sense, albeit not the newest. The Russian came out to them and began to ponder. Though he wasn't used to troubling himself over trifles, this task turned out to be serious, and he took it to heart.

The inspection, as tradition dictates, began with the newcomer. Especially since the Japanese had stirred up public interest long before the premiere. Our hero looked at the Mazda6 — a well-built car. It's immediately clear that it embodies the national character of the manufacturer's country. The previous "six" wasn't devoid of such traits either, but the new one seemed even more Japanese. It's as low-slung and swift as the people of the Land of the Rising Sun themselves. And at the same time, it's beautiful, like a young maiden. But it wasn't just the looks that won him over. He also noticed that the car had grown larger than its predecessor. The old one was quite comfortable too, but the extra millimeters the sedan gained in all directions appealed to the Russian soul. Now there's room to stretch out.

The ergonomics didn't disappoint either. The dashboard pleased him, though it seemed a bit contrived. The interior trim also didn't go unnoticed. Of course, he'd seen richer interiors with better materials before, but overall, he was satisfied with what he saw in the Mazda6. He was won over by the freshness of perception and the overall styling of the interior.

Next, he moved on to the Ford Mondeo. He examined this car for a long time and couldn't decide which class to assign it to. It seemed to have outgrown the "business" segment but fell just short of the executive level. As he pondered, his thoughts shifted to the car's form and substance. Glancing at all the participants, he realized the Mondeo was the largest of the three. This pleased him, as his blood runs hot for everything big and substantial. Its appearance is also the most representative. You wouldn't be ashamed to show up at a high-ranking official's reception or appear at an important institution in it. But as soon as he sat inside, his mood soured. No, there's plenty of room — no complaints there. But the center console, littered with many small buttons like beads, left him bewildered. At first glance, you can't tell which one does what. He sat in front of it, wondering how such a modern and well-thought-out car could have such an inconvenience.

Then he approached the Volkswagen Passat to continue the comparisons. No matter how he looked at it — from different angles, in different settings — this car still seemed the dullest of all. It lacked the spirited flair of the Mazda6 and the chic of the Mondeo. It reminded him of a German helmet — simple, reliable, and, admittedly, not without a certain aesthetic. He also noted that although the Passat is smaller than the Mondeo in dimensions, it doesn't look undersized, unlike the Mazda6. The ground clearance also pleased him — the safest for our broken roads. And the interior absolutely delighted him. Sure, there are no special frills inside, just like outside, but the comfort and thoughtfulness are felt in everything. One thought kept nagging him: the car is no longer young to compete on equal footing with rivals — it's already in its fourth year. The boyars won't understand if he puts it in first place. So he decided to render his final verdict only after road tests.

He gathered all the guests and headed to the test track. The road turned out to be the most ordinary: neither wide nor narrow, neither long nor short, not too smooth but not completely broken, yet full of turns. In short, a typical Russian road. First, he saddled the Japanese car. The engine roared, and the car surged forward. Driving the Mazda6 is a pleasure: all reactions are sharp and instantaneous, as if it's not a car but a sword in a master's hand. However, the ride smoothness left much to be desired: it shook considerably on bumps. And in sharp turns, there was a lack of stability: the rear axle kept trying to overtake the front. He understood that this trait adds excitement to driving, but his age no longer suits such driving. He lamented that he'd have liked such a car fifteen years ago — what fun that would have been!

He switched to the American car. The engine roared again, carrying him along the familiar road. Our hero enjoyed the dynamics provided by the Mondeo's powerful 220-horsepower engine. His soul sang from the fast driving. But this car lacked the precision in handling that the Japanese had. And it took sharp bends less spiritedly and playfully — the greater weight took its toll, pulling it along the intended trajectory. That's when he concluded that such a car would be useful in a boyar's garage for meeting important personages and leisurely drives.

For the third time, he changed cars and sped along the beaten path again to finally decide on the winner. And what was his surprise when he discovered that the German, despite its advanced age, had everything in abundance: dynamics, handling, and stability. Only a flashy appearance was missing.

In the end, our man didn't want to stir up discord among the foreign guests or assign places. In his view, each of them deserves first place, especially if priorities are set correctly. And in that matter, we in Rus' have always had order.

Mazda6

The new Mazda6 was created under the motto "Time to be Japanese." It resembles neither American nor European cars, and that's precisely why it became even more interesting. Additionally, the car has grown in size, and this applies not only to external dimensions but also to the wheelbase. The interior has also changed for the better.

Driving
Spirited and borderline driving in this car brings real pleasure. True, you need to get used to its character.

Interior
Moderately spacious and quite cozy. It's pleasing to the eye from an aesthetic standpoint as well. Only the small trunk opening is a slight concern.

Comfort

Mazda has never been known for good sound insulation, and the new model isn't entirely well-off in this regard.

Safety
The fairly extensive base trim is quite acceptable.

Price
Tolerable.

Ford Mondeo

The third-generation Ford Mondeo possesses a set of qualities we're used to seeing in premium-class cars: expensive trim materials, a spacious cabin with exemplary ergonomics, the highest level of safety, and extensive standard equipment. New high-tech options are also applied.

Driving

Despite its dimensions, the car managed to win us over with precise steering and suspension composure.

Interior
Spacious and comfortable, but minor ergonomic oversights still leave an unpleasant aftertaste.

Comfort

It's evident that the manufacturer aimed to make the car better than it actually is. This applies to the equipment, which the car is literally stuffed with.

Safety

Top-notch.

Price

Directly depends on the chosen trim.

VW Passat

Although the Volkswagen Passat can no longer be called fresh, it still enjoys well-deserved demand. A successful appearance, decent dynamics, a spacious cabin, a large trunk, and solid build quality — all of this will be in demand for a long time.

Driving

Surprisingly pleasant in every sense. No negative impressions.

Interior

The interior design is plain, but there's plenty of space, and sitting is quite comfortable.

Comfort

A huge selection of options allows you to equip the car for any needs. Even the base version looks decent. The electric parking brake alone, which greatly helps when starting on a hill, is worth mentioning.

Safety

There is the entire necessary set of systems.

Price

Quite reasonable.

Data bank

Dimensions, weight

Models	Mazda6	Ford Mondeo	VW Passat
Curb weight, kg	1355	1581	1583
Gross weight, kg	1925	4844	2000
Length, mm	4735	4844	4762
Width, mm	1795	1886	1820
Height, mm	1440	1500	1472
Wheelbase, mm	2725	2850	2709
Trunk volume, l	519	550	565

Dynamics

Maximum speed, km/h	200	245	208
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s	11.3	7.5	10.2
Control fuel consumption, urban cycle, l/100 km	9.5	13.6	12.8
Control fuel consumption, highway, l/100 km	5.2	6.8	6.6

Technical

Engine type	petrol, inline	petrol, inline	petrol, inline
Number of cylinders	4	5	4
Number of valves per cylinder	4	4	4
Displacement, cm3	1798	2500	1984
Power, hp at rpm	120/5000	220/5000	150/6000
Torque at rpm	165/4300	320/1500	200/3000
Transmission	5-speed automatic	6-speed manual	5-speed automatic
Drive	front	front	front
Front suspension	independent	independent	independent
Rear suspension	independent	independent	independent
Front brakes	disc	disc	disc
Rear brakes	disc	disc	disc
Steering	rack and pinion	rack and pinion	rack and pinion
Front tire size	215/50R17	235/45R17	235/45R17
Rear tire size	215/50R17	235/45R17	235/45R17
Fuel tank capacity, l	64	70	70

Our verdict

All three cars are certainly worthy of attention, and each of them can be safely considered as a purchase candidate. But if all conditions are equal, the new Mazda6 seemed to us a more youthful car. This applies not only to the appearance, but also to how it behaves on the road. Ford Mondeo looks more solid. However, it also has a lively character, especially with the 2.5-liter engine. As for the Volkswagen Passat, it is simply a very successful compromise. A compromise in everything.