Mazda6 2.3 v Ford Mondeo 2.0 v Toyota Camry Sportivo - motorsportnerd's road test
In the past year, I have had the fortune to drive long distances in New Zealand in these three roughly comparable cars, so I thought I share my opinions on them.
The oldest of the three cars is the Ford Mondeo. First released in Europe in late 2000, the Mondeo was introduced to the New Zealand market in mid-2001. This was the first of a new generation of mid-size cars that made driver enjoyment as much of a priority as practicality. The Mondeo is long in the tooth in late 2006, with a new model due to be released early in 2007. However, despite its age, it is still one of the class leaders.
The Mazda6 and Toyota Camry were both released in 2002. The Camry I drove is the just superseded model. The Mazda6 I drove was the pre-facelift four-speed auto model.
The Mazda6 helped to revolutionize not just the mid-size class, but also led to a stunning turnaround in Mazda’s image. The previous 626 was a solid, dependable, practical sort of car, but not particularly exciting. The new Mazda6 changed this. The Mazda6 and Mondeo share some common floorplan components, so its no surprise that, like the Mondeo, it is a genuine driver’s car. Combine this with great exterior and interior styling, powerful engines and the usually Mazda attributes of practicality, reliability and quality, and one can understand why they have been such a sales success.
The Camry had the misfortune to be launched at the same time as the much more visually exciting Mazda6. Toyota made bold claims at the time that this Camry was the one to finally rid the Camry nameplate of its “refrigerator on wheels” blandmobile reputation. Well, if you listen to most enthusiasts, Toyota clearly failed to turn around the Camry’s reputation with this car. Another all-new Camry has just been released – once again Toyota is making bold claims that this time the new Camry is a genuinely exciting driver’s car that will finally see the Camry’s reputation as an appliance on wheels consigned to the dustbin of history. We’ll see. I haven’t driven the new model Camry yet.
Why even report on the old, superseded Camry? Well, for two reasons. First, to give my opinion as to whether the Camry’s poor reputation amongst enthusiasts is deserved. And second, because like the other two cars, many people will consider this shape Camry as a second hand purchase. Therefore, how well it goes is still relevant to anyone who might be considering purchasing one of these cars second hand.
PRICING/EQUIPMENT/VALUE FOR MONEY
Since I drove the three cars in New Zealand, it is best I use New Zealand price and equipment levels as a reference point.
The Mazda6 I drove was the mid-spec GSX model. In New Zealand, the Mazda6 ranges starts with the 2.0 litre GLX sedan priced at NZ$38,245. The GSX model is next up and is available as either a sedan, hatch or station wagon. I drove a sedan, straight off the Hertz fleet. The GSX sedan is priced at NZ$41,225 (or $42,975 for the auto) and for that it features a 2.3 litre 16-valve DOHC four cylinder engine putting out 122kW. Standard equipment on the GSX includes 16-inch alloys, power steer, 6-speaker stereo, ABS, six airbags (dual front, dual side, dual curtain), cruise control, climate air conditioning, trip computer, electric driver’s seat, electric windows and mirrors, leather steering wheel and transmission lever and remote central locking. The rental I drove was equipped with a four-speed tiptronic automatic transmission. The range topper is the NZ$48,000 Sporthatch Ltd, which gains leather seats and traction control amongst other goodies.
The Ford Mondeo I drove was also straight off the Hertz fleet. This time it was the base of the NZ Mondeo range that I drove. The base model is available as a sedan or a station wagon. I drove the sedan which is priced at NZ$37,790 (or NZ$39,120 for the auto that I drove). For that you get a 2.0 litre 16-valve DOHC four cylinder engine putting out 105kW. Standard equipment includes ABS, four airbags (dual front and side), cruise control, power steering, air conditioning, electric windows and mirrors, 6-speaker stereo and remote locking. The auto is a basic four-speed without tiptronic mode. The mid-spec Mondeo the Zetec version, priced at $40,590 and available only as a 5-door hatch. The Zetec picks up 16-inch alloys, a trip computer, climate air condition and six airbags, but still doesn’t offer a tiptronic feature for the automatic. It also retains the 2.0 litre engine as against the more powerful 2.3 in the comparable spec Mazda6.
The version of the Toyota Camry Sportivo that I drove has now been discontinued from the new car price lists. It was available for NZ$38,900, which represented excellent value against the Mondeo and Mazda6. The Sportivo was as a sedan only and was the mid-spec in the Camry range (the base model was NZ$36,250and featured a 2.4 litre 16-valve DOHC four cylinder engine putting out 112kW. Standard equipment included a rather tacky body kit (front and rear spoilers and side skirts), 16-inch alloys, four airbags (dual front and side), ABS, power steer, air conditioning, leather steering wheel and transmission lever, 6-speaker stereo, electric windows and mirrors, cruise control and a trip computer.
Its worth noting that the Mazda6 is imported from Japan, the Mondeo from Belgium and the Camry from Australia. This goes a long way to explaining the cheaper pricing for the Camry, since New Zealand and Australia have a long-standing free trade agreement in place.
On the second hand market in NZ, a 2003 model Mondeo or Camry can be bought for about NZ$15,000 and the Mazda6 for about NZ$19,000. The Mondeo doesn’t retain quite as good resale as the other two. Clearly, as second hand buys, all three represent much better value for money than they do as new purchases. Which explains why virtually all of these cars are bought new in NZ by fleets rather than private buyers.
So, the Camry wins the pricing/equipment/value for money section. It is as well equipped as the Mazda6, but nearly $5,000 cheaper as a new car. And as a second hand car, with Toyota’s reputation for longevity, the Camry is even better value.
Points: Camry - 6 (as a new car)/9 (as a used car); Mazda6 - 5 (as a new car)/8 (as a used car); Mondeo - 4 (as a new car)/8 (as a used car).
PRACTICALITY/QUALITY/ACCOMMODATION/COMFORT
All three of these cars excel in this category. Transporting a small family or a sales rep along with their luggage for large distances, in comfort is what these cars do well.
In common for all three cars are comfortable seating, with a good seating position easy to find in all three. There is plenty of legroom front and rear in all three, though the longer Camry scores with more rear seat space and a bigger boot than the other two.
The Mondeo scores with the best overall refinement of the three. The cabin is commendably quiet, the suspension isolates and smooths all bumps and there is no tyre noise. Engine noisy is normally muted and refined enough, but when revved hard, the 2.0 litre engine was a little harsh and noisy. The Mondeo was designed for European motorways and it really is a very refined car.
The Camry is also commendably quiet, but in Sportivo spec with its sports-tuned suspension, the ride is firmer and more fidgety than the Mondeo. There is also a noticeable degree of tyre and road noise transmitted to the cabin. The engine however is impressively quiet and refined.
The Mazda6 unfortunately is not particularly refined. In the pre-facelift model I drove, there was just too much tyre and road noise transmitted to the cabin – much more noticeable and wearisome than in the Camry. The engine also transmits more noise to the cabin than the other two – at least it has a sporty, hard edged flavoursome note to it that an enthusiast would appreciate.
As the oldest design of the three, it is no surprise that the Mondeo has the worst ergomonics. The design of the dashboard is noticeable out of date and the pastics are poor quality. The steering wheel features controls for the stereos, but the placement and operation of them defies logic. Also strange is that there is no internal release for the bonnet. Opening the bonnet involves twisting the Ford badge in the grille, and then inserting a key to unlock the bonnet. And to work it out involves a read of the drivers manual. Like many European cars, the Mondeo doesn’t have an internal boot release. Also, there are fewer storage places and cupholders than the other two.
There isn’t much to complain about with the Camry’s interior and ergonomics. Everything is where it should be. All the controls operate with a quality feel expected of a Toyota. The dashboard display is clear and legible. The plastics are high quality and obviously durable (the rental I drove had over 50,000km on the clock but you wouldn’t have known). The only down side is the design of the dashboard is unappealing and the centre consol doesn’t match up properly with the transmission tunnel.
The Mazda6 is the nicest of the three cars to sit in. The dashboard design looks good. Everything falls to hand and is easy to operate. The controls and plastics have a quality feel. The only minor downside is that there was mo steering wheel mounted controls for the trip computer was a long reach from the driver at the top of the central consol. Also, my cousin commented that the bright orange illumation of the dashboard at night was not exactly pleasing to the eye – especially when drunk.
So, the Mondeo has the best overall refinement but the worst ergonomics. The Mazda6 has the best interior and ergonomics and has the nicest, albeit also the noisiest cabin. The Camry is squarely in the middle – the second most refined of the three and second best interior and ergomonics.
Points:
Refinement: Mondeo - 9, Camry – 7.5, Mazda6 - 6
Cabin/Ergonomics/Quality: Mazda6 – 9, Camry - 8, Mondeo – 5
Comfort: Mondeo – 8, Mazda6 – 8, Camry – 8
Last edited by motorsportnerd; 10-31-2006 at 07:22 PM.
UCP's biggest Ford Sierra RS500 and BMW M3 E30 fan. My two favourite cars of all time.