Cross Shopping a Stinger vs a Mazda 6

[TheBert]

Hey all! First time posting here but I've been lurking the last few days. Currently own a 2014 Focus and am trying to move on from it (if you've read up on the clutch issues you'll understand why I'm so fed up). I was heavily honed in on the Mazda 6. Really like what the Grand Touring Reserve and the Signature trims offer. But then seeing as the lock down has given me plenty of time to research, especially with school being done for the semester, I've been giving a hard look at the Stinger 2.0 (even though I'd really love the GT1)! Especially with the Sun and Sound package, the 2.0 seems really fun and that trunk is amazing! Looking to grow into this car as my fiance and I plan on starting a family in a couple of years, but I want to enjoy driving as well. As I get closer to being ready to buy, I'll test drive both.

Did anyone cross shop the two cars and can offer any insight. It would be my daily driver so I'm curious about fuel economy as well. Seems like a great community and have enjoyed reading up on the Stinger!

If this is in the wrong sub please let me know!

 

[General_Vodka]

Hey all! First time posting here but I've been lurking the last few days. Currently own a 2014 Focus and am trying to move on from it (if you've read up on the clutch issues you'll understand why I'm so fed up). I was heavily honed in on the Mazda 6. Really like what the Grand Touring Reserve and the Signature trims offer. But then seeing as the lock down has given me plenty of time to research, especially with school being done for the semester, I've been giving a hard look at the Stinger 2.0 (even though I'd really love the GT1)! Especially with the Sun and Sound package, the 2.0 seems really fun and that trunk is amazing! Looking to grow into this car as my fiance and I plan on starting a family in a couple of years, but I want to enjoy driving as well. As I get closer to being ready to buy, I'll test drive both.

Did anyone cross shop the two cars and can offer any insight. It would be my daily driver so I'm curious about fuel economy as well. Seems like a great community and have enjoyed reading up on the Stinger!

If this is in the wrong sub please let me know!

Hi and welcome. Mazda makes pretty comfy cars, we have a Mazda 3 right now. It replaced a Jetta. That being said get the stinger. You will not be disappointed. Totally not baised but I have a GT2 and I say go for the v6. The miles per gallon may go down but smiles per gallon will go up. I promise.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

G’day @TheBert, welcome to the forum.
The Mazda 6 is a nice car too, in the end it gets down to what you feel is the best fit for you & your needs moving forward.
As you state I would test drive both vehicles, but IMO if you enjoy driving then the Stinger will be right up your alley.
Good luck with your choice.

 

[RedCal]

Welcome to the hive... I only half looked at the Mazda6, but I wanted the power of the 3.3TT so that ruled out the 6 pretty quick, and I believe the Stinger has a better warranty and is a little better equipped (that maybe incorrect depending on trim level) The 6 is nice car (I had one for a week as a rental) Both are great so you really can't go wrong

 

[TheBert]

Hi and welcome. Mazda makes pretty comfy cars, we have a Mazda 3 right now. It replaced a Jetta. That being said get the stinger. You will not be disappointed. Totally not baised but I have a GT2 and I say go for the v6. The miles per gallon may go down but smiles per gallon will go up. I promise.

Thanks! I figured as much haha. I can only get so much feedback from Youtube videos. What's your usual fuel economy look like? I'm so used to putting around $20-$25 in my Focus that first fill up might scare me a bit.

G’day @TheBert, welcome to the forum.
The Mazda 6 is a nice car too, in the end it gets down to what you feel is the best fit for you & your needs moving forward.
As you state I would test drive both vehicles, but IMO if you enjoy driving then the Stinger will be right up your alley.
Good luck with your choice.

Thanks for the welcoming! I know the test drive is going to be important. Kia's long warranty also gives me confidence. Based on our future living outlook, it appears I'll be the one with the long commute to work. Hence why I'm looking for a fun drive. It's a good amount of country roads and highways too, so I'd get decent gas mileage if I go the GT1 route.

 

[TheBert]

Welcome to the hive... I only half looked at the Mazda6, but I wanted the power of the 3.3TT so that ruled out the 6 pretty quick, and I believe the Stinger has a better warranty and is a little better equipped (that maybe incorrect depending on trim level) The 6 is nice car (I had one for a week as a rental) Both are great so you really can't go wrong

Yes, thank you! Yeah, Kia's warranty is really nice. With all the issues I've had with my Focus (cough cough 4 clutch repairs since 2016), that is a nice policy to fall back on.

 

[RedCal]

Yes, thank you! Yeah, Kia's warranty is really nice. With all the issues I've had with my Focus (cough cough 4 clutch repairs since 2016), that is a nice policy to fall back on.

You may be getting a cheque from Ford for your clutch issues.... so you can put that towards you new ride

edited to add link
Former Ford Focus Or Fiesta Owners May Have A Lot Of Money In Their Mailboxes Right Now

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Thanks for the welcoming! I know the test drive is going to be important. Kia's long warranty also gives me confidence. Based on our future living outlook, it appears I'll be the one with the long commute to work. Hence why I'm looking for a fun drive. It's a good amount of country roads and highways too, so I'd get decent gas mileage if I go the GT1 route.

Yes long warranty is also a good consideration, if your going to have a long commute to work on the roads you describe well IMO the Stinger is the car for you, it will give you good fuel economy & it is fun on windy country roads, especially it you upgrade the swaybars.

 

[General_Vodka]

Thanks! I figured as much haha. I can only get so much feedback from Youtube videos. What's your usual fuel economy look like? I'm so used to putting around $20-$25 in my Focus that first fill up might scare me a bit.



Thanks for the welcoming! I know the test drive is going to be important. Kia's long warranty also gives me confidence. Based on our future living outlook, it appears I'll be the one with the long commute to work. Hence why I'm looking for a fun drive. It's a good amount of country roads and highways too, so I'd get decent gas mileage if I go the GT1 route.

Can't comment on fuel economy right now since mine isnt drivable. Ask me in a month, might have an answer by then. I will probably get like 10mpg, but am i sad? Nope, if I wanted mpg I would drive the Mazda or our Camry hybrid. I didn't get the stinger for good mpgs lol.

 

[narsnail]

I get 17-20 mpg in the city with the 3.3 (typically, sometimes its like 15mpg if im foot heavy), 2.0 is rated for 21 city, so would think between 19-23 city depending on your foot and your drive. Unless you need a manual, maybe have a look @ a GT or higher?

 

[MerlintheMad]

Howdy. I average 19 to 20 Plus around town; 25 on the freeway; my best was 31 MPG, a couple of times, but the conditions have to be really helpful. I like to pass fast, so I'm not concentrating that much on fuel efficiency most of the time.

(You've made your intro here, talking about Stingers, so I don't think it really matters if you didn't post to the Intros page. )

 

[Aarvix]

Here's 20K miles of mixed highway/city driving on the 3.3(I reset every 10K because that's the highest the second trip odometer goes):

been getting less lately because of my new (wider) tires and I'm hooked on E30.

 

[TheBert]

You may be getting a cheque from Ford for your clutch issues.... so you can put that towards you new ride

Oh yes, I am well aware! Have mine being processed/looked at already as part of that suit. Hopefully, I'll get some good news on that front.

Yes long warranty is also a good consideration, if your going to have a long commute to work on the roads you describe well IMO the Stinger is the car for you, it will give you good fuel economy & it is fun on windy country roads, especially it you upgrade the swaybars.

Yeah I figured as much, it would be a lot more fun to cruise that way. I've been peaking at the various threads on making various upgrades to the car haha.

I get 17-20 mpg in the city with the 3.3 (typically, sometimes its like 15mpg if im foot heavy), 2.0 is rated for 21 city, so would think between 19-23 city depending on your foot and your drive. Unless you need a manual, maybe have a look @ a GT or higher?

That's not too bad. If I go for the 3.3 I definitely want the GT1, not sure I'd be able to go up to the GT2. Ideally, I can find a CPO around me. But in my research that's been tough.

Howdy. I average 19 to 20 Plus around town; 25 on the freeway; my best was 31 MPG, a couple of times, but the conditions have to be really helpful. I like to pass fast, so I'm not concentrating that much on fuel efficiency most of the time.

(You've made your intro here, talking about Stingers, so I don't think it really matters if you didn't post to the Intros page. )

Yeah since I don't own the Stinger yet I wasn't sure if that was allowed hahaha But thank you! Passing power is definitely what I want, lot of interstate potential for me in the next year or so. Thanks fo the info!

Here's 20K miles of mixed highway/city driving on the 3.3(I reset every 10K because that's the highest the second trip odometer goes):

been getting less lately because of my new (wider) tires and I'm hooked on E30.

Awesome, thanks for the pics! That helps a lot, I feel more confident swinging for the GT1 if I can get a deal on one eventually.

 

[NIU_Huskies]

Mazda makes great vehicles. I owned a 97 Mazda Protege that I bought used in 2003 and sold in 2011. Based on my experience with that car and its reliability I wouldn't hesitate on buying another Mazda. As for Volkswagen, I would never recommend that brand based on my experience with it.

 

[SafetyPilotCal]

I had a Mazda 6 as a rental last year for about a week. It's a nice car all around, good material quality, low NVH. But it was the N/A 4-banger and it was unbelievably slow. I'm sure the 2.5T is a massive improvement. That being said, if you're willing to spend Mazda 6 Signature money, you can certainly get a GT. My local Kia dealer has them advertised for $35k.

The downside is that you're now comparing a fully loaded 6 to a "base" GT. The Signature will get you HUD, lane keep assist, adaptive headlamps, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise. The Stinger has all of these, but not on the base GT. Like you've pointed out, you'd need to step up to the GT1 to get some of them. On the other hand, all of the gee-whiz tech and whatnot isn't going to make the FWD 6 remotely as compelling to drive as the RWD Stinger. I guess you have to decide what's worth more to you here, but I'd say you really can't go wrong either way. (except on the family note. IMO.. it's been a while since I was in the 6, but I'm pretty confident the Stinger has significantly more room inside).

 

[TheBert]

I had a Mazda 6 as a rental last year for about a week. It's a nice car all around, good material quality, low NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness). But it was the N/A 4-banger and it was unbelievably slow. I'm sure the 2.5T is a massive improvement. That being said, if you're willing to spend Mazda 6 Signature money, you can certainly get a GT. My local Kia dealer has them advertised for $35k.

The downside is that you're now comparing a fully loaded 6 to a "base" GT. The Signature will get you HUD, lane keep assist, adaptive headlamps, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise. The Stinger has all of these, but not on the base GT. Like you've pointed out, you'd need to step up to the GT1 to get some of them. On the other hand, all of the gee-whiz tech and whatnot isn't going to make the FWD 6 remotely as compelling to drive as the RWD Stinger. I guess you have to decide what's worth more to you here, but I'd say you really can't go wrong either way. (except on the family note. IMO.. it's been a while since I was in the 6, but I'm pretty confident the Stinger has significantly more room inside).

The Stinger's trunk capacity has blown me away. It's got so much room. The GT-Line with the Sun and Sound package has most of the tech upgrades I want as well. I'd honestly be torn between that or the GT1. Like you said the GT is missing some of the tech I'd like. Several of the dealers near me have them marked down by at least 5 grand. Thanks for the input, appreciate it!

 

[BAO]

I went from a 2014 Mazda 6 Touring (middle tier, 187hp 4cyl) to a 2019 Stinger GT2. This isn't quite apples to apples with your question, but having spent a fair amount of time in both cars I can say the following should apply. The 2014 and 2020 Mazda 6s are generally the same size, shape, and interior layout. They've made tweaks for sure, but I test drove or had new 6s as a loaner a bunch of times.

The 6 is slightly longer than the Stinger. The 6 trunk in my 2014 was bigger than my Stinger. The Stinger wins some points for the hatchback seat down cleanliness in the interior, but the 6 trunk is really deep and tall. The 6 was larger in the interior and the sight lines and roof height for the driver were much better, larger in the 6.

I got 31 to 35 mpg regularly on a 35 mile mostly highway commute in my 6, with some spirited driving. In my Stinger, its 21mpg if I'm lucky, although I have the GT2 and it's 2.5x more powerful than the 6.

I had the Bose system in the 6, it was great. As comparable to the HK system in my Stinger.

The 6 handling is nimble and sporty. Mazda suspension is a thing of beauty and their cars are routinely lighter than the competitors. My Stinger handles ok comparatively because its like 800 pounds or so heavier than the 6.

I LOVED my 6. Good looking car that doesn't look too aggressive and won't be too flashy. I LOVE my Stinger because it looks like a car worth much more than it costs. If Mazda puts out a 350hp+ AWD 6, I'd weigh my next car purchase after months of research and deliberation.

 

[cwatt79]

I'm in love with my GT1. I traded a 2018 Accord Touring for it, which is a pretty close competitor to the Mazda 6. I have no regrets, as I traded it in order to get better performance and more distinct, sporty styling (inside and out). Before my Accord I had a Mustang GT. I wanted more space and comfort than it offered, which is why I got the Accord, but then I missed the performance, which is why I got the Stinger, as it combines most things that I loved about the Mustang and the Accord.

I will say, the Accord was far more spacious than the Stinger. Its back seat was like a limousine, and I could fit four 6-foot-tall adults in the Accord without moving anything. To do that in the Stinger, I have to move the front seats forward and up. And while the Stinger's trunk is huge on paper, it is less useful in reality. My Accord's trunk was rated 16 cubic feet, versus 23 in the Stinger, but I was able to fit a lot more stuff in my Accord. It was far wider and a little deeper than the Stinger. The Stinger's advantage is obviously in its height, but you have to be willing/able to stack your cargo to use the full capacity. The Accord did not require that.

As I said, though, I'm thrilled with the Stinger. I knew I would be sacrificing some practicality coming from an Accord, but it was a sacrifice I was willing and excited to make in order to be back in a RWD, performance-oriented car with unique, aggressive styling. And as far as performance oriented-cars go, you can't get much more practical than the Stinger without spending $60k+.

In my GT1 I am averaging a hair over 24 MPG (see my signature) over the few thousand miles I've had it. I live in a smaller city, and commute from its outskirts out into the country, so my commute is all highway with a few traffic lights. When my tank consist a good mix of commuting and running errands in town, I average 22-23 MPG. I usually drive it pretty easy, but I do enjoy its performance every now and then. On highway road trip tanks at 75 mph, I average 28 MPG. These are self-calculated, not the optimistic computer readouts. Also keep in mind that Kia recommends premium fuel, although many Stinger owners use regular fuel.

 

[GenesisG70]

Stinger Gt2 vs Mazda 6.

Mazda 6
MSRP: From $24,100
Horsepower: 187 to 227 hp

Are you sure you want to compare this two?

Of course we are biased towards the Stinger but come on, they are two different animals, mazda may be peppy but the GT2 is a monster next to the Mazda. Choose wise pick what you want not what others tell you is best.

 

[GenesisG70]

Stinger GT2 vs BMW 3-4 series, Camaro, Mustang, A5 sportback, etc....