Review Mazda6 2.0 Skyactiv-G vs. Skoda Superb 1.8 TSI – Not average as average

If you are currently planning to buy a mid-range limousine, the choice will not be easy at all. The C5 and 508 models of the PSA concern, Ford Mondeo, Toyota Avensis, Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb and the brand new Mazda6 will be crowding into your garage. And so far we are only talking about the non-premium segment.

We decided to compare the last two named cars as part of an editorial test. However, I will not only deal with the design, interior and driving characteristics, but also the price and the differences between the turbocharged TSI unit of the Skoda Superb and the new atmospheric unit Skyactiv-G Mazda6. Will the tabularly more dynamic Superb be enough for the new Mazda?

Design

KODO's design direction against Jozef Kabana's team . That's how the battle between the shapes of the new Mazda6 and Skoda Superb could be called in brief. While the second-generation Superb underwent a subtle but visible facelift at the end of its life, the Mazda6 was designed from the ground up as a new car . Both cars are subject to a certain unification of design, which in the case of Mazda refers to the CX-5 model. The shape of the front and rear of the Superb is similar to the Octavia, i.e. the Rapid. Both cars are equipped with LED daytime running lights, the Skoda Superb gets a point for the choice of materials for the production of bumpers and all plastic parts of the exterior.

Although the Superb has a more powerful impression, it loses to the six in all key dimensions. The Japanese novelty is longer by 37 millimeters, wider by 23 millimeters, lower by 12 millimeters and has a 69 millimeter longer wheelbase. Both cars ride on tires of the same width and profile height, but the Mazda has two inches to spare in terms of wheel diameter. While the Superbu's 17" rims are a little small, I wouldn't trade the 19 " Mazda for anything in the world.

Inner space

Although it does not appear from the dimensional comparison of the two cars at first glance, there is more space in the Superb . I don't mean that I feel cramped in the Mazda, but in the longitudinal direction it loses to the Skoda. In both cars, you sit quite low, even in the back seats, where this position is often incompatible with a sufficient number of centimeters in front of the passengers' knees. On that account, people with a height of up to 180 centimeters can comfortably fit in the Superb . In terms of interior width, however, Mazda wins by quite a large margin. If you don't want to, you won't even touch the passenger next to you.

Thanks to the long rear overhang of the body and the somewhat dachshund -like appearance, the Skoda Superb wins in the size of the luggage compartment. With a basic volume of 595 liters, the Skoda is 106 liters ahead of the Mazda, and we're not even talking about the situation when you fold down the backrests of the rear seats in the Superb. At that moment, you have 1,700 liters of space at your disposal . But don't take it the wrong way – the Mazda6 was designed as a sedan, while the Skoda Superb is a liftback . Thanks to the handy TwinDoor system, you can open the trunk with the entire rear window, which of course improves access to the luggage. However, given the different concept of the two cars, we can't blame Mazda.

Comfort on all fronts

A look at the dashboards of both cars will please the vast majority of European customers. In Japanese cars such as the Mazda6, you will no longer find large buttons with an unsightly finish, or creaky plastics that scratch immediately. In Škodovka, we are like Ergonomically, everything is excellent on both fronts , Mazda pleases by orienting the display of the TomTom navigation system (for a reasonable extra charge of CZK 12,500) more into the driver's field of vision. The recipe for success is very simple – just change the position of the central vents.

In both cars, you will immediately find the perfect driving position thanks to the wide range of steering wheel and driver's seat adjustments. The Mazda could have longer seats and I would appreciate a ventilation function in hot weather. The Superb does have ventilated seats, but in the configurator you can only find them in the GLAMOR package (leather upholstery, ventilation and cup holder in the rear armrest) for a price of CZK 60,000. Mazda charges only CZK 3,500 for white leather upholstery . However, there are also unnecessary elements for some, for which Mazda will pay handsomely. I have in mind decent carpets for CZK 2,186, illuminated thresholds with a red Mazda6 inscription for CZK 9,412 or the Wellcome illumination pack for CZK 3,138. But personally, I would order all these elements. You will find out why at the end of the test.

The interior of the Mazda exudes a natural sportiness, which you will recognize immediately after sitting behind the wheel and looking at the instrument cluster with three tubes. At the same time, the Japanese have solved the layout of the digital instruments in a very clever way – in the lower part of the speedometer you will find data on the distance traveled, and the entire right tube is reserved for the HMI interface for classic driving data. Skoda took the path of elegance and proposed a design worthy of a king. Nothing fancy, just a tachometer, speedometer and a large on-board computer display . The same goes for the rest of the dashboard and the three-spoke steering wheel (from the Octavia). It won't offend a sporty driver, but well-kept hands with gold rings stand out better on his crown. The steering wheel of the Mazda6 prefers the touch of racing gloves.

Multimedia

What kind of mid-class sedan would it be if it didn't have a huge touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard with a lot of buttons around it. In both cases, this statement is only half true – the display diagonals of the multimedia systems hardly come close to that of the new Octavia, but the service is exemplary. In the case of the Superb, you can make do with the index finger, eight buttons around the display and two rotary controls. The Mazda6 is similar, but compared to the Superb, it has a handy rotating device located on the central tunnel. So no more stretching and finger-squeezed display . However, there is a solution if necessary.

A European will get used to the familiar environment of the Columbus system in the Skoda Superb more quickly. However, it lacks USB connectivity, which is almost a necessity these days. Mazda6 gets along with portable discs. However, the system groups all the music files into one playlist and what's more, it goes back to the very first song after every start. However, this clumsy solution makes up for the possibility of reading SMS messages directly on the display if you have your phone paired with the system via bluetooth. The Skoda Superb won't allow you to do that, but thanks to the built-in TV tuner, you can watch your favorite TV shows at any time.

Engine – Atmospheric versus turbo

Much has been written about the Skyactiv technology developed by Mazda despite widespread downsizing, and long-term tests show that it works. What's more, the rotary naturally aspirated power units add sportiness to the cars and have a nice sound. Skoda bet on smaller volume and turbocharging . The system has proven to be effective in practice, but with fuel consumption highly dependent on driving style. So how did the cars do in a head-to-head comparison?

The engine of the tested Mazda6 has a volume of 2.0 liters and an output of 121 kW at 6,000 revolutions per minute. The car accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 9.1 seconds , which is not dazzling on paper, can reach speeds of up to 216 km/h, and on average should not claim more than 6 liters of Natural per 100 km. In contrast, the Superb is in a slightly different league – the TSI engine has a volume of 1.8 liters , a turbocharger, an output of 118 kW at 4,500 revolutions per minute, and the car accelerates from rest to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds. However, it must be taken into account that the tested Superb was equipped with a 4×4 drive , which increases acceleration by 0.2 seconds.

In the facelift of the Superb, Skoda focused only on appearance. It has prepared a new engine range only for the third generation, which will be sold during 2015. In practice, this means that we had an EA111 series engine under the hood, which is heavier, larger, lower power and relatively high consumption compared to the new EA211 series fuel. It was around 9 l/100 km during the test. Long-distance routes mean a loss of approximately 7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.

Mazda armed itself against Skoda right from the start and , as part of Skyactiv technology, came up with the i-ELOOP system , which aims to reduce fuel consumption. It is a system for converting the car's kinetic energy into electrical energy, which is stored in a capacitor and subsequently powers all electrical equipment. Mazda claims the system can save up to 10% in fuel. I say it works. How else would you be able to drive with an atmospheric two-liter around town for 7 l/100 km? The i-Stop system, which automatically switches off the engine at intersections, goes hand in hand with this. Thanks to the HMI information interface , you can also find out how long the engine has been idle and how much recovered energy is currently available.

Riding – Youth versus experience

That's how the difference in the driving of both cars could be briefly described. In each of them you will feel incredibly comfortable on the highway, in the districts and in the city. However, the Mazda adds two other things that the Superb lacks – sportiness and soul. This is also one of the main differences between the two cars – while the Mazda6 tells you it wants more whenever you pass 4,000 rpm, the Superb has a much more relaxed approach to driving .

You will recognize this fact especially when cornering. The Mazda6 is equipped with one of the best steering in this segment , which you will appreciate especially on hilly sections with fast-changing turns. The car willingly changes direction whenever you want, by middle-class standards, unbelievably fast. Although it has front-wheel drive, even in crisis situations, it does not significantly roll out of a corner. On the contrary – it is very cheerful, which means a lot of fun in the hands of an experienced driver. The chassis perfectly dampens unevenness despite the use of 19" wheels. Some premium car companies could also take an example here! Praise also goes to the account of the six-speed manual transmission. It is very well matched to the engine and you will absolutely love the movement of the lever between the individual gears!

The Skoda Superb fulfills the purpose for which it was made, down to the last detail . The comfortable limousine has excellent sound insulation, which you will especially appreciate on the highway. The 18-cylinder gasoline engine begins to manifest itself more noticeably around 3,000 rpm. However, unlike the Mazda, it does not have a power peak and starts to lose power slightly below 5,000 rpm.

The driving characteristics of the Superb are affected by the 4×4 drive. The system uses 4th generation Haldex inter-axle couplings, which can transfer more than half of the power to the rear axle if necessary. But that doesn't mean you can drift with the Superb. On the contrary – the Skoda turns more cautiously due to its higher weight, but things start to happen if the front axle loses traction. The system will immediately send the necessary power to the rear wheels, which will bring the Superb to a standstill in a flash . However, it is better to count on a more comfortable tuning of the chassis, which is manifested by the occasional rocking of the body. The steering and the six-speed manual gearbox will please 99% of drivers, but compared to the Mazda, there is less certainty around the central position of the steering wheel.

Resume

The new Mazda6 and the rejuvenated Skoda Superb showed me different approaches to one type of car during two test weeks. Skoda can be proud of sophisticated Simply Clever solutions, an almost premium interior, an abundance of space and a very comfortable chassis. Mazda goes against everyone with an absolute disregard for something like downsizing, abounds in unprecedented elegance and sportiness thanks to the design direction of KODO , and completes everything with extraordinary driving characteristics.

When choosing a new car, the price is of course also a deciding factor. This is basically the same for both cars (CZK 539,900 – Mazda6 Skyactiv-G 2.0 107 kW Emotion, Skoda Superb 1.4 TSI 92 kW Active), but if we wade to the other end of the spectrum, we add tested engines to both cars and the highest level of equipment, we find a price difference of CZK 40,000 in favor of the Mazda6 . In addition, you get more for your money from the Japanese, mainly from the "Assistance systems" column – part of the Revolution equipment is the i-Stop system, i-ELOOP kinetic energy recuperation , SCBS for frontal collision prevention at speeds up to 30 km/h, blind spot monitoring angle RVM or the LDWS system for warning against unintentional lane departure. If we then add the metallic paint and the additional equipment that I talked about in the paragraph describing the interior, you will still have a price well below CZK 800,000. Do not count on such an amount in the case of the tested Superb.

From my point of view, it is impossible to determine exactly which car is better at the moment. However, there is a solution – if you are born later and are looking for a sports sedan that will put a smile on your face after a day at the office, reach for Mazda. However, if you prefer gracefully cruising through the countryside while listening to pleasant music, buy a Skoda Superb. And of course with the tested 1.8 TSI engine and 4×4 drive . Most of the people would go for the turbodiesel, but for me, the gasoline engine suits the Superb better. In addition, the difference in fuel consumption is not so significant when driving long distances.

Photo: AutoZine, Petr Richter Photography