New Purchase - Mazda 6 or Santa Fe

renagisha

All, has anyone driven the new mazda6 or hyundai santa fe? Both look to be great cars with each having their own advantages...mazda 6 sport se seems to have everything with santa fe offering extra seats (for small ppl) but seems well equipped also. I've 2 kids and do 30k km per year. I hope to hold onto new purchase for 4-5 years so may have kid no.3 by then. Any suggestions on which is better buy? Thanks

Nonoperational

Mazda 6 all day long for me... but I don't have kids...

renagisha

Nonoperational wrote: »

Mazda 6 all day long for me... but I don't have kids...

I would always have agreed with you as i am a big fan of the 6 but given the price of the new model, it has made me look at other cars in that price range. I think it is still the best saloon out there but santa fe has caught my eye recently...just wondering if anyone has bought the new model and what they think of it

bazzachazza

Yeah I got the new Santa Fe.

Decent drive decent power and go but turbo hungry so will kill your mpg. Reasonable spec but not fantastic. No parking sensors just camera which is in displayed via touch screen radio display so its away from where you should be looking when reversing. I have some issues with radio and iPod which switches uncommanded but will probably be fixed with a software update. Steering is a bit twitchy but generally drives more like a car than an SUV.

renagisha

bazzachazza wrote: »

Yeah I got the new Santa Fe.

Decent drive decent power and go but turbo hungry so will kill your mpg. Reasonable spec but not fantastic. No parking sensors just camera which is in displayed via touch screen radio display so its away from where you should be looking when reversing. I have some issues with radio and iPod which switches uncommanded but will probably be fixed with a software update. Steering is a bit twitchy but generally drives more like a car than an SUV.

Thanks for your reply...do you have the 2wd or 4wd version? Does changing the steering modes make any difference in the santa fe?

bazzachazza

renagisha wrote: »

Thanks for your reply...do you have the 2wd or 4wd version? Does changing the steering modes make any difference in the santa fe?

2wd but I feel there is too much power going through the wheels and the traction control is too aggressive and kills the power rather than brakes the spinning wheel which leaves you down on power for a few seconds which is not great when you are going for a gap in traffic.

I haven't really tried the steering options it just feels very sensitive to steering inputs on motorways rather than firming up at speed.

Bobo78

I would as well go for the Mazda 6 instead of Santa Fe, but did you have a look at some other alternatives such as VW Passat or Toyota Avensis, they are a good, spacious and practical family cars as well.

bazzachazza

Bobo78 wrote: »

I would as well go for the Mazda 6 instead of Santa Fe, but did you have a look at some other alternatives such as VW Passat or Toyota Avensis, they are a good, spacious and practical family cars as well.

For 40k I would look at a few month old very low mileage A6 or 5 series they had a few s-line A6s in the dealership I got my Santa Fe that were low k cars I.e 2000k or less that were auto and had sat nav for 39k or less. If I didn't have to get a 7 seater I would have gone down that route.

Daniel S

If you going for a Mazda 6, get the GX version

Wexfordian

If the choice is Mazda 6 vs Sante Fe, can I suggest you split the difference and get the Mazda CX-5? All the SUV-ness of the Fe, and everything else of the Mazda. I have a 6 and was going to just upgrade to the 2013 6, but am going for the CX5 instead. Its pretty well specced out as well.

MuppetCheck

Daniel S wrote: »

If you going for a Mazda 6, get the GX version

What's the GX version? The race one?

renagisha

Thanks to everyone for comments so far....it is always good to get others opinions.

@bobo78 - although the passat and avensis are great cars, i am just not keen on either of them

@bazzachazza - A6 seems to be a nice looking car, any idea what they are like to drive? Any potential problems? Are they expensive to maintain/service etc.

@wexfordian - I am not too gone on the look of the CX-5 tbh....i would prefer something more bulky/bigger looking in an SUV, i think that is why the Santa Fe appeals to me

I think the general opinion is that mazda 6 would be better buy over santa fe??

The Pontiac

bazzachazza wrote: »

For 40k I would look at a few month old very low mileage A6 or 5 series they had a few s-line A6s in the dealership I got my Santa Fe that were low k cars I.e 2000k or less that were auto and had sat nav for 39k or less. If I didn't have to get a 7 seater I would have gone down that route.

+1. Buying a new car is like digging a hole in the ground and burying a few thousands €. Pure waste of money.

Get something more exclusive, maybe 2-3 years old. It'll hold it value better and the major depreciation will be already have taken effect. It'll be a 10 times better car too. Some image also.

fabsoul

renagisha wrote: »

@wexfordian - I am not too gone on the look of the CX-5 tbh....i would prefer something more bulky/bigger looking in an SUV, i think that is why the Santa Fe appeals to me

here a CX5

fabsoul

here a CX5

renagisha

CX-5 looks well alright but if it is between that and the mazda 6, there is only one winner for me!

fabsoul

renagisha wrote: »

CX-5 looks well alright but if it is between that and the mazda 6, there is only one winner for me!

wait a few weeks on the mazda 6

http://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/electrical-fire-risk-sparks-15000.html

bazzachazza

renagisha wrote: »

Thanks to everyone for comments so far....it is always good to get others opinions.
@bazzachazza - A6 seems to be a nice looking car, any idea what they are like to drive? Any potential problems? Are they expensive to maintain/service etc.

I think the general opinion is that mazda 6 would be better buy over santa fe??

Yeah I owned an A6 for 4 years. Longlife service every 30000k for about €200-€300. Generally 50mpg from the 170bhp diesel engine. Had a headlight unit and Exhaust sensor replaced under warranty neither were big deals. Loved the car hoping to buy another in a few years time. Most issues with A6's were the pre 2008 facelift car and with the multitronic gearbox.

renagisha

fabsoul wrote: »

wait a few weeks on the mazda 6

http://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/electrical-fire-risk-sparks-15000.html

Thanks for the heads up...no doubt it is just a teething problem!

renagisha

The Pontiac wrote: »

+1. Buying a new car is like digging a hole in the ground and burying a few thousands €. Pure waste of money.

Get something more exclusive, maybe 2-3 years old. It'll hold it value better and the major depreciation will be already have taken effect. It'll be a 10 times better car too. Some image also.

What would you consider to be a good exclusive car round 40k range?

Matthewjohn

How about a Volkswagen Cc?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Cc/2.0Tdi-S/31713523851458990/advert?channel=CARS

Cash is king

Matthewjohn wrote: »

How about a Volkswagen Cc?
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Cc/2.0Tdi-S/31713523851458990/advert?channel=CARS

Thats mad money for what it is plus the interior looks like a pint of stout.:D

The Pontiac

renagisha wrote: »

What would you consider to be a good exclusive car round 40k range?

Well I'd always only buy a three year old car, the worst of the depreciation is gone.

This is €3k past your budget, but surely in a different league to a Mazda or a Hyundai. It's practically new.

Or the less desirable SE model.

Or a Jaguar XF. Almost new and under budget.

If you were to go another year or two down, then for €40k you'd get a serious car.

Tragedy

The new 6 is a stunning design and far better specced than an Audi A4 (to get the same spec on both the A4 will be costing €46-€47k while the 6 is €10 less).

Definite step above the Passat or Avensis imo, kinda stuck in that inbetween area Volvo have always found themselves in though.

whizbang

New 6 is a damn sight smaller inside than the Santa Fe.
This is the Cruncher:- If your putting kids in and out, the extra height of the Santa fe is a huge difference- the mazda is quite low at the back.
Still not sold on the driving position of the Mazda, the SE version is 4grand extra for nothing much more than the leather,
But for a smooth quiet cruiser, the Mazda has it nailed.

Tragedy

Advanced keyless entry
Bi-xenon adaptive front lights
Heated front seats
Leather power seats
Premium Bose® sound system with 6-CD changer, radio, eight speakers and MP3/WMA compatibility

Leather seats seem to be usually around €1100-€1300, xenons over €1,000, premium speakers €1,000+. Not exactly a fantastic deal, but seems alright if you value leather/xenons/better sound.
Interior volumes:
Mazda 6:
Headroom (Front) 38.4
Headroom (Row 2) 37.1
Hiproom (Front) 56.1
Hiproom (Row 2) 56.1
Legroom (Front) 42.2
Legroom (Row 2) 38.7
Shoulder Room (Front) 57.1
Shoulder Room (Row 2) 55.5
Santa Fe:
Headroom (Front) 39.6
Headroom (Row 2) 39.1
Hiproom (Front) 56.7
Hiproom (Row 2) 55.4
Legroom (Front) 41.3
Legroom (Row 2) 39.4
Shoulder Room (Front) 59.4
Shoulder Room (Row 2) 58.3

renagisha

Thanks to all so far for great comments and suggestions

@ The Pontiac
I tried a 5 series at the weekend however i was disappointed...spec was very basic, and boot was very small. It was the first time that i had really examined one, and after driving the 6 sport SE a few weeks ago, it is way ahead in my opinion.
The Jaguar XF is a great looking car and looks well spec'd...must try get a test drive soon

@ Tragedy
I agree totally with where mazda have their pricepoint for the new 6...they seem to want to target Audi / BMW customers but are forgetting their regular 6 customers along with Avensis / Passat / Insignia / Mondeo / i40 customers where cars are all along the same price range

@ whizbang
The task of lifting kids in/out the back of the car is so much easier in something higher up...my wife has sportage and it is so much easier to lift them in / out compared to my current 6. This is probably why the Santa Fe is appealing to me

Wexfordian

So on the foot of this I figured I'd better do the old due diligence and took out the Sante Fe for a test spin. Have to say I wasn't impressed with it. For all that its a bigger heavier car it felt a lot flimsier on the road. Not sure why but it seemed very twitchy. The one I had out was a two wheel drive, it may be that it is more set up to be a 4WD. Its little sibling, the IX35 actually seemed a better firmer car, though considerably more basic. Neither was spec'ed as well as the CX5 either. Of course the Sante Fe is a 7 seater, beyond that not seeing it.

Took a Peugeot 2008 out as well (was somewhat restricted as to who was open), in some ways preferred it to the Hyundais, but a bit under-spec'ed as well.

Definitely still thinking in terms of the CX5 in a crossover, full SUV would be a different matter, but got to think there are better ones then the Sante Fe. On the other hand Bolands in Wexford have some lovely Jaguars in...

whizbang

Your Choice of Mazda and Hyundai, are top 6 reliability wise, Jaguar are currently 26. something wrong here...?

Wexfordian

whizbang wrote: »

Your Choice of Mazda and Hyundai, are top 6 reliability wise, Jaguar are currently 26. something wrong here...?

Was a reference to the OPs post a couple up. Lovely looking cars, but not what I'd be looking for. Well, not unless I could pick up a vintage one for weekend driving...