The 2002 Mazda medium-sizes sedan was a design hit, and its underpinnings were good. Its only problem was the rust, which damaged its clean, nice image.
When a new generation replaced it, its body didn't look old. Some newer vehicles looked older than the first-generation Mazda6/Atenza. The sharp design, sporty look, and three bodywork choices helped customers worldwide to choose the car. A wide engine range could satisfy most of the mid-size car market customers.
The Mazda 6 was available in few trim levels, with specific options installed. Top versions had a sat-nav system, Bluetooth connectivity, and a Bose sound system. Bucket seats were installed on sportier trims, but even the standard ones were good for holding their occupants in place while cornering.
The platform used on the 2002 Mazda6 was actually used for more vehicles from the Ford Motor Company. At that time, Mazda was in a partnership with the American company. Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, and Zephyr or the CX9 SUV from Mazda were built on the same architecture, with an all-wheel independent suspension and all-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive choices. That said, most Mazda6s had front-wheel-drive. Engines varied from a 1.8-liter with 125 hp up to 220 hp from a 3.0-liter V6 in some markets. The transmissions offered were either five or six-speed manuals. For the automatic versions, there were four or five speeds available, depending on the engine.