By all accounts the new SkyActiv automatic 6-Speed is quite good; I've never driven one so I have no first hand experience, you see, I never learned how to drive an automatic.

 

Are there any well know common problems with the skyactiv tech?

 

I think I've seen a few TSBs go by but nothing significant. We have a 2016 SkyActiv and the car is rock solid.

 

Just test drove them both today, and the Mazda seemed a little quirky. The motor seemed to stumble over itself alot, and from a rolling start full throttle hit, the transmittion took a very long time to downshift. Is this normal, or a quirk of the car?

 

Couldn't say, our car with a 6-Speed manual has no such quirks. To be quite honest, I don't believe I've ever driven a Mazda with an automatic transmission, but based upon reports, the SkyActiv automatic transmission typically gets very positive reviews.