Mazda 6 – For Sporty Families

Casey Williams, www.car-data.com

Mazdas are almost always a kick in the shorts with the spirit of a Miata. Even roomy familysedans are as stylish as a sports car, as fun to drive as a roadster, and as roomy as a full-sizeroad rover. The 2009 Mazda 6 proves you don’t have to give up an ounce of your youth and passionfor driving when kids or friends arrive.

Said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North America, ‘This is the most important newvehicle Mazda has launched in a decade. The midsize sedan segment ‘ where Mazda6 competes ‘ is areal battleground, with some of the best vehicles in the industry going toe-to-toe for sales. Thisnew Mazda6 was designed and engineered specifically for the North American market ‘ the third Mazdain a row to be so ‘ and will take on the very best cars from Asia, Europe and the U.S.’

Launched as a replacement for the 626 in 2002, the Mazda6 debuted as a sporty and fun sedan. Thesecond-generation builds on the first-gen’s reputation, but brings a swept back couplike profile tothe highway. From the front, the car projects a Mazda grille flanked by cats-eye headlamps thatflare back into strong RX-8-style fenders. Edgy wrap-around taillamps hide under an extendedintegrated decklid spoiler while stylized exhaust outlets exit from the bottom rear facia. Stylistsdid a great job of making the car look dynamic while sprinkling in hints of the Millenia, MX-6, andRX-8.

Two new engines are offered under the raked hoodline. Mazda developed a new 170-horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder to accompany an available 272-HP 3.7-litre V6 from the CX-9 crossover. Thefour-cylinder unit in our test car was matched with a crisp-shifting six-speed manual transmission,however five-speed automatics are available. Six-cylinder engines match exclusively with asix-speed auto with manual mode. Despite what would seem barely enough power in a largish mid-sizesedan, the four-cylinder/six-speed combination offered plenty of thrust and is probably the mostfun to drive, although there is no beating the kick from the V6. Four-cylinder models turn incompact car fuel economy ratings of 20/29-MPG city/highway; V6 editions claim 17/25-MPG.

I’m not sure why anybody would buy the larger engine unless they wanted to drag-race muscle cars, and even then the car’s front-drive platform would be a handful. Revving out the four-cylinder isa joy with no harshness or vibration. It sounds good and produces plenty of power ‘ enough that youwant to rev it out every chance you get. If you truly want to romp at highway speeds, you’ll wantto consider the V6. Some American manufacturers could learn a lot from Mazda.

To corral all of that power, four-wheel ABS disc brakes and dynamic stability control comestandard. Tight steering and an athletic chassis came with our Grand Touring model, encouragingquick thrashes through curvy backroads.

Which brings us to the interior. The leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel may be the mostperfect in any mid-size sedan. It looks and feels great ‘ another lesson some automakers could take. Large analog gauges, heated leather-upholstered seats, and gated shifter welcome enthusiasts.

A two-tier center dash design looks space age, but is easy to use with large buttons for theautomatic climate control and Sirius Satellite-equipped audio system. Spend a few extra dollars toget a touch-screen navigation system. A full array of front and side airbags helps the Mazda6achieve ‘five stars’ in the government’s front, side, and rollover crash tests.

The 2009 Mazda6 is available only as a four-door sedan (the wagon and five-door are beingdropped for now) in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trim levels. All of them drive with the soulof Mazda’s little sports car while providing reliable and comfortable transportation for family andfriends. Zoom Zoom!

Base price for our four-cylinder Grand Touring sedan is $24,910, but when loaded with Navigation, Bose speakers, and a power sunroof, came to $29,340. Our loaded V6 tester with navigation came to$32,690. It’s at the upper-end of what a Mazda sedan should cost, but is wholly competitive withthe Honda Accord, Saab 9-3, Volkswagen Passat, Nissan Maxima, and Pontiac G8.

Mazda CX-7 – The Zoom Zoom of SUV’s

By Casey Williams www.car-data.com

If ever there were a sport sedan of SUVs, the athletic and stylish Mazda

CX-7 is it. The crossover has the cargo and passenger space of a wagon, but the performance andhandling of a sport coupe. No other vehicle completely compares to the ZOOM! ZOOM! of thismid-size activity machine.

Designed by Iwao Koizumi, who also penned the MAZDA6 and 1995 RX-01 concept car, the CX-7 looksfrom the front to be a tall RX-8 sport coupe, a wagon from the side, and an exotic sports car fromthe rear. Front fenders bulge around 18″ alloy wheels like those on the RX-8; a large front airopening and projector-style headlamps look more sports car than SUV. Deft sculpting and a kick-upin the rear window give the vehicle personality and breaks up tall bodysides. Front to rear, theCX-7 appears sleek, interesting, and ready to eat other SUVs after a row at the gym.

Front passengers command the automatic climate control and Bose audio system from a center podthat is canted towards the dash. Touch screen navigation helps you get to your destination quicklyand accurately. Driver controls, including the three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel withintegral audio/cruise buttons, look like they were lifted directly from Mazda’s sports cars (infact, the steering wheel is shared with the MX-5 Miata).

Large analog gauges echo the RX-8. Super comfortable heated leather sport seats are great forlong trips and spirited driving while auto up/down front windows make it easy to retrieve yourmorning latte.

My favorite part of the CX-7 is its driving experience. Steering turns are heavy for great roadfeel, but the four-wheel independent suspension reacts quickly to swish through the curves. Roughpavement is rumbled over without drama. Step on the 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine,which produces 244 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, to move quickly away from traffic. Pairedwith a six-speed manumatic transmission (auto with a sport shift mode), the mighty mouse enginecontributes to fuel economy ratings of 16/22-MPG city/highway.

Mazda engineers wanted to make sure you, your friends, and your family are safe. Front and sidecurtain airbags give protection during crashes while four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronicstability control, automatic all-wheel-drive, and tire pressure monitor keep you out of trouble inthe first place. All of this adds up to a vehicle that achieves five star ratings for front andside crashes in government tests. Rollover protection is rated a very good four stars.

Said CX-7 Program Manager Shunsuke Kawasaki, “CX-7 skillfully blends sports car verve with SUVpracticality. It is a vehicle that brings together performance and design like never before; it’sinviting to look at, entertaining to drive, and fun to use – the complete package.”

I drove the CX-7 to the Model T’s 100th Anniversary celebration in Richmond, IN. Cruising at 80mph was easy; surging to triple digits was also a snap.

The turbocharged engine always has plenty of torque on tap to run with sports cars; interiorspace is plentiful for four and their luggage. If you have to buy one vehicle for all of yourneeds and wants, the CX-7 would be a great choice. With an as tested price of $34,175,competitors include the Nissan Murano, Pontiac Torrent, Acura RDX, and VW Tiguan.

2008 Mazda CX-7
Five-passenger, AWD Crossover.
Powertrain: 244-HP 2.3-litre Turbo I4,6-speed auto trans.
Suspension f/r: Ind./Ind.
Wheels: 18″/18″ alloy f/r.
Brakes:Disc fr/rr with ABS.
Must-have feature: Performance, style.
Fuel economy: 16/22-MPGcity/hwy.
Manufacturing: Hiroshima, Japan
As tested price: $34,175.