Mazda 6

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.