Organic shape
Gone are the svelte, muscular lines of the old Mazda6. The new car definitely looks like it's working out less at the gym. Some say it looks like a Camry, but with its sweeping headlights and short deck, I'd be more inclined that the 6 is inspired by the Lexus ES 350.

The redesign did bring some family resemblance, though; look at the bulging front fenders and you'll see a familiarity with the RX-8, the CX-7 and other members in Mazda's line-up.

Inside, you'll find a richer environment than in the old model. The dashboard looks good on top, but a closer inspection on the lower portion reveals cheaper-looking plastic; not a big issue. The centre stack hosts straightforward controls with a tasteful addition of silver trim.

What you'll find most in the new Mazda6 is obviously real estate. Rear-seat legroom is increased notably, while the whole cabin is larger and the trunk is bigger. Although most of our staffers don't feel sedans this big is a necessity, we do appreciate the airy cabin; maybe we're just getting fatter.

The dashboard looks good on top.

Competition
The Mazda6 gets a lower base price for 2009. The 4-cylinder GS starts out at $22,495 or $2,000 less than its 2008 equivalent. Our blue-sky GS-V6 costs $29,190, including the $1,695 Comfort Package, which is about a grand less than last year's model.

This mid-size sedan has many rivals with 6-cylinder engines, including:
Chevrolet Malibu 2LT with Performance Package and sunroof, 252 hp, $30,880
Dodge Avenger SXT with V6 and sunroof, 235 hp, $27,330
Ford Fusion SEL V6 with sunroof, 221 hp, $28,249
Honda Accord EX-V6, 271 hp, $31,690
Hyundai Sonata GL V6, 249 hp, $27,795
Mitsubishi Galant GT, 230 hp, $27,998
Nissan Altima 3.5 S, 270 hp, $27,198
Saturn Aura XR-6 with sunroof, 252 hp, $33,525
Subaru Legacy 3.0R Limited, 245 hp, $36,995
Toyota Camry LE V6 with sunroof, 268 hp, $29,395

With the price decrease, the Mazda6 is more competitive in its market segment. In the group, the Saturn and Subaru don't offer 6-cylinder power and a lower equipment content, which explains their high price here. The Volkswagen Passat sedan no longer offers the 3.6L V6 for 2009.

Conclusion
More interior room and more power for a little less money is a good argument for considering the 2009 Mazda6. It's blazingly quick, comfortable and nicely furnished. But somewhere along the way during its redesign, it lost a little of its sporty character in order to measure up to the competition, which is unfortunate.

Still, we like this car a lot, and it'll probably end up being more popular than ever. Its elegance and bigger proportions will definitely please a larger crowd; pardon the pun.


Photo Credit : Michel Deslauriers