I would be wrong not to attribute some kudos to the 6 wagon's standard power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering. It reacts

The 6 wagon handles extremely well in all situations. It's simply superb when the road starts to wind. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

to input with sports car-like immediacy, yet is light enough to make maneuvering around cramped parking garages no chore at all. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard as is ABS, which makes for easily controlled stops even in panic situations. As is almost expected these days, the brakes feature Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) as well. If you are unaware of what these three words (letters) refer to, the safety system automatically compensates for varying wheel loads, taking advantage of the tires with the best grip when applying the brakes.

And what about quality? Well that depends on who you talk to, or for that matter which survey you read. J.D. Power's most recent Initial Quality Study (IQS) rates Mazda much lower than the industry average in its nameplate ranking, placing 33rd out of 37 brands

The 6 wagon's standard power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering reacts to input with sports car-like immediacy. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

due to its 157 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) rating, and beaten by the likes of Hyundai (102 PP100), Chrysler (120 PP100), and Kia (153 PP100). The industry average is 119 PP100. Does that mean it won't be reliable? Not necessarily. It proved better in J.D. Power's latest 2004 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), still ranking below average but managing a 19th place finish out of the same 37 nameplates. Mazda, as a brand, experienced an average of 285 problems per 100 vehicles (285 PP100), placing it way behind 6th ranked Honda, the best positioned entry-level brand in the survey with 209 PP100, Toyota in 8th with 216 PP100, Chevrolet in 11th with 262 PP100, and Saturn in 15th with 267 PP100, the final brand to make it above the industry average. Ford, Nissan and Chrysler squeak ahead of Mazda, in 16th, 17th and 18th place respectively.