On the upside, the 6 easily tackles road imperfections with minimal cabin intrusions. On the highway, the car is reassuringly stable and only mildly affected by crosswinds. Also, the braking system is perfectly suited to the car.

To stand out in a bland segment, the 6 has an aggressive snub-nose fascia much like a bullet.

Then, what is it?
The Mazda6 is no doubt a sporty sedan, hatchback or wagon. Problem is that its V6 is outgunned by nearly all of its competitors. To be sure, the 6 is a pleasure to drive but maybe what it needs is to drop the V6 and use a detuned version of the MZR DISI turbocharged 2.3L 4-pot from the Mazdaspeed6. With, say, 235 hp, the 6 would be fast and not be penalized by the V6's extra weight. Or, more likely, the 6 should get Ford's 3.5L V6. Then, it would be more than capable to administer some lessons to the Altima and the others.

The 6 Sport's price range is from $26,295 up to $37,595. My 5-speed manual GT-V6 with navigation retails for $36,395.


Nicely-designed interior
Sharp looks
Great chassis



Rubbery manual gear lever
Below-average V6



None



Competitors:
Ford Fusion
Nissan Altima
Toyota Camry
Honda Accord
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler Sebring / Dodge Avenger
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Magentis


Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux