Car blogs

Seems like the best stories we tell are typically about things that excite us. Ask a friend how they liked a movie and if they answer, “It was good.” Save your money and skip it. However, if they answer with a detailed description of the movie, complete with sound effects and wild hand gestures, you’d better not miss it....




Seems like the best stories we tell are typically about things that excite us.



Ask a friend how they liked a movie and if they answer, “It was good.” Save your money and skip it. However, if they answer with a detailed description of the movie, complete with sound effects and wild hand gestures, you’d better not miss it.



Unfortunately, you can’t see my wild hand gestures while I describe this week’s test-drive of the Mazda6. But, I’m pretty sure I can work some sound effects into the story.



Let me start at the very beginning. A few months back, when I test-drove the smaller Mazda3, I was quite taken aback by its handling and responsiveness. I’d heard Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom mantra as much as the next gal, but we’re all pretty jaded by the time we hear our billionth commercial. So, the truly sporty 3 surprised me.



Plus, what made it such an eye-opening test-drive wasn’t just how much fun the 3 was to drive, but how much fun it was for the price. After all, every BMW I’ve ever driven was fun, but to have nearly as much fun for half the price – now that’s exciting!



I admit then, I went into my Mazda6 test-drive a little biased. I’m happy to report my expectations were not for naught. The 6, considered a midsize sedan, handles with plenty of composure and can be pushed through tight curves with full confidence. It will stick to the pavement like glue and you’ll stick to your seat just as well.



It could’ve been the ultra-thick velour on the cloth seats keeping me from budging during hairpin curves, but I suspect it was the car’s double wishbone suspension up front and multilink rear suspension. And, although I rarely put it to the test, the 6 comes standard with dynamic stability control. The DSC system helps keep the car on the road when the driver takes a corner too fast.



Another testament to the Mazda6’s performance quotient was how often I chose to drive the Sport automatic transmission in manual-shift mode. (This is where I’d typically amuse my fellow automotive writer with the sound effects of the transmission going through the gears. But, I’ll spare you.)



Suffice it to say, the test car’s 2.5-L, 170-hp four-cylinder engine provided plenty of low-gear torque for brisk jaunts and was quiet and relaxed at highway speeds.



The exterior of the 6 is attractive in an understated sporty way. The front fenders flare slightly following the aerodynamic lines of the headlights. The rear taillights, available with LED bulbs, complete the sleek look of the 6.



Inside the cabin, logically laid out controls often use large comfortable buttons. I prefer the option to quickly turn a large dial for temperature control rather than endlessly clicking a button while the temperature changes one degree at a time. And, thank you Mazda for the large trunk-release button on the dash. No more hanging halfway out the car while searching for the release lever under the seat.



The Mazda6 underwent a complete redesign for the 2009 model year. Thus, the 2010 model is “longer, taller, wider and better in every way,” explains Troy Lyle, sales manager of Paretti Mazda in Metairie. Today’s Mazda6 offers more passenger room than a Toyota Camry and comparable horsepower from its four- and six-cylinder engines than a Honda Accord.



While each one of those sedans excels in its own way, where the 6 wins out is in handling prowess and pricing. “It drives like a nimble sports car and is a great value,” adds Lyle, “making it a very difficult car to beat.”



And, even if you’re not in it for the Zoom-Zoom, don’t pass up a test-drive of the 6. The 2010 model has everything you’d wa

Tags: Mazda

---

Mazda6: Something to talk about was originally published by New Orleans Auto Reviews: Mazda. Read the full story by clicking here.