By FRANK A. AUKOFER
Scripps Howard News Service In society, you're considered to have arrived when you meet or exceed the expectations of your contemporaries.
That's a fair characterization of the 2009 Mazda6. It has arrived as a worthy competitor to the leaders among mid-size sedans -- the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord -- as well as contenders like the Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Volkswagen Passat and Ford Fusion, and some luxury cars as well.
That's not to say the 6 wasn't a decent car before. But it was smaller and more of a sports sedan than a family automobile, which Mazda believes hobbled its sales. The Japanese company tried to finesse the situation by offering additional versions, including a station wagon and a hatchback.
Alas, at a time when U.S. buyers are trending more toward practical transportation, the wagon and hatchback are not to be found in the new lineup. But most of the 6's competitors don't have wagons or hatchbacks either.
The most striking thing about the new 6 is its appearance. Despite the fact that styling evaluations are always in the eye of the beholder, the 6 is one of those vehicles that prompts unsolicited compliments. From the front the view is striking, with bulging fenders and a hood that flows to make it look as if it's lunging forward. The side and rear views are not as distinguished, but they are still distinctive.
Robert T. Davis, Mazda's senior vice president for quality, research and development, said the goal in designing the new 6 was to focus on build quality, power and size. The 6 is about the same size as the Camry and slightly smaller than the Accord, but within the parameters of this class.
There's ample space for four in supportive, comfortable seats, with easy entry and exit. As usual in most cars, the center-rear passenger gets shortchanged. The trunk is spacious and carpeted.
Interestingly, where most manufacturers espouse a goal of appealing to younger buyers, Davis said Mazda also wanted to appeal to older buyers, especially those who might move to Mazda from premium makes like Lexus, BMW and Infiniti. Mazda does not have a premium brand.
It makes up for that by producing a top-of-the-line Mazda6 Grand Touring model that has premium car characteristics, especially in the interior design, materials and execution. It looks as classy inside as many luxury cars.
The 6 sits at the top of a lineup that starts with a four-cylinder 6i Sport Value model with a six-speed manual gearbox that has a price tag of just $19,220.
There are eight other Mazda6i models with the new 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, half with manual transmissions and half with five-speed automatics. You can order a fully loaded Grand Touring model with the four-cylinder engine -- an attraction for luxury-prone customers who value the 21/30 city/highway fuel economy rating.
But for those whose orientation leans toward the power and silky feel of a V6 engine, there are three 6s models, all with 272 horsepower and five-speed automatic transmissions. They are rated at 17/25 miles per gallon.
The test car was the leather-lined Mazda6s Grand Touring, which had a base price of $28,930 and, with options that included a navigation system, a motorized glass sunroof, Bose audio and Sirius satellite radio, had a suggested delivered price of $32,690.
Part of the Grand Touring standard equipment is Mazda's BSM system, for "blind spot monitoring," which also is available as an option on Touring models. It's aimed at drivers who don't know how to -- or otherwise won't -- properly adjust the outside mirrors to eliminate blind spots. BSM might offer them a degree of comfort.
But it's unnecessary, and it can be distracting and undependable. A small icon lights up in the outside mirror whenever a car moves into the "blind spot" on either rear quarter of the Mazda6. If the driver turns on a directional signal to move toward that lane, a warning sounds.
The owner's manual lists a number of situations -- dirt on the rear bumper where the sensors are located, motorcycles or low-slung sports cars, among others -- where the BSM likely won't operate.
It warns, "Do not rely completely on the BSM system, and be sure to look over your shoulder before changing lanes." The obvious question is why bother with it in the first place. Thankfully, the BSM can be turned off.
The outside mirrors pose another problem. They are not overly large, but are set in big pods that block the front-quarter vision for shorter drivers. Also, the driver's side does not have an overhead assist handle.
But the good stuff far outweighs the few shortcomings. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes, the sun visors slide on their support rods, the parking brake is located on the console where it belongs, there's a manual-shift mode (though no steering-wheel paddles) for the automatic transmission, and instruments and controls are legible and logically placed.
On the road, the tested Mazda6s Grand Touring offers plenty of surging power, taut and competent handling, a supple ride and a quiet cabin except for some muted and pleasant engine sounds.
Specifications for the 2009 Mazda6 S Grand Touring four-door sedan
Engine: 3.7-liter V6, 272 horsepower.
Transmission: Six-speed automatic with manual-shift mode.
Overall length: 16 feet 2 inches.
EPA passenger/trunk volume: 102/17 cubic feet.
Weight: 3,547 pounds.
EPA city/highway fuel consumption: 17/25 miles per gallon.
Base price, including destination charge: $28,930.
Base dealer cost: $26,769.
Price as tested: $32,690.
Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com
