 Zoom In |
| The new Mazda6 certainly has the look! (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
When people ask me what kind of midsize sedan I would recommend, I usually answer with a question. I ask what features are high on their priority scale and which ones aren't so high. Price is usually the main factor when it comes to investing in reliable transportation, but what I also find very high on one's priorities list is a car that's good looking. Safety features are important and so are available options, but looks can make or break a deal. Then again, does that really come as a surprise?
What comes as no surprise is that the all-new 2010 Mazda6 is both affordable and very sleek. It comes with a whole slew of standard safety and convenience features and the ability to make peoples' heads turn whether you're in the base GS or the top-of-the-line GT-V6. That's my, and a lot of other peoples' kind of car.
 Zoom In |
| Gorgeous from every vantage point, the 6 could fetch thousands more if it came with a premium badge. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
Styling-wise, the 6 has it going on. Mazda has a knack for creating beautiful cars that don't go over the top to make a statement. From its front fascia and fog lights all the way to its prominent wheel arches stuffed with 235/45R18 tires wrapped in 18” alloy wheels, to the dual chrome exhaust pipes integrated into its oh-so-sleek rear bumper, the GT-V6 looks good from every angle, and I mean every angle. What's more, my tester's Sangria Red Mica exterior colour also does a good job of attracting onlookers. But what impresses me most about the Mazda6 is its ability to look aggressive yet also elegant at the same time. It's the kind of car that gets noticed, not because of outlandish architecture but because it appeals to the senses (looks hot, sounds great, feels good), complemented by a low intimidation factor when getting behind the wheel.
 Zoom In |
| Upscale features, superb quality and style galore set the 6 apart in the midsize sedan class. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press) |
And speaking of getting behind the wheel, the Mazda6 has no problem making its new driver feel right at home. The interior has a tightly knit fit and finish and the plush leather upholstery – although it gets quite crisp in the colder climates – looks darn good. The touch-screen display combined with the navigation system ($2,595) that comes in the GT-V6 version makes life easy, not only if you have to get somewhere you've never gone before, but it is very user-friendly and doesn't require the help of the owner's manual to get the show on the road. And what would this sultry sedan be without an incredible, premium Bose audio system with ten speakers? Well, not as lively, for sure, as this system is fabulous. Whether I was listening to my favourite channel on Sirius satellite radio or my iPod, I was a happy driver the whole way.
