2004 Mazda 6 GT-V6 - Playful Puppy Puts Edge in Family Sedan Class
Every now and then a car comes along that gets under your skin, the kind of visceral machine that goads you to hold every shift to the screaming multi-valve red line; that teases and challenges you to nail every apex with its precise steering and European calibrated handling. Hours, even days later, the driving experience lingers on.
The 2004 Mazda6 V6 GT is such a vehicle. It's as if the chassis and suspension were actually designed by people who love to drive, who have a personal mission to put smiles on the faces of their customers.
But wait a minute here. Aren't we talking about the sleepy, dull-as-a-refrigerator family sedan class where Toyota Camrys, Honda Accords and Mitsubishi Galants peddle their metal to leasing companies, rental car lots and to John and Jennifer Goodright - your neighbours with the 2 kids and the dog?
What's a kick-butt wannabe sport sedan doing challenging the established order with this remake of the unloved Mazda 626 - a vehicle that sold in micro-niche numbers? Breathing life and passion into the segment, that's what. Dare I say even living up to the zoom zoom promise of sporty DNA Mazda would have us believe runs through all of their vehicle lines? Lets settle inside the cabin and see how deep those genes run.
Every now and then a car comes along that gets under your skin, the kind of visceral machine that goads you to hold every shift to the screaming multi-valve red line; that teases and challenges you to nail every apex with its precise steering and European calibrated handling. Hours, even days later, the driving experience lingers on. The 2004 Mazda6 V6 GT is such a vehicle. It's as if the chassis and suspension were actually designed by people who love to drive, who have a personal mission to put smiles on the faces of their customers.
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| The 2002 626 was no where near as enticing than the new 6. (Photo: Mazda) |
What's a kick-butt wannabe sport sedan doing challenging the established order with this remake of the unloved Mazda 626 - a vehicle that sold in micro-niche numbers? Breathing life and passion into the segment, that's what. Dare I say even living up to the zoom zoom promise of sporty DNA Mazda would have us believe runs through all of their vehicle lines? Lets settle inside the cabin and see how deep those genes run.