Sit up straight, shut up and hang on
Mazda's blown 6 is machine-gun quick, and it's got sharp reflexes, great handling, and muscular good looks. All 6 models are performance-oriented, even the wagon, and the MSP6 crowns the lineup in a great way.
On the other hand, this car requires that you constantly be in seek-and-destroy mode, as it begs you to drive like a bat out of hell. Are you up for it?
Strong engine
With 270 horsepower on tap (the 2006 model was rated at 274) and 280 pound-feet at only 3,000 rpm, the MAZDASPEED6 blasts off like a rocket. No torque steer or wheelspin; the all-wheel drive system prevents any such fooling around.
Now, what would you prefer? A turbocharged 4-cylinder or a lusty 3.5-liter V6? They would be as powerful and would consume as much gas (my average with the MSP6 was over 15.0 L/100 km). It's a matter of personal opinion, of course, but the more muscular growl of a big V6 would be nicer than the rather ordinary soundtrack of the MZR 2.3.
Still, this force-fed 4-pot engine is quite fun, and fits perfectly with the car's mission. The rest of the powertrain is for hardcore performance; the clutch is stiff and the shift lever works very well.
Superb handling
While the V6-powered 6 handles pretty well, the MSP6 is even better. You do feel a difference with the MAZDASPEED6, as the rear wheels contribute in keeping the car within your chosen trajectory. The all-wheel drive system can send up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels, but the MSP6 is basically a front-driver when the hardware doesn't detect any wheel slippage.
The car corners with virtually no body roll but, unsurprisingly, the lowered suspension and stiffer spring rates spoil the good ride comfort of the lesser GT-V6 models. It's not bad, mind you, but less-then-smooth street surfaces reveal the car's slight harshness; the low-profile tires with their harder sidewalls are also to blame.
Mazda's blown 6 is machine-gun quick, and it's got sharp reflexes, great handling, and muscular good looks. All 6 models are performance-oriented, even the wagon, and the MSP6 crowns the lineup in a great way.
On the other hand, this car requires that you constantly be in seek-and-destroy mode, as it begs you to drive like a bat out of hell. Are you up for it?
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| The Mazdaspeed6 is the crown jewel in the Mazda6 lineup. |
Strong engine
With 270 horsepower on tap (the 2006 model was rated at 274) and 280 pound-feet at only 3,000 rpm, the MAZDASPEED6 blasts off like a rocket. No torque steer or wheelspin; the all-wheel drive system prevents any such fooling around.
Now, what would you prefer? A turbocharged 4-cylinder or a lusty 3.5-liter V6? They would be as powerful and would consume as much gas (my average with the MSP6 was over 15.0 L/100 km). It's a matter of personal opinion, of course, but the more muscular growl of a big V6 would be nicer than the rather ordinary soundtrack of the MZR 2.3.
Still, this force-fed 4-pot engine is quite fun, and fits perfectly with the car's mission. The rest of the powertrain is for hardcore performance; the clutch is stiff and the shift lever works very well.
Superb handling
While the V6-powered 6 handles pretty well, the MSP6 is even better. You do feel a difference with the MAZDASPEED6, as the rear wheels contribute in keeping the car within your chosen trajectory. The all-wheel drive system can send up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels, but the MSP6 is basically a front-driver when the hardware doesn't detect any wheel slippage.
The car corners with virtually no body roll but, unsurprisingly, the lowered suspension and stiffer spring rates spoil the good ride comfort of the lesser GT-V6 models. It's not bad, mind you, but less-then-smooth street surfaces reveal the car's slight harshness; the low-profile tires with their harder sidewalls are also to blame.
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| The AWD system sends up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels, dramatically improving the car's handling. |