So, lets cut right to the heart of the matter. This is one lean, mean driving machine. It's variable assist rack and pinion steering cuts and slices accurately - with fast 2.5 to 1 turns lock to lock, ensuring no dead spots, no delays, just nice immediate linear response to input that help carve a clean line through corners and make lane changing a near intuitive event. Aided by standard 215/50-17 Michelin Pilots (our tester wore the grippy Pirelli 210 Snowsports in the same size to battle winter's assaults) the 6 is as eager to dart and play as a puppy let off its leash at the beach. Its big tires and sport optimized steering rack extracts a price in turning circle diameter though - 38.7 ft which may demand more 3 pointers not. But overall the operative word here is balance - that elusive engineering Holy Grail that many try for but few achieve.
Somehow the Mazda boys and girls have nailed just the right spring rates, designed an all-new "E-type" compact IRS complete with trailing arms, lateral links and anti-roll bars, and beaten the bean counters into building the more expensive and better handling double wishbone front suspension (over the typical Mac Struts) and voila - the Mazda 6 is an athletic, poised, confident little sport sedan that can actually make good drivers better by sharpening reflexes. Euro-taut best describes the ride and handling experience, and I'm pleased to report a well-controlled ride with little harshness or suspension bottoming to mar the proceedings. Reminds me of the precision of the old Acura Integra without some of the stiff ride penalties. Or how about this: enjoy Lexus IS 300 levels of driving enjoyment and pocket enough to put a down payment on a condo. BMW hunting anybody?
So, lets cut right to the heart of the matter. This is one lean, mean driving machine. It's variable assist rack and pinion steering cuts and slices accurately - with fast 2.5 to 1 turns lock to lock, ensuring no dead spots, no delays, just nice immediate linear response to input that help carve a clean line through corners and make lane changing a near intuitive event. Aided by standard 215/50-17 Michelin Pilots (our tester wore the grippy Pirelli 210 Snowsports in the same size to battle winter's assaults) the 6 is as eager to dart and play as a puppy let off its leash at the beach. Its big tires and sport optimized steering rack extracts a price in turning circle diameter though - 38.7 ft which may demand more 3 pointers not. But overall the operative word here is balance - that elusive engineering Holy Grail that many try for but few achieve. 
Somehow the Mazda boys and girls have nailed just the right spring rates, designed an all-new "E-type" compact IRS complete with trailing arms, lateral links and anti-roll bars, and beaten the bean counters into building the more expensive and better handling double wishbone front suspension (over the typical Mac Struts) and voila - the Mazda 6 is an athletic, poised, confident little sport sedan that can actually make good drivers better by sharpening reflexes. Euro-taut best describes the ride and handling experience, and I'm pleased to report a well-controlled ride with little harshness or suspension bottoming to mar the proceedings. Reminds me of the precision of the old Acura Integra without some of the stiff ride penalties. Or how about this: enjoy Lexus IS 300 levels of driving enjoyment and pocket enough to put a down payment on a condo. BMW hunting anybody?