Unlike several of its brethren from the competing manufacturers, the Nissan Maxima SE being one, the Mazda6 does not suffer from cogent torque-steer. Granted the Nissan has greater horsepower and torque to contend with, I'd take my performance a little more controllable. For instance, extreme torque-steer can cause a car to unintentionally launch itself from one lane to the next under hard acceleration, especially when the road is rutted or slippery. A loosely gripped steering wheel can suddenly feel as possessed as Linda Blair in the Exorcist.
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| Unlike many of its rivals, the Mazda6 doesn't suffer from cogent torque-steer. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
Once again unlike some others, the Mazda6 offers a sporty 5-speed manual transmission as the base coupling for both the inline-4 and V6 engines. Optional with the inline-4 is a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic featuring a manual-mode and overdrive. The V6 finds itself bolted to a sweet shifting 5-speed electronically controlled autobox, again featuring overdrive and manual-mode shifting.
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| I believe Mazda has taken unfair criticism from some journalists concerning their manual-mode actuation. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
My test unit was equipped with the 5-speed automatic. This "mix-master" functioned brilliantly, always being the perfect dance partner regardless of what demands were foisted upon it by my capricious driving style. And incidentally, in my view Mazda has been taking an unfair wrap from certain auto journalists in relation to the configuration of their manual-mode actuation. Specifically, bumping the shift-lever rearward upshifts the transmission while a tap forward downshifts.
Well apparently some people think Mazda got it backwards. Generally auto manufacturers have configured the up and down shifting opposite to Mazda, and how so many manufacturers got it wrong I will never know. I simply find pulling back on the lever more intuitive to upshifting than downshifting. If you don't agree, think about shifting from first gear to second and back to first, or third gear to fourth and back to third. See, it's a direct line unless you're used to the rare Italian car which featured the "H" position in the 2nd through 5th gears. It seems now even BMW is changing their manual-mode auto shifters over to this format... need I say more?
