Even its 160 hp 2.3-L 4-cylinder base powerplant is relatively quick. Its 155 lb-ft of torque is adequate for the class, as is the top 3.0-L V6 engine's 192 lb-ft of torque. The latter has an enticing exhaust note too, as all 220-hp charge to speed. If the midsize segment of the car market wasn't so incredibly strong this Mazda6 would be awe inspiring. But driving next to a slightly lighter weight 1,456 kg (3,210 lb) 245-hp Nissan Altima SE with 246 lb-ft of torque, or even a tad heavier 1,521 kg (3,353 lb) 240-hp Honda Accord EX V6 with 211 lb-ft of torque, the 1,471 kg (3,243 lb) Mazda6 GT-V6 feels a little lethargic. The same can be said for its power to weight ratio in base trim, with the 175-hp Altima at least. On the good side, Mazda seems to have exorcised the torque steer gremlins out of the steering box, translating into excellent stability through the corners at both low and high speeds.
But what's going on with the shifter? While a Mazda spokesman apologetically explained that the reason its manual actuation was switched to the polar opposite of all other sequential automatics in the world, pulling backward to move up through the gears and pressing forward to gear down, is due to a safety issue. Supposedly if you leave your hand on the lever while driving, like so many people do, and an emergency happens, Mazda says you're most likely to pull back and cause the car to gear down, if using the more popular shift pattern, which could induce a loss of traction in slippery conditions. But I found the opposite true. Normally panicked drivers depress the brakes, which would cause a forward movement on the gearshift lever, resulting in exactly what Mazda doesn't want to occur. Since I have no scientific information to back up my theory I can't say for sure, but Mazda hasn't put forth any studies on the matter that I have been able to find either.