2006 MAZDASPEED6 Road Test

2006 MAZDASPEED6 (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

Engine sounds aside, as a mature and understated sedan one cannot expect it to make a whole lot of noise anyhow. The styling makes very little noise either. However, the interior screams. At first glance, there are glossy surfaces everywhere, reflecting light and creating a very upper scale and expensive feel. The seats are well bolstered and shaped beautifully, offering power adjustments to garner the perfect driving position, as well as heat, to keep your backside toasty warm in winter months. There is so much equipment inside the MAZDASPEED6 that I found myself reading the owner's manual while stopped for lunch, and needing to buy a second cup of coffee just to finish reading up.

Such a level of gadgetry is usually common to much more expensive vehicles.

There is a smart start system which negates the need for you to ever remove the keys from your pocket. Simply press a button on either front door or on the trunk access the interior. Get into the car, turn the un-removable ignition key, and off you go. You can even use the remote to open the windows. Want to start a conversation? Toss the key card down on a table when sitting with friends in a restaurant or club, and they'll quickly be intrigued. There is a switch which allows the driver to adjust the angle of the projector lights manually, too. This maintains an

2006 MAZDASPEED6 (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

optimal beam pattern, for instance if the car is loaded up with people and gear and sitting differently than if it were empty. The HID lighting pierces the nighttime roadways, and this clever switch is a great way to make sure every single bit of that light is put to good use. It's little features like this that aren't common on every car that really score points to win shoppers over.

The Bose stereo with in-dash changer sounds incredible and features a built-in subwoofer. Controls on the steering wheel for the audio system mean you never have to take your hands off of it's leather surface to navigate your music collection. All four power windows have one-touch up and down. There is a small sunroof overhead, a center-mounted information system keeping an eye on your stereo and HVAC settings, and a well-organized and tasteful looking set of instruments. The materials are top-notch, and the astounding look to the center stack, with its gloss-black buttons against a silvery wood grain trim, deliver a sense of class. Hop into the MAZDASPEED6 for the first time, and the feel of the bolstered leather seats and the 180 mile per hour speedometer tell you that you are in for an exciting ride.

I took the liberty of finding myself a Subaru WRX to compare. The two competitors are worlds apart when you get inside. The Mazda has more room, a far higher feel of quality and precision and looks ages better. The Subaru is a bit... well plain really... for what you pay for. Put it this way-- sitting inside the Mazda is a bit like sitting in a leather chair in one's living room surrounded by a massive entertainment center and some nice

2006 MAZDASPEED6 (Photo: Chris Koski)

furniture. The WRX is a bit more like watching cable TV in the spare bedroom.

My only complaint in regard to the interior was a noisy fan motor. On full blast, it let out a high-pitched whistle that became very annoying very quickly. I asked around, and even went to the local Mazda dealership and tried the fan out on a MAZDASPEED6 they had on the lot. The noise was only present intermittently on my tester, and as such would likely be an isolated problem covered by warranty.