2014 Mazda 61 Sport - Family Athletics (Part 2)

Mazda’s engine seems to prioritize efficiency, refinement, and low-end power, and it succeeds on those objectives. With a manual, the 6 earned an EPA rating of 25 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway; we scored 26 mpg. Automatic versions rate even better: 26 and 38 mpg. But opting for the auto will cost an additional $161.

We’d gladly sacrifice 1 mpg for the joy of the six-speed manual, but there are other sacrifices required. A clutch pedal only comes in the base Sport model or in mid-level Touring spec. In the Sport model, choice amounts to selecting one of six paint colors and either a tan or Nack cloth interior. No other options are offered.

Mazda’s engine seems to prioritize efficiency, refinement, and low-end power, and it succeeds on those objectives.

That lack of choice is a real timesaver at the dealership. Sport models sacrifice Bluetooth connectivity, a .8-inch touch screen, satellite radio, navigation, automatic climate control, auto-dimming mirrors, bi xenon headlights, a rearview camera, power seats, leather, and safety options like blind- spot monitoring and lane-departure warning. Moving up to the Touring version is less of a sacrifice. Touring 6s add a touch screen, rear camera, 19-inch wheels, automatic cli mate control, and a power driver’s seat. Still, the Touring manual can’t be had with navigation, bi xenon lights, and the active safety features.

In exchange for being an options martyr, though, you receive the endless bliss that comes from perfectly placed pedals, snappy throws, effortless shifts, and creamy clutch engagement. Engineers with RX-8s clearly had a hand in this gearbox. Thanks to them, forgetting you’re in a family sedan is a heel- toe downshift away.

Treat the 6 like a teen hauler and it still shines. The 111.4-inch wheelbase is i.6 inches longer than the previous 6’s and yields excellent rear-seat legroom. A is-cubic-foot trunk is in line with the segment leaders, as is a 60/40-Split rear seat that folds at the pull of trunk- mounted knobs. The well-bolstered front seats are con- toured in the right places and comfortable in day-to-day use. Unlike the velour upholstery in a number of competitors, the 6 uses a coarser and more durable-looking fabric that wouldn't seem out of place in a Volkswagen GTI.

Treat the 6 like a teen hauler and it still shines. The 111.4-inch wheelbase is i.6 inches longer than the previous 6’s and yields excellent rear-seat legroom.

Material quality is top- shelf throughout, even in the base trim. Smooth leather wraps the three-spoke steering wheel. The instrument panel is fashioned from soft and tightly grained plastic that put us in the mind of a Benz E-class. Satin- chrome bezels highlight the three gauges and dashboard vents. Spears of what appears to be gray granite-it's actually plastic-cross through the middle of the dashboard. Mazda's interior is attractive because of its restraint and execution, and it's a welcome relief from the overdesigned and button-laden starship command decks in some other mid-size sedans.

Throughout the 6 are the fingerprints of people who don't think of cars in the same way they think of other machines. While it's not quick or even club-you-over-the-head sporty, the new 6 shares a lot of fundamental traits with sports cars. And these traits aren't just there for the benefit of car lovers. They're also useful to the typical family-sedan driver. A relatively low cowl and the repositioned A-pillars result in a vast view out front. The structure is both light and stiff to boost handling and fuel economy. The driver's relation- ship to the steering wheel, pedals, radio, and H VAC are all spot on. Better yet, the steering, brakes, and floor-mounted accelerator have responses that wouldn't feel out of place on Turn Three at Road America. If you think that's over kill in a mainstream sedan, consider that the Mazda 6's alert controls will be at your command when a truck tire bounds into your lane.

If you think that's over kill in a mainstream sedan, consider that the Mazda 6's alert controls will be at your command when a truck tire bounds into your lane.

Substance trumps flash here, and that's especially apparent in the most basic, manual Mazda 6 i Sport. Buyers who long for a sports car, but who are forced into an afford- able sedan, will find a kindred spirit in the 6. Less-enthusiastic drivers will find that this car just feels right. Consequently, we think this is the one family sedan most likely to share garage space with a sports coupe, a race car, or even some sort of spyder but hopefully not any lovesick spiders.