Life is short. Your kids will only be young once. But do you want to spend the next 18 years driving them around in a capable but soulless midsize sedan? Of all the family sedans in this test, only the Mazda 6 breaks free of its "family" identity when the driver finds himself alone on the open road.

Second only to the Passat on editors' personal pick lists, the Mazda 6 was warmly regarded as "one of the few cars in this class that you would actually take out just to go for a drive," in the words of our senior road test editor. The car also finished second to the Galant in the performance category after turning in the fastest speed through the 600-foot slalom and posting solid numbers in the acceleration and braking tests. It's worth noting, however, that Mazda was unable to supply us with an automatic transmission-equipped test vehicle for this comparison. As such, we were forced to use our manual-shift long-term 6 in the test. Without this advantage in acceleration and price (getting the automatic adds $900), the 6 might very well have found itself in third or fourth place overall.

Of course, if you like to drive and you like to shift your own gears, this disclaimer won't matter to you once you're behind the wheel of the 6. The shifter moves smoothly between the gears, slotting firmly into each gate. If not for the clutch pedal's long travel and elusive engagement point, this would be one of the best manual transmissions in any midsize sedan. Even so, the Mazda 6 is a pleasure to shift at most speeds — a good thing because the 220-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 under the hood of the "s" model is deficient in low-end torque but loves to rev. Power delivery is smooth across the tach but sweetest above 4,000 rpm. The average driver would likely prefer the more balanced outlay of power available in the Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota, but enthusiasts will find plenty to like about this engine.

The Mazda's ride and handling characteristics are more universally pleasing. The suspension delivers a ride quality that's as smooth and comfortable as that of most peers, while giving the 6 a level of balance and grip that makes it a sheer pleasure to drive on twisty two-lane roads — regardless of whether those roads lead to Grandma's house. Further, the suspension and steering do such a good job of transmitting road information to the driver seat and steering wheel that the driver is never in doubt about the goings-on of the optional 17-inch Michelin Pilot performance tires. Minor drawbacks include occasional ride harshness over choppy pavement and excessive ABS noise and vibration during maximum braking — otherwise, the brakes are strong and operate in a progressive manner.

Solid scores on editors' comprehensive 23-point evaluations and a strong showing in the features category (the 6 offered 10 of the 12 features we considered most important as either standard or optional) suggest that the 6 should meet the average family's expectations in most areas. Nevertheless, a few notable lapses in materials quality and smaller interior dimensions may not make it a good fit for everyone.

Opting for the Sport Package outfits the 6 with large electroluminescent gauges and faux titanium center stack controls and trim. Editors loved the gauges but were divided on the issue of whether the fake metal was attractive. Several questioned the long-term durability of this trim, and as the metallic accent piece on the shift knob has all but worn off with 13,000 miles on the odometer, it seems we may have our answer. The optional leather upholstery looks and feels good, as does the sturdy headliner and the texturized, soft-touch material on the upper dash. Unfortunately, hard door tops, brittle plastic compartment lids and cheap floor mats ultimately put the 6 several levels below the Accord, Camry and Passat in overall quality. Fit and finish was tight, however; a slightly misaligned rear bumper was one of a handful of issues here.

Editors generally gave the 6 high marks for seat comfort in front, as the European-style seats offer an optimum blend of cushioning and support, along with a wide range of adjustment and a telescoping steering wheel. The only improvements we would like to see here are additional side bolstering for the more aggressive driving owners of this car are likely to be doing, and a more effective set of seat heaters.

One important thing to keep in mind when considering the Mazda is that it's a world car sized to fit European and Japanese markets. As a result, it's considerably smaller than America-only cars like the Accord, Altima, Camry and Galant. Although most buyers should find it roomy enough in front, the reduced shoulder and legroom is more obvious in the backseat. Nevertheless, the seat's supportive, properly angled cushions and generous foot room under the front chairs ensure that most adults will be able to get comfortable in back. On the other hand, the lack of rear head restraints is a major oversight.

The cabin is well insulated from wind and road noise, and the availability of both side and head curtain airbags means that occupants will be well protected in crashes as well. The 6 earned a perfect five stars in the frontal impact category during government crash testing; its side-impact scores were less impressive (three stars for the front, four for the rear), but the car tested was not equipped with the optional airbags. The IIHS awarded its top rating of "Good" for the Mazda's performance in its frontal offset crash test.

The 6 offers single-zone automatic climate control; and although the system uses large dials (the easiest setup in our view), the fact that these dials are in close proximity to similarly sized stereo controls makes them tricky to navigate initially. With practice, using them becomes second nature, but larger markings and color coding for temperature adjustment would help. Most of the switchgear is high in quality, and the cruise and stereo buttons on the steering wheel are very easy to use.

Storage provisions are slightly above average, as Mazda supplements the usual door bins, center console container and rear map pockets with a lined dash-top compartment and a driver-side change drawer. Cupholders are average in size and well placed for access. The trunk is respectably sized (15.2 cubic feet), but the small opening and awkwardly shaped lid can be a hassle when loading bulky items. A 60/40-split rear seat provides flexibility for larger hauling jobs.

The 6 was not the most practical family sedan in this test, but its ability to do most of the things cars in this class are supposed to do while functioning as a sport sedan won over our staff. If you can give up some of the room and kid-friendly features available in other sedans, the Mazda 6 could be the sedan that speaks to you, too.

Second Opinions:

Senior Road Test Editor Ed Hellwig says:
Hard to believe that Mazda managed to make a family sedan so fun to drive. Whether you're just darting around town or out on the open road, the 6 is always ready to play. Granted, the manual transmission on our test car gave it an unfair advantage against its competition, but there was more to it than just being able to row through the gears. The suspension transmits liveliness through the wheel that no other car in the class can match. It's only slightly lighter than the other cars but it feels as though it weighs several hundred pounds less. If you like to play when you get the chance, this is the only family sedan that will satisfy your urges.

Apart from the ride and handling, the 6 is only average compared to the competition. The interior materials aren't top-notch, the controls could use some straightening out and even the Bose stereo is far from impressive. I've done long stints behind the wheel and never found it uncomfortable, but I wasn't sitting in the backseat, either. None of those gripes would be enough to deter me from buying the car, but if you're looking for something that's upscale and middle-of-the-road, the Mazda isn't it. For those who are looking for a family sedan that's anything but middle-of-the-road, the Mazda 6 is an alternative trip worth taking.

Road Test Coordinator Kelly Stennick says:
The Mazda 6 has been part of our long-term fleet for nearly eight months, and is admittedly one of my favorites. The smooth, precise shifter and the subsequent surge of power have a lot to do with it, but that's not the entire story.

Compared to other family sedans, the interior is sporty and uncomplicated. The leather seats and various accents of chrome and metal are attractive, and it's easy to climb in and work the controls at first glance, as they are very clearly labeled. My only control complaint is the location of the switches to turn on the seat heaters, as they're hidden down low in front of the center console. Nothing inside seems exactly state-of-the-art, but the handling characteristics make up for any minor shortcomings in the cabin.

I especially like the fact that the 6 has the exterior sleekness of a coupe, but the added convenience of four doors. Many sedans, like the Hyundai Sonata, sacrifice sporty looks in their sedan roles, but not the Mazda 6. The seating position seems lower than the other sedans, too, which adds to the sporty feel, and its nicely tuned exhaust note gives the sports car enthusiast a blast of positive reinforcement as the Mazda 6 winds up to take on road.