love my 6
If you are looking for a sedan that will do everything well, this is the car. My 6s automatic is fast, agile, comfortable, and loaded with features. I have ridden people in it who own much more expensive cars, (Audi A4, Acura TL, BMW 3 series) and they can't believe how nice it was and how smooth and quiet it was while still being able to eat up an exit ramp. Because the car doesn't represent the least common denominator however, you can get rebates and incentives on it that make it a better deal than a Hyundai or a Mazda3. If you like to drive, and you can't afford a luxury marque, you absolutely cannot go wrong buying this car. Zoomzoom.
Biggest Bang for the Buck!
Shopped everything in the midsize range and nothing compared. My wife drives a 2002 which is a great car (paint dings way too easy) but the Mazda6 gives us the sports car we were looking for. We tried the MazdaSpeed6 and loved the turbo and the all wheel drive but could not justify the price jump. We went for the 4 cylinder over the 6 for mpg and the balance on the 4 cylinder seemed better. The automatic was nice but the 5 speed added more get up and go. I chose the moonroof package to gain the Bose sound system which is awesome! I drove a Grand Am and the Mazda 6 is so much quieter and more comfortable that Pontiac should be ashamed. The comfort and inside/outside style screams value.
A fun mid-size sedan
I've had my 6 i Sport with AT for about a month now and so far it has been a very enjoyable car to drive. I like the design (both exterior and interior), which offers a sporty look. The sport package adds a lot of nice standard features. The Bose audio system is great, although the CD changer should've been MP3 compatible as a standard feature. I find that the AT tends to be a bit slow to downshift sometimes, but maybe it's just my style of driving. Overall it performs well and smooth. The interior is quiet and well laid out. I'm getting about 27mpg so far in mixed driving, but expect that to improve a bit.
5 on the Floor
Significant upgrades from last year make this car at this trim level a real sleeper in the midsize class. High revving V-6 with 5 speed MTX makes the car come alive. The 18" Pirellis combined w/ Mazda's sophisticated suspension result in a very tight handling package that gives surprising comfort, even on PA's third world roads. Tough choice between this car & Acura's TSX, but it costs $$$$ less, feels faster & runs on regular gas.
Mazda 6 - Fun to drive!
I've had a Mazda6 for a little more than a year. I've been pleased to say the least. I have the Bose sound system, the spoiler, the sun roof and all the extras and it's the Sonic Blue colored vehicle. The car has the pick up and go you'd expect from a sports car and had the comfort and reliability you'd come to expect from any automobile. The car is quiet, drives well, has great pickup and a sleek look. Definitely a fun car to drive no matter how far your going!