Car Previews: 2009 Mazda 6

Every now and then, it just so happens that a very qualified car does not make the impression that it deserves to make. Case in point: the Mazda 6. Although the car is a sporty, fun to drive and very easy to live with sedan, sales of it have not quite been up to par. Of course, this is not to say that Mazda is having incredible difficulty selling them, as a glance through any parking lot will show. However, sales of the sedan have dropped off in the recent year, and while they are still being sold, the numbers aren't quite what Mazda was looking for. With that in mind, the Mazda 6 has been redesigned and improved upon for the 2009 model year. And, if Mazda can stick to their concept, there is no doubt that the new Mazda 6 will be an improvement over the already competent current model.

The changes are apparent as soon as one looks as the front end. The front grill has been changed to something more resembling the 3 series, and the headlights have been swooped all the way back into the quarter panels. The gaps in the lower bumper have been replaced by a secondary grill, and the fog lights are now outlined with their own separate trim. Of course, to accompany this new, "grown up" look, the entire car has been made a bit bigger. About four and half inches have been added to the width, and the car has been made almost seven inches longer. The width and length increases really make a difference in the overall appearance, and the car seems to have grown into its own a little bit. The fender on both the front and back have been flared, and the window line has been slightly raised. The sides of the car are smoothed out almost perfectly, and it really seems to fit with the rest of the vehicle. The roof line has been smoothed out, and looks much sportier as a result. The back end has been cleaned up, and the dual exhaust is now built right into the back bumper. The design of the wheels has been greatly improved, and they really seem to complement the rest of the car.

Of course, when talking about a new vehicle, the inside can be just as important as the outside. With that in mind, Mazda has also improved the interior of the 6, and these are changes that are sure to make a difference. The interior has been given more room than the older model and there is also plenty of room to be found in the back seats of the vehicle (one of the major complaints with the outgoing design). The design of the controls and the steering wheel has been changed, and steering wheel controls for the cruise and radio have been made standard. Mazda reports that the new interior has been designed to keep out road noise and be an overall much quieter design than the previous 6. While this remains to be seen, it seems certain that the new interior greatly compliments the outside of the vehicle.

In order to keep this new, larger sedan moving at decent speed, the new 6 also comes equipped with new engine designs. Buyers will be able to choose from the standard 2.5 liter four cylinder, which produces roughly 170 horse power and around 167 foot pounds of torque, or the new 3.7 liter V6, which is advertised to produce over 270 horse power. The four cylinder can still be ordered with a manual transmission, although the six cylinder can only be matched up with an automatic, equipped with a sport shifting option. Both engines are reported to obtain reasonable gas mileage (an average of 24-25 for the four cylinder and around 22-23 for the six). So, without knowing how these engines are actually able to put their power to the pavement, we can only wait and hope that the Mazda 6 has not lost the performance that made the older models so much fun to drive in the first place.

Whether or not one is a fan of the new exterior and interior design, it is hard to say that the Mazda 6 has not been improved upon. The car is now roomier, more comfortable, and still retains plenty of punch when it comes to performance. Although it will likely take a bit of getting used to, perhaps the new Mazda 6 design is what consumers have been looking for, a comfortable and quiet sedan with all the performance and fun of driving a sports car.