The engine closes up to 7,000 rpm and the muted sonorous note fills the cabin.  Just before the rev limiter hit, you signal the sequential shifter up a notch.  It responds quickly, almost transparently, pushing the speed even further.  A corner approaches, and without a second thought, you twist the fat three-spoke steering wheel into the direction of the curve.  The car obeys, telepathically taking the line you want.  Your pulse quickens, your breath deepens, and you feel alive once more behind the wheel of the Mazda6.

Surprised?  Actually most were, especially given the 6’s checkered reputation and executive sedan girth.  But, here it is, and this time, it doesn’t just bring back the thrill of the drive.  It nails it convincingly with an exclamation point.

Without a doubt, the new Mazda6 is the best real-world front-driven car.  It starts with the right stuff: independent suspension for both front and rear axle.  However, for the 6, it uses unique high-mounted Double Wishbones upfront (better shock/spring damper settings) and E-Type Multi-Links at the back.  For this model year, engineers sharpened the tuning and added low-profile 215/45 R17 tires to the mix.  The end result is a car that actually begs to be driven hard.   It belittles its size, acting closer to a sports car more than executive saloon.  However, Mazda isn’t careless to throw riding comfort into the wind: the 6 is actually comfy even when hitting road joints and nasty ruts.

As the flagship to the Mazda vehicle line in the country, it’s only appropriate to gift the 6 with the heart of an athlete.  Servicing the new 5-speed automatic is the company’s next-generation inline-4 engine.  With 2.3-liters of displacement it generates 164 horsepower thanks to two key technologies: Sequential Valve Timing (S-VT) and Variable Intake System (VIS).  Besides its high 7,000 rpm redline, the new engine sounds fantastic—making it, subjectively, one of the best four cylinder engines around.

With the 6’s more powerful heart and firmer legs, it would only be fitting to address its styling.  This year, it gains a more aggressive stance thanks to a revised aerodynamic kit and new lamps.  From afar, the 6 looks close to its high-performance brother, the Mazdaspeed6 (or Mazda 6 MPS, if you’re used to the European term).  The bumpers and side skirts are now deeper and chunkier with a gapping lower air intake and color-keyed grille.  The jewel-like lamps are now blacked-out with defined round protectors beneath a smooth cover.  The high-rise rear spoiler has been replaced with a discreet boot lip type, evoking a distinct European feel.  Unique to this market’s 2.3-liter model is a genuine dual exhaust system that hints at the 6’s newfound performance.  There’s absolutely nothing off with the 6’s exterior styling and thankfully, the treatment’s been carried off to the inside as well.

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