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Full Test: 2009 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring

Trying To Make Everybody Happy
By Barry Winfield

Rushing a midsize family sedan into a downhill switchback on the tortuous Glendora Mountain Road here in Los Angeles sounds like inappropriate behavior, doesn't it?

Maybe, but since Mazda has been getting as much mileage from its zoom-zoom ad campaign as it can — implying that a fundamental sporting temperament lies deep within the DNA of all its cars — we had to check it out.

Tearing up and down Glendora in the 2009 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring is useful therapy for the enthusiast driver in any case, but it also turns out to be proof that Mazda did not lose its soul when it decided that if you can't beat 'em in the midsize family bracket, you have to join 'em.

The Mazda 6 Grows Up
It seems that no matter how hard the company tried to peddle the alternative charms of its previous Mazda 6, the darn thing was just too small and too weak to kick against the titans from Honda and Toyota. Not to mention Nissan.

Hence the 2009 Mazda 6 s now boasts generous interior dimensions of the kind that will accommodate 6-foot-5 passengers in a most unexpected way. Legroom in the backseat for a tall guy with a 34-inch inseam is good. Headroom isn't bad either, optimized by a scalloped headliner so that one's head just grazes the mouse fur. There's also commensurate largeness in the castings of its V6 engine, now displacing 3.7 liters and cranking out a class-leading 272 horsepower.

But back to the front seat and Glendora Mountain Road, where the 2009 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring gives a good account of itself, despite pandering to the appliance-buying drones that snap up generic sedans on the promise of long and cheap service. Beyond the slightly soft suspension feel is a chassis that offers decent levels of control. Meet a series of undulations while under braking or in mid-bend, and the Mazda 6 swallows them without bounding about or getting out of shape.

Still Athletically Gifted
At first the 2009 Mazda 6 feels softer in roll than we expect from the engineers in Hiroshima, but further experimentation unearths a chassis that will take a pretty stable set in the corners once turned in and then maintains an unruffled stance. Our slalom test reveals a car that tolerates transitions well, too, as its 66.2 mph speed suggests. Our wheelman at the test track comments that even though the Mazda 6 doesn't deliver Altima levels of athleticism, it's pretty good nonetheless.

The steering is a tad light to prove zoom-zoom paternity, but the wheel directs the nose of the car with real precision, and it supplies a natural sense of control at the rim without transmitting a great deal of kickback shock. In fact, a big bump in the middle of a corner just freezes the power assist for an instant as it baffles the mechanism, but it doesn't transmit much of the impact to the driver's hands.

All of which is to be considered in the light of the Mazda 6's all-season tires, which typically soften steering responses and smudge cornering accuracy, and produce an unimpressive 0.81g on the skid pad. Lever a quartet of summer tires onto this Mazda and we suspect the car's demeanor will sharpen up considerably. It might even quiet the ride on particular surfaces where these P235/45ZR18 Michelin HXMXM4s raise their voice to insistent levels, mainly on cast concrete, where they trundle along like cart wheels. Their braking performance also doesn't seem to be impressive, as this 3,593-pound car comes to a halt from 60 mph in 127 feet.

But to give the tires their fair due, they exhibit decently progressive breakaway characteristics. Despite a fairly early onset of squeal, the Michelins will tolerate an overcooked corner entry quite well, allowing a reasonably aggressive trade-off of braking to steering as the driver (who, me?) seeks to optimize the situation.

On other types of pavement, the Mazda 6 s is much quieter. The drivetrain is muted at cruising speeds, and wind noise is kept at perfectly acceptable levels. But it has to be noted that the 3.7-liter V6 gets a little rowdy when you're asking for everything it has to offer. It's not as smooth or quiet at full throttle as Toyota's V6, in our opinion.

Under Power
We won't complain about engine performance, though. This Mazda 6 gets to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds (6.1 seconds with 1 foot of rollout like on a dragstrip) on the way to the quarter-mile in 14.6 seconds at 96.5 mph.

The 3.7 V6 has plenty of torque, even if it peaks at a relatively lofty 4,250 rpm, where its exertions occasionally twist the steering wheel a little to the right. Big applications of power make the car weave slightly, and you get lots of chirping from an inside wheel when making turns at intersections. On front-drivers like this one, good torque often means the presence of torque steer, but it's not bad enough here to blunt one's enjoyment of the Mazda 6's otherwise great steering.

A six-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox available on the V6 model, and we think that's about right. Despite its greater power, the V6 is routinely selected as the luxury option rather than the sporty one. Even so, this automatic six-speed is equipped with a manual override so that one can assume control in the right circumstances.

It's a good tranny, but we would really like to see a throttle blip incorporated for downshifts, as much to acknowledge the request as to synchronize all rotating components for quicker shift action. With some large ratio gaps in the lower gears, a call for a downshift as one brakes hard into a tight turn is sometimes ignored as being beyond the practical operating speed for the gear in question.

And the request evidently doesn't stay in memory long, because we sometimes found ourselves trailing off the brakes to get back on the throttle, and then being in a higher gear than anticipated. A blip of the throttle (or its absence) would be a clue here.

Conveniently Luxurious
Naturally, most of this is academic to the 2008 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring's likely owner body. They'll be more interested in the luxury trappings, safety appurtenances and convenience gadgets, and the car has plenty of those. For a vehicle as well equipped as this one, the interior layout is pleasantly uncluttered. Controls and gauges are arrayed in a simple, unpretentious fashion in an attractive interior design.

With the possible exception of the radio memory buttons, everything is easy to find and simple to operate. We have concerns about the Grand Touring model's standard-equipment blind-spot warning device, which looks back down the adjoining lane, then utters a little cry if you signal an imminent lane change.

First, hardly anyone around here in Los Angeles signals a lane change (unfortunately). Secondly, the system warns about cars that are all too far away to be of real concern. Luckily, there's an off switch. It's right next to the off switch for the stability control system, which we found far less intrusive. (You can leave that one on even when fooling around on your favorite twisty road.)

The keyless ignition system is well thought out. It recognizes the driver and unlocks the door when the handle is pulled. Once seated, the driver has only to put his foot on the brake to have the system go green — literally, with a small green LED light on the button — regardless of whether the system is off or in accessory mode. At that point, a quick finger jab initiates the starting sequence, and you're off.

Beyond Transportation
The extent to which a sporty nature implied by Mazda's zoom-zoom catchphrase is still present in this car is a bonus to those of us looking for some involvement as well as mere transportation.

In this 2009 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring sedan, this zoom-zoom character may not be as overt as it was on previous models, but it is still there. And for those who find zoom-zoom merely something to spray Raid at, this new model should give them the space, the power, the suave new looks, the carefully balanced ride/handling compromise, and the value they're looking for in the segment.

If this doesn't jog Mazda 6 sales into the territory where the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry live, then surely nothing will.

Tailgating Tips From The Pros

From Jim Walczak

Here are the best tips from professional tailgaters on how to throw the perfect tailgate party yourself, as well as tips to help you become the ultimate tailgater:
Make a Tailgating Checklist

To ensure nothing gets left at home, make a list of things you need to take to the tailgate party. Be sure to put your game tickets on the list too!
Have a Tailgating Theme

Think up a creative theme for your tailgate. If it's Thanksgiving, bring a turkey. If it's Christmas, bring a tree. Or, base your theme and decorations on the opponent. For example, you might have Cajun food against the Saints, Philly cheese steaks against the Eagles, or fish against the Dolphins.
Dress for the Occasion

Dress appropriately for several hours outdoors -- and be prepared for drastic temperature changes. And don't forget to wear comfortable shoes.
Show Some Tailgating Team Spirit

Show your team spirit... Wear team colors. Tailgaters are usually the biggest and best fans! After all, to become the ultimate tailgater, you'll want to stir up some tailgater's envy!
Timing is Everything

Get there early. You'll want to arrive 3-4 hours before game time to beat the crowd and claim your turf. And, plan to stay late so as to not miss a moment of the post-game enthusiasm.
Location, Location, Location

Set up your tailgate party near a grassy area, or bring a roll of Astroturf to set up at the end of the row -- for a more comfortable atmosphere with lots of room to socialize. Parking at the end of a row can also give you more partying space.
Tailgating in Parking Lots

Serious tailgaters choose a parking lot that has a view of the stadium if on-site parking is not available. Since the stadium is your Mecca, you need to be able to see it so you can bow to it occasionally.
Mark Your Spot At The Tailgating Party

A flag or team pennant on a tall pole helps people locate the party and makes a statement of team spirit.
Seating Arrangements

Don't worry about bringing chairs for everyone. Those who want to sit will bring their own chairs.
Generating Power

Serious tailgaters bring a small generator for powering a TV, stereo system or electric space heater during cold weather games.
Timing the Eats

Make sure your food is ready 1 to 2 hours before game time, so you have enough time to eat, clean up and find your seat in the stadium.
Put out the Fire

If you're using a charcoal grill, bring along extra water to douse the embers and a plastic garbage bag to put the cold coals in.
Be Smokey's Best Friend

Make sure that you have some way of extinguishing and throwing away your hot coals. Whatever you do, dispose of firewood or charcoal briquettes properly. Some stadiums have a designated place for hot ashes, but do not dump them in the grass or in trash bins.
Garbage In, Garbage Out

Bring your own lawn-size trash bags, because there never seem to be enough garbage receptacles on hand.

See answer under Car Doctor.