The 2009 Mazda 6 builds upon the heritage of sporty sedans and sports cars ushered in with Mazda's "Zoom-Zoom Evolution", now in its second generation.
Built in Flat Rock, Michigan since its introduction in 2002, the Mazda 6 has been specifically designed and engineered to meet the needs and expectations of the North American driver.
The Mazda 6 available in North America is larger, roomier, has a more powerful engine and different styling features than the one sold in the rest of the world. But the bottom line worldwide, whatever the vehicle configuration, is that the Mazda 6 has a history of awards, with more than 130 both here in the U.S. and abroad.
Power for the new Mazda 6 comes from the newly developed MZR 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine or a 3.7 liter V6 (from the 2008 CX-9 which was Motor Trend's 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year as well as the 2008 North American Truck of the Year). The engines are coupled with either a six-speed manual or five-speed Sport AT automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode (on the 2.5 liter engine), or a six-speed Sport AT automatic with manual-shift mode (on the 3.7 liter V6).
The 6 sports an all-independent suspension, with four-wheel disc brakes and standard ABS (anti-lock brakes) and dynamic stability control for enhanced driving dynamics and reduced road noise.
Four trim levels are available in this front-wheel-drive midsize sedan: SV, Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. Vehicles with the "i" designation get the new 170-horsepower 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine (up from the 156-hp 2.3-liter 4-cylinder it replaces). Vehicles with the "s" designation are equipped with a 272-horsepower 3.7 liter V6 engine (replacing the previous 212-hp 3.0 liter V6).
The i SV model is the likely value leader and comes with a long list of standard equipment including 16-inch steel wheels, a height-adjustable driver seat, full power accessories, a six-speaker CD stereo system with steering-wheel-mounted controls, air-conditioning and a tilt/telescoping steering column.
The i Sport model adds cruise control, an auxiliary input jack and keyless entry as standard features, while the i Touring model adds 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, keyless ignition/entry, a trip computer, electroluminescent gauges, black patterned accent pieces, a power driver seat, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
The top-of-the-line i Grand Touring model adds xenon headlights, heated leather seats with a memory function for the driver seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming mirrors, Bluetooth connectivity, and an auditory blind-spot monitoring system.
The s models have the same standard equipment, but also add a few others: the s Sport comes with 17-inch alloy wheels and dual exhaust, while the s Touring and s Grand Touring chip in 18-inch alloy wheels.
Available options include a navigation system (Grand Touring only), leather upholstery, keyless entry, a sunroof, a blind-spot monitoring system, remote start, an in-dash six-CD changer and satellite radio.
The 6 has a reputation for its athletic engines and quite agile driving performance. The steering is responsive with minimal body lean while possessing strong braking power and a tight turning radius.
The gas mileage estimate for the Mazda 6 is 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway for manual transmission four-cylinder models. The five-speed automatic transmission actually improves fuel economy to 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Gas mileage for the V6 drops to 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower Mazda 6 Prices:
Mazda's sales have been on the weak side historically for close to the past two years now, right along with the other car brands and evidence of a continuing slow economy.
They've recently made some progress in offsetting at least some of the market weakness through strong incentives and easier-to-get discounts. The bottom line? The current combination of a soft market along with intense dealer competition has created the perfect opportunity for nailing down some great deals.
Car dealers will "wheel and deal" bigtime right now if you know how to push their buttons.
How To Buy A New Mazda 6 At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for the 2009 Mazda 6, here's an article about the best car negotiating technique given the current slow car sales environment.
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