Emotion of executive (car) motion The Mazda 6 calls to mind certain premium-segment cars due to its styling

WHEN the Mazda 6 was first introduced, consumers deemed it as a penultimate or last option for the executive-sedan arena. Since then it has made much noise (such as being 2005 Philippine Car of the Year), but with stiff competition being introduced of late, can it be considered a contender?

Outside, it reminds you of the current BMW 7 Series or a stretched version of the Lexus IS sedan series due to its length, styling atop the beltline and stubby rear. It draws a crowd wherever it goes, with this writer receiving no less than 15 queries about the car. Everything is pleasing aesthetically, but how come we don’t get the grille found in the current Mazda 3? The aforementioned piece complements an already great package, and it would be a shame if the 6 didn’t have it.

Inside is a layout that pays homage to its predecessor and the Mazda 3, but more refined and less of an eyesore. The familiar three-spoke steering wheel, in-car entertainment (Ice) ergonomics, gauge cluster, hand-brake location and jiggly transmission quadrant are there, but there are noticeable yet pleasing changes. The steering wheel Ice controls are easy on the left thumb, the gauge cluster has a soothing blue backlight (with red lighting for the font and aluminum lining for the needles), there’s a rain sensor and the dashboard has the same predominantly black colorway as the previous model but with more metallic inserts. The moonroof is much like the one on the Hyundai Azera—it’s above the front occupants’ crowns—and requires a constant finger on the button for the said piece to move fully forward or backward.

Storage is generally a positive, with the cup holders swallowing a McDonald’s large soft-drink cup and the rest of the storage bins more than enough for placement of all sorts of bric-a-brac. The trunk is deceptively small when viewed from the rear, but when you pop the trunk latch button (via a cleverly hidden button on the brake light above the Mazda logo), the boot can swallow a golf bag and four to five large duffel bags. A bit irksome, though, is the fact that you have to put the car in “(P)ark” in order for the trunk to open.

The sedan is one of the few in its class that can balance its passenger and driver enjoyment. It can outrun the previous model Toyota Camry 2.4L and the Nissan Teana off the line, helped greatly by the five-speed A/T’s manual mode. The said feature negates the tranny’s tall third and fourth gears, especially on mountain roads and during overtaking. Top speed testing was limited to 225 kph due to inclement weather; on the other hand, fuel consumption is a rather paltry 7.81 km/l (four days mixed driving).                                

Handling was one of the Mazda 6’s strong suits then, and is no different now. Traction breaks at 90 to100 kph with the Dynamic Stability Control off, and there’s little body roll, but the ride comfort is a tad too firm for this writer. The tilt/telescoping steering is somewhat heavy (especially during parallel parking and long backing movement) but the feedback is sharp.    

Much like any executive car, the new 6’s safety doodads are topnotch. The brakes grip hard with just a tap, but by the end of the test drive there was noticeable fade. The power-assisted central locking has a frustrating Mazda 3-style setup, needing only a push or a pull of the tabs within the door-latch receptacles to lock or unlock. There are no backup sensors, which can make parallel parking tricky due to the limited vision from the rear area. But the exterior lighting is bright (even at the dim setting) and the front windshield has rain sensors.              

What was once a pushover when better competition (such as the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry) arrived is now a contender once again in the executive-sedan arena.   

WHEN the Mazda 6 was first introduced, consumers deemed it as a penultimate or last option for the executive-sedan arena. Since then it has made much noise (such as being 2005 Philippine Car of the Year), but with stiff competition being introduced of late, can it be considered a contender?

THIS writer’s younger sister owns a 2006 version while his younger brother has the 2005 one (his youngest brother owns a D-Max). And, you know, they all keep their Isuzu Crosswind Sportivos even when there are tens of other fascinating SUVs out there in the market, some of them a bit cheaper. The entire family knows they are good. But are they keepers?

Eyes on the Road: Be cool behind the wheel

ON the road, we encounter motorists with varying driving habits that are sometimes irritating and can cause our temper to flare.

At such times, the No. 1 rule is that you must keep your cool. It’s a tip that my own father Paquito taught me even before I learned how to drive.

HAS the Word War between the Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) Geny Lopez and the Government Service Insurance System’s (GSIS) Winston Garcia deteriorated into a Wasted Win?

THIS one is really small, but it comes huge in more ways than one.

It is fast, really fast. Easily, it can tackle 120 kph without much rpm.

It is spacious, as it can fit in five adults with much ease.

AN innovative and new technology for cleaning a car’s fuel system and engine internals has been introduced by All-Inclusive Sales Inc., a leading distributor of motor-vehicle components in the country today, as part of its various car-care solutions.