2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring: I Don't Want to Use the Word "Vanilla"

Having driven the 2002 Altima and the current gen, I'd say you're wrong- the 2002 Altima torque steered like crazy, the 2007-current generation doesn't and offers much better steering feedback. It's also smaller and lighter than the 2002 model, though its styling remains fairly similar.

The Legacy, Accord, and Passat have all stopped trying to be engaging cars. Can't argue with that.

@ mikeolan: You're right. I did forget about the torque steer in the previous Altima. -- Erin

Drove base model rental specials the past few years (large sedans are a favorite):
Altima: Non fat vanilla yogurt - Has some potential, but largely tastes like crap

Mazda 6: Vanilla with chocolate swirl - Little hint flavor, probably the best of the bunch

Camry: Vanilla ice cream with roofies - Ate the vanilla ice cream but can't remember eating it

Avalon:Vanilla soft serve on a cold day- Could be better, but isn't.

Chevy impala: what cat craps out after it steals and eats vanilla chapstick

Dodge avenger: see impala, replace "vanilla chapstick" with rotten squirrel corpse

Specialty cars in similar range

Cadillac cts: Premium french vanilla - with heated and cooled leather seats

Cadillac DTS: Giant vanilla sundae - too much of a good thing is sometimes a cadillac.

Saab 9-3: Vanilla cone on a really hot day - tastes good, but melts (falls apart) quickly.

BMW 3-series: One of those $100 vanilla desserts at a fancy restaurant - really good, but someone has to have a cheaper version right?

Alfa Romeo 159: Vanilla banana split - something a little different, but still good.

@old_volvo

You forgot the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution & the Pontiac G8 GT! I'd rather have one of these than any of the cars you stated above...with the exceptions of an M3 or CTS-V.

It would be interesting to compare the Mazda6 i to a 4-cylinder Fusion SE or SEL equipped with either the Appearance Package or Monochrome Appearance Package, which, despite the name, nets you a more sporting suspension and 18" alloy wheels with wider V-rated tires in addition to appearance items like the drecky spoiler, nicer cloth door panels and seating surfaces with contrasting piping (SE; SEL has standard leather), and different dash trim (monochrome adds body-color grill). The auto trans has an extra gear but lacks direct-shift like the Mazda and V6 Fusions, but if you can do without leather upholstery you can get the 6-speed stick, with a moonroof, for $23,415 list.

I test-drove and really liked the new Mazda6 almost a year ago, and attempted to buy one. The dealer jerked me around and lied so much that I got up and walked out in disgust. Three months later I got a screamin' deal on a Pontiac G8, and haven't looked back.

@whoosierdaddy: Same thing happened to me at my local Mazda dealer, expect I ended up buying an Accord, which I regretted. Great choice on the G8.

As a '98 Passat owner and a current '03 Mazda 6s (w/5 speed) owner, I couldn't agree more. It scares me to think of what watered down models will be around when I finally replace my '03. As for now, it's still as engaging and fun to drive as it was when I bought it.

I'm thinking I'll be "downsizing" into a Mazdaspeed 3 for my next car...

I don't know if there are none left. My sister's new Fusion is pretty fun to drive, but I think it's a "Sport" model. Um, my dad's '07 Aura XR is also pretty decent, but feels a little more heavier than the Fusion. I guess the Aura doesn't count anymore though.

In defense of the Passat and Legacy:

Passat is available in CC trim which is a lowered Passat with sport suspension, 6 speed manual (Turbo only) or 6 speed DSG transmission (V6 or Turbo), and rear bucket seats.

The Legacy is available in 6 speed manual only GT trim which weighs 90lbs less than an '09 Spec B or 25lbs more than an '09 GT with manual transmission. And '10 models are only 1.4 inches longer than '09 models. *0-60 in 5.7 seconds.

*Both the Legacy and Passat went vanilla although both can be had in sport trims.

Also Passat CC sales are up 307.5% (not a typo)
'10 Legacy sales are up 83%
Fusion sales are up 54%
Sonata sales are up 52%
Altima sales are up 43.1%
Malibu sales are up 17.4%
Camry sales are up 9%
Accord sales are up 7.5%
Sebring sales are up 5%
Mazda 6 sales are down 28.8%

*All sales figures are November '09 vs November '08

The Mazda 6 is my choice when it comes to midsize family sedans....definitely.

Six months after having replaced by 2004 Mazda6 with a 2009 model, I'll say that the first-gen owners who bag on the new car don't know what they're talking about. The new 6 is an all-around better car, period.

The 1st-gen was lighter and slightly more nimble. But it was also vitually impossible to fit an adult in the back seat, the steering was passable at best, the styling was bland, and both the I4 and V6 versions were underpowered, the V6 egregiously so. The second-gen sacrifices a little bit of agility for a much better car, and is still the most interesting midsize 4-door under $40k.

A guy I work with just got a '10 Avenger R/T with the 3.5 V6. He got a screaming deal...leather-V6-Nav- in other words almost every option for about 25K with rebates. It drives quite nice actually...the new soft touch interior is nice with its two tone dark gray and light gray leather. The new black speedo looks better than the old white backed ones. It looks mean in Inferno Red Crystal Pearl also. Sebrings are kinda funny looking but the Avenger looks a lot better. It seems like a pretty nice car to me, so if you have not been in one......try it ...you just might like it. MOPAR is doing as well as it can with what it currently has to work with. His wife has a DGC just like the LT fleet had. She had the same problem with the rear bumper but none of the interior problems the IL van had. So they got another MOPAR. I am going to replace my commuter car in a few months and have been thinking about a Fusion or Milan but his Avenger is really nice and a great price with the leather interior. I will see how the reliability is in the next few months and then I will decide.

Bodyblue-

I don't think you'll find much love for the Avenger/Sebring cousins here. It is largely agreed that these vehicles are the worst choices in the segment. Even most Mopar people admit that.

"I'll say that the first-gen owners who bag on the new car don't know what they're talking about."

I think you mean that we don't know what you're talking about, because I disagree with everything you said except that the V6 was less powerful than most competitors (and yes, I'm familiar with both cars as my brother replaced his 2003 TL with an s Grand Touring). I find that when people call a car's styling bland, they generally mean it is modern, clean, and uncluttered by the shiny bric-a-brac that has come back in style. And virtually every complaint about the first-gen car would have been satisfied by the second-gen overseas model, which is larger but lighter instead of much larger and heavier. Mazda didn't screw up the 6 as much as the 3, but it wasn't necessary to go from being close to the smallest car in the class to close to the largest just to provide additional leg room for "adults". The trunk is large by contemporary standards, but only barely larger than much-smaller 626s of the mid-80s and early 90s. If it's best-in-class, it's because the competition is so pitiful--and there are other interesting cars well under $40K--the VW CC Luxury is marred by electric power steering but has a much nicer interior, for one.

"I don't think you'll find much love for the Avenger/Sebring cousins here. It is largely agreed that these vehicles are the worst choices in the segment. Even most Mopar people admit that."

Largely agreed? Probably by folks who have never been in one. All I said is that I finally rode in one and it was actually pretty nice. I have not talked to "most" MOPAR people and I doubt you have either.

Hope he got gap insurance as part of the deal. In six months your buddy's $25k Avenger will be worth half what he paid for it. You saw it here first.