Our view: 2003 Mazda Mazda6

Maybe it was the color.

It would have been easy to blame the appeal of the new Mazda 6 on its ravishing, radiant and all-too appropriate “Speed Yellow” exterior, one of eight wild shades available for the Japanese automaker’s newest midsize sedan.

Speed Yellow? In a family setting?

Let me tell you, it made a “family sedan” look like a sports sedan. It made the 6 look like it was moving even when it was standing still.

It made one woman ask the obvious.

“Is that a sports car?” she asked, during a stop at a gas pump during a trip through southeastern Michigan.

You’re close.

Colors can fool you. Driving cannot.

The new Mazda 6, the successor to the popular 626 and Millenia, is a wolf in a disco suit.

Tired of dull? Sick of sensible? No longer into vanilla? The 6 gives you six very good reasons to believe “family sports car” is not an oxymoron.

It’s roomy. It’s rambunctious. It’s stylish. It’s fun. It’s affordable. And did we mention colorful?

Performance white. Redfire red. And, of course, speed yellow. Mazda’s got it all covered.

If you are willing to give up a little room, the 6 is a ride to consider. It can haul kids. It can flat-out haul. In a rather congested family sedan marketplace, it is a breath of fresh air – if not a new brushstroke in the paint shop.

It’s fitting that the 6 would, in our opinion, be such a statement.

It wasn’t long ago that Mazda was only really well known for its rotary engine RX-7 sports car. More than 20 years ago, the 626 put a whole different spin on things. Consumers were searching for an economical alternative to the tight rides offered from Europe. The 626 offered all of the above.

After a series of redesigns turned it from a sedan to a hatchback to a coupe to a little of everything, the 626 and Millenia eventually floundered, caught in the glut of the midsize market that offered better vehicles that were outstanding performers (see: Honda’s Accord, Toyota’s Camry and Volkswagen’s Passat).

To budge back into that group, you’ve gotta be different. Here’s where the 6 comes in.

How is it unique? It starts with a new design philosophy called “Emotion in Motion,” an athletic appearance and performance, and extends from the turn of the key all the way to your right foot.

It’s all part of the plan. Because the 6 will be sold in markets the world over, it needed to be all things to all markets. For Europe, it needed to be solid on open roads. For Japan, it needed to be compact on crowded streets. For the United States, it needed a strong engine, a smooth ride and lots of room inside.

Check. Check. And almost a check.

In its most basic form, the 6 is a blast to drive. And for something new, that’s not a bad place to start.

It comes with one of two aluminum power plants, both of which can hum. Standard is a 2.3-li ter twin cam four-cylinder engine making 150 horsepower. In that version, called the “i,” a five-speed manual transmission is standard, but buyers can opt for a four-speed automatic.

In the “s” trim, an available 3.0-liter V-6 makes 220 horsepower and, unlike most midsize sedans with a V-6, this one can be equipped with a manual transmission, or you can opt for the five-speed automanual transmission.

The 3.0-liter, our tester, is all zoom-zoom. It surges forward, attacks twists in the road and never lets up – whether it’s in first gear or fifth.

On the open road, the 6 is sneaky fast, a ride that will snap heads back and keep them planted in the headrest.

With four-wheel independent suspension taking turns will have the family oohing and ahhing. Take the back roads and the smiles really come out.

Like most other vehicles in the Mazda fleet, but (again) unlike most midsize sedans, the 6 is fun. Though a little heavy at lower speeds, Mazda’s new steering goes a long way to increasing road feel in something under 20k.

From the outside, it looks fresh. A pointy nose extends to smooth sides, low-slung ground effects and a high back end with a spoiler on back.

Inside it stays fresh. It is clean and contemporary in terms of design. There is a high level of quality, fit and finish with controls that are easy to understand and easy to reach. Except for the seat heaters.

Strangely, they are positioned in front of the center armrest area, practically hidden from site and, in that way, difficult to tell whether they are turned on or off.

Titanium plastic trim abounds, and Mazda has incorporated round shapes to express what they say is the “fun to operate” quotient.

Roominess is a touchy subject. Rear-seat riders get a center armrest, but shoulder and leg room is a bit tight for a car of this class. Because of a length and wheelbase that is shorter and more narrow than its competitors, the 6 has less headroom in the front and rear than an Accord or a Taurus and significantly less shoulder room and leg room.

A split folding rear seat back expands the trunk’s cargo area from 15 feet to 17. With the seats up, though, the 6 holds less than its competitors.

On safety, there’s no need to worry about the family being unsecure. The 6 is equipped with standard front dual-stage air bags that inflate according to crash severity. Side air bags that deploy from the sides of the front seat backs and a side curtain air bag system that protects front and rear passengers are also available.

Other safety measures include anti-whiplash front seat designs, three-point seat belts for all seating positions and a new gas-and-brake pedal design that is said to limit lower leg, ankle and foot injuries in accidents.

Two other important factors. First, it’s affordable. The 6’s base price starts in the low 19s and doesn’t go much higher than 25k – less than an Accord in both trim levels. And it’s practically domestic.

The 6 will be produced in Flat Rock, Mich., and Mazda’s parent company, Ford, will use the platform for its next sedan.

On the whole, the Mazda 6 is more fun than most midsize sedans on the market. Plenty of the credit for this goes to its superior blend of steering, brakes, suspension and driver comfort.

Not an Accord. Not a Camry.

But for a change, that’s not a bad thing.

2003 Mazda 6

Rating: 3.5

High gear: Great styling, an adventurous engine and a fun-to-drive factor make Mazda’s newest 6 a near-perfect 10.

Low gear: Shoulder and leg room can get a little tight with four or five adults and unique placement of seat heaters is unusual.

Vehicle type: Front-wheel-drive, front-engine, four-door, five-passenger sedan.

Key standar d equipment: Five-speed manual transmission; four-wheel independent suspension; all-season tires; front and rear disc brakes; traction control; four-wheel ABS; eight-way power height-adjustable driver’s seat; split-folding rear seat; rear heating ducts; remote power locks; one-touch power windows; power mirrors; cruise control; tilt steering; speed-proportional power steering; climate control; AM/FM in-dash single CD player with six speakers.

Key competition: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Dodge Stratus, Ford Taurus, Chrysler Sebring

Base engine (s model): 220 horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6

Torque (S model): 192 foot-lbs. @ 5,000 rpm

Wheelbase: 105.3 inches

Length: 186.8 inches

MPG rating (manual): 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway

Manufactured: Flat Rock, Mich.

Warranty: Basic warranty is four years/50,000 miles; the drivetrain is four years/50,000 miles; body corrosion is five years/unlimited miles; roadside assistance is four years/50,000 miles.

Base price (I model): $19,050

Price as tested (including options, destination and delivery: $25,350