2007 Mazda 6 Sport Wagon Grand Touring
Finally, a car company has the guts to admit they make a wagon. In the case of the Mazda 6, it's a darn good one. I am so sick of hearing the name crossover when you, me and Dupree all know that this automotive buzzword is well, just a buzzword. Give us your weak, your tired, your wood paneling. So many great things have been associated with wagons -- who can forget Chevy Chase's Family Truckster? -- it's hard to figure out why the marketing machines of Detroit are so eager to get rid of this once prestigious title.
Mazda as a brand is easy to overlook, but they offer a ton of great cars at very competitive prices, from the Mazda 3 to the Mazda 6, in sedan and wagon configurations. It's hard to see why they don't have the same sales base as the other Asian automakers, because Mazda continues to produce well-rounded vehicles. We logged some serious miles behind the wheel of our wagon and were impressed by its build quality, comfortable ride and its high utility value. The exterior has some upscale design touches. It has a sporty low-profile look and has just enough sharp angles in its shell to appear equal parts modern and sporty. We loved the front-end treatment and especially loved the ultra-cool high intensity headlight treatment that only comes in this trim level. Visibility is great, with narrow pillars all the way around the car, so you feel surrounded by more glass than a greenhouse. A sporty rear spoiler and a wrapping rear taillight treatment add up to a very solid, versatile little package.
Our tester came optioned out as a Sport GT, which gave it nice looking 17-inch wheels and a peppy 212 hp 3 liter V6. Thankfully Mazda didn't try to go too sporty with a stiff suspension, instead opting for a taut yet forgiving shock-dampening setting that was more suited for highway cruising than a slalom course. We logged serious miles behind the wheel of our light gold tester (the car looks better in darker paint) and were equally impressed with its in-town and highway prowess. This is a solidly built car, as if the entire vehicle is built from one solid piece of metal, which is a high compliment to pay for a car in this price class. You expect to feel that quality of build in a $95,000 Jag, but in a $35,000 station wagon... no way. The Mazda also offers very respectable fuel economy rating, notching 20 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. And we actually did a little better than the posted rating, which almost never happens.
Interior appointments were equally impressive. Both front and rear seats came with leather trim and were comfortable if a bit underpadded. The GT gets special red backlit gauges that look great in the dark. Two large, easy-to-read gauges take center stage behind the wheel with the tachometer to the left and the speedometer due right. The fold-open navigation system was about our only complaint, as it appeared to be a delivery system from two or three generations ago. It is operated by a removable remote control that is planted just to the left of the gear shifter. It too seemed a bit out of place and was difficult to operate. Most cars in the class have touch screen systems that are more intuitive and easier to use -- think CRT when it should be LCD. All in all this is a very minor complaint considering everything the Mazda wagon offers, and that is a lot. So don't be afraid to wade in the water. They say everything old becomes new again and the Mazda 6 S Wagon GT proves that point.
--Chad Doering
