TEST DRIVE > 2006 Reviews > Mazda Speed6
Mazda Speed6 twice the fun. Stylish sedan performs with zippiness of sports car.
 2006 Mazda MAZDASPEED MAZDA6 Grand Touring
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The Mazda Speed6 more than lives up to its name. You can call this thing a sedan if you want, but once you get to know it, you'll see that it's really a sports car trapped in a sedan's body.
It's a nice sedan's body, though, so if you think you'd feel guilty about buying an official sports car, this vehicle can ease your conscience.
Mazda is turning out some really top-notch products these days, and this one is at the forefront.
The performance-car lover in you will appreciate the 2.3-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine. It's impressive just to look at, not to mention to fire up.
It cranks out 274 horsepower and a whiplash-inducing 280 pounds-feet of torque. Its 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds is stunning.
Automatic transmission drivers need not apply; this baby comes only with a six-speed manual shifter.
Shifting is smooth and exhilarating, especially at higher speeds. Coming out of first gear can sometimes be a little awkward, thanks to a somewhat moody clutch, but that poses no problem as you pick up speed.
As if all that zippiness weren't enough, the Speed6 also comes with all-wheel drive.
Its suspension is rigid and handles like the sports car in disguise that it is. Taking curves and corners is a joyous exercise.
Steering is pretty precise and braking is crisp, which is what you want when you've got this much power at your disposal.
The Speed6's design is a neat mixture of classic sedan and sporty, probably leaning a bit more toward the latter. You can actually turn a few heads driving this thing.
But, alas, it is still technically a sedan, so it's got stuff that a sedan should have.
Stuff such as standard niceties --- power door locks, windows and mirrors --- as well as very comfortable front bucket seats and a center console with a lockable storage compartment and power outlet.
The back-seat area is not too skimpy on space, so you can put the kids there in relative comfort, especially for short trips.
Gas mileage is pretty good, too, considering the strength of the turbocharged engine. EPA figures are 19 mpg city and 25 highway.
The Speed6 presents a pretty good value for two cars in one (sedan and sports car). The test drive vehicle was $33,325, which included a cargo net in the trunk, power moonroof and navigation system as options.
When speed is what you need, but practicality is what you need even more, the Speed6 might be just the right number.
