Under the Hood

The Mazda6 features a front and rear independent suspension. Four-cylinder and V-6 options are normal in this segment, but the standard six-speed manual transmission (with the four-cylinder) plays up Mazda's performance roots. There are also two automatic transmission offerings: The four-cylinder engine can have an optional five-speed automatic transmission, and the V-6 comes with a standard six-speed automatic (it can't be had with a manual). Mechanical features include:

* 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 167 pounds-feet of torque * 272-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 with 269 pounds-feet of torque * Six-speed manual transmission * Optional five- and six-speed automatic transmissions * Optional push-button start * Optional keyless entry and start system

    See also:

    Safety
    The Mazda6 features the normal array of airbags, including side-impact airbags for the front seats and side-curtain airbags. Stability control is also standard. The sedan received a top overall ra ...

    Mazda6 2008 review
    Mazda's midsize front-wheel-drive sedan benefits from a sportier nature than some of its competitors. Either a four-cylinder or a V-6 can be installed in the Mazda6. Both a manual and an automatic ...

    Class-leading aerodynamics
    We adopted a new approach, called "airflow management," to optimally control the flow of air. Conventional car designs create a large amount of drag, a loss that adversely affects aerody ...