Comfortable to be in

A quiet and comfortable cabin greets passengers of the Mazda 6 facelift. It inherits extensive sound- absorbing materials, optimized A-pillars, mirror shapes and extremely tight-fitting doors for low wind noise. The original model's sound-optimized centre floor structure is also retained, along with dash panel and roof reinforcements, more rigid wheels and dynamic dampers on the upper arms of the front suspension and on the rear knuckles - for low road noise.

For the facelift's 2.2-litre diesel engines, noise that can occur during cold start is reduced . Measures taken here include revising the pressures, pattern and timing of fuel injection, revising the control of exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR), and using glow plugs which assist combustion.

    See also:

    Ride & Handling
    The Mazda5's steering response is designed to engage the driver. A turn of the wheel delivers a quick change of direction, and there's a fair amount of feedback. The suspension is on the firm side ...

    Driving Impressions
    The easy-to-drive Mazda3 handles more adeptly than most rivals. The automatic transmission delivers quick, smooth responses. Performance with the larger engine falls short of some sporty compacts, ...

    Convertible Commentary
    As mentioned, our test car had the retractable-hardtop roof, and Mazda's implementation of this type of roof has a few advantages over those from other manufacturers. First of all, it's fast; it ...