Ride & Handling

In keeping with Mazda's tagline of offering "Zoom-Zoom" cars, the Mazda6's suspension tuning is on the firm side for a midsize sedan; if you've driven some of its competitors, it's much more similar to a Nissan Altima's taut ride than a Toyota Camry's relaxed suspension. While this kind of suspension tuning means you're more likely to feel bumps or holes in the road — some of which hit quite hard — it pays off when you get on a winding country road, where the Mazda6 handles corners quite nicely and resists body roll.

Wheels and tires can affect a car's ride quality, and the Mazda6 is offered with a number of different setups. Sixteen-inch steel wheels are standard, but I tested cars with 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels. The sedan with the 18-inch rims — which also have the lowest-series tires — had a slightly firmer ride than the one with 17-inch wheels and taller tires.

It doesn't take much muscle to guide the Mazda6 through corners, as its steering effort is on the light side. It's very responsive, though, as the smallest turns of the wheel make the car change direction. My one complaint with the setup is that it's too easy to turn the wheel when cruising along on, say, the highway. At times like this, it's nice to have the steering wheel feel a little heavier for enhanced straight-line tracking. The Mazda6's steering system doesn't have this sensation, though, which opens up the possibility for unwanted skittishness.

    See also:

    Keys
    WARNING: Do not leave the key in your vehicle with children and keep them in a place where your children will not find or play with them: Leaving children in a vehicle with the key is dangerous. ...

    AUX Mode (Auxiliary input)
    You can connect portable audio units or similar products on the market to the auxiliary jack to listen to music or audio over the vehicle's speakers. WARNING: Do not adjust the portable audio u ...

    Exterior
    The outside of the Tribute didn't get as much of a face-lift as did the Escape. The grille lost its crossbar, and the Mazda logo has moved up, while the headlights and taillights are new. Fog ligh ...