Jason Harper

Feb. 11 (Bloomberg) — Me, a car snob? As an auto critic, I wouldn’t like to think so, though admittedly it’s easy to get lost in the rarefied air of $100,000-plus cars and forget what choices I myself could afford.

This was on my mind as I exited the reworked Mazda6, a workaday auto that’s far better — and more fun — than it has any right to be. [To read on Bloomberg News]

A four-door midsize sedan with expressive lines, a spacious interior and surprisingly able steering, it aims to be a more exciting choice than market leaders like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

The Accord and Camry are the ultimate workaday sedans, so reliable and stalwart that they’re seen as meat-and-potato givens. The Mazda6 is targeted at buyers who want zest on that steak.

First released in 2003, this second-generation 6 was cooked up especially for the North American market, making it longer and wider and offering two lustier sources of power: a 170- horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 272-hp, 3.7-liter V-6.

Mazda also has managed to net horsepower gains (up 14 and 60) while increasing overall fuel economy. The four-cylinder gets 30 mpg highway and the V-6 25 mpg; both take regular unleaded.

Prices begin at $20,000 and $24,000. The top-of-the-line entry, like my Sport Grand Touring test car with add-on options such as a navigation system, Bose audio and power moonroof, is just under $33,000.

Made in Michigan

It’s worth noting that the car is made in Michigan, a benefit of a longtime partnership with Ford Motor Co. (which significantly reduced its stake in Mazda last year, though it still owns about 14 percent).

The Mazda6 looks pretty cool for a midsize sedan. Designers have subtly folded in elements of the RX-8 sports car, most obviously in the front fenders and wheel arches. Yet the most flattering perspective is from the rear three-quarters: A strong line rakes aft through the rear doors, eventually transforming into the top lip of the rear deck. Two large, chromed exhausts are set flush into the meaty back bumper, a nice sprinkle of spice.

My Grand Touring sedan also had Xenon headlamps and LED taillights, an example of lower-priced models scooping up technology found on up-market brands like Audi.

Since the change in dimensions, the Mazda6 is now one of the biggest in the midsize class, easily seating five. The trunk accommodates 16-plus cubic feet of storage.

Mazda’s SUV, the CX-9, won a handful of awards and critical praise for its excellent handling, especially notable for a large, seven-person vehicle. It really is a standout.

New Suspension

Because of that success, Mazda knew critics and consumers alike had high expectations for the new 6, so they completely retooled the suspension, reducing body roll and trying to negate the front-end dip that comes with hard braking.

A comfortable ride is the most essential ingredient in any family-oriented sedan, of course, and the Mazda6 offers a drama- free suspension. For a have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too proposition, the 6 mostly succeeds.

Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t a sports car — after all, it’s a front-wheel drive and there’s no all-wheel-drive available. Yet given the choice between driving a Camry or the Madza6 on serpentine back roads, I’d jump in the Mazda. And while 272 horsepower doesn’t seem all that heady these days, it’s comparable to a 1995 Porsche 911.

Wimpy Brakes

I do have a quibble with the brakes, which feel somewhat light and lend only adequate stopping power. Makes me wonder if they would go spongy after a series of screeching stops.

The V-6 is only available with a six-speed automatic transmission, and though you can manually shift using the lever, it lacks steering-wheel paddles. Usually Mazda’s six-speed manuals are quite good, and they’re still available on the four- cylinder Mazda6. Potential buyers should test both engines.

The V-6 is quiet even under hard acceleration, consistent with its goal to keeping the family happy. Nonetheless, if the interior were a restaurant, it would lean toward a sleek and modern steakhouse. The central color is black, including the plastic and leather found on the console, seats and steering wheel. The Darth Vader look is offset only by matte silver accents and red-orange lettering on the dials and gauges. It reads very guy-like.

That extends to the gadgets on the Grand Touring trim, including Bluetooth, moisture-sensing wipers, dual-zone temperature controls and a system that alerts you when another car is in your blind spot.

Unfortunately, this trim level also includes a keyless start button, which is now a cliche and ensures you’ll soon lose track of your keys or walk off with them in your pocket when you park in an attended garage. I prefer an actual key that you put into an ignition — something you still get on the less-expensive trims.

Whether the Mazda6 can take a bite out of Camry and Accord sales remains to be seen. Yet the price, style and driving character make it plenty appetizing.

The 2009 Mazda6 Grand Touring at a Glance

Engine: 3.7-liter V-6 with 272 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque.

Transmission: Six-speed automatic.

Speed: 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

Gas mileage per gallon: 17 city; 25 highway.

Price as tested: $32,790.

Best features: Interesting styling; good steering.

Worst features: Brakes are so-so; no steering-wheel paddles.

Target buyer: The driver who wants a little pizzazz with his midsize sedan.

(Jason H. Harper writes about autos for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer of this column: Jason H. Harper at Jason@JasonHharper.com.