Mazda has been selling a family car for decades, starting with the 1979 model year when the original 626 arrived in the U.S. and continuing in 2003 when the name changed to Mazda 6. Always pitched as a sporty alternative to the typical boring sedan, over the years the Mazda 626/Mazda 6 has sometimes been offered in a wide variety of configurations and has sometimes been limited to a sedan-only existence. Variations of the lineup have included sedans, hatchbacks, and station wagons; normally-aspirated and turbocharged four-cylinder engines in addition to V-6 engines; and rear-, front-, or all-wheel-drive configurations. Mazda has always offered a manual transmission in this model, in addition to an automatic. Now, the 2009 Mazda 6 is completely redesigned and bigger than ever, built specifically for U.S. consumer tastes and offered only in a sedan body style.

Here is a summary of the major changes for the 2009 Mazda 6:
• Designed, developed, engineered, and built in the U.S.
• Sedan only; no hatchback, no station wagon
• Longer wheelbase, wider track, larger interior
• New 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine
• New 3.7-liter V-6 engine
• More power, better fuel economy
• Manual transmission only offered with four-cylinder engine
• Active Adaptive Shift technology for greater responsiveness from the automatic transmission on V-6 models
• Added emphasis on safety features and crash protection
• New technology including keyless unlocking and ignition system, blind-spot monitoring system, Bose Centerpoint surround sound system
• New wheel designs in 16-, 17- and 18-inch sizes
• Six new colors for 2009

The 2009 Mazda 6 is called the 6i when equipped with a four-cylinder engine and the 6s when equipped with a V-6 engine. The Mazda 6i is offered in SV, Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trim, while the Mazda 6s is available only in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring specification.

Sport models add cruise control, an auxiliary input jack, remote keyless entry with jack-knife key design, steering wheel controls, and automatic up/down front windows. Selecting the Sport model is also the pathway to an optional 5-speed automatic transmission, as the Mazda 6i SV comes only with a manual gearbox. For the Mazda 6s Sport, a 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift feature and 17-inch alloy wheels also come standard, along with chrome dual exhaust trim.

The Touring model includes 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, an 8-way power driver’s seat, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry system with push-button start, electroluminescent gauges, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, a trip computer, and an anti-theft system. The Mazda 6s Touring also has 18-inch alloy wheels.

The Mazda 6 Grand Touring is equipped with leather seats, heated front seats and outside mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, Xenon headlights, LED taillights, a blind spot monitoring system, Bluetooth, Homelink, and other upgrades. Models with a V-6 engine have unique 18-inch alloy wheels.

Factory options are few, supplemented by several accessories available through the dealer. For the Mazda 6i, a 5-speed automatic with a manual shift gate is available on Sport, Touring and Grand Touring models. The Touring can also be outfitted with a Convenience Package that adds Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, Xenon headlights, cloth and leather upholstery, blind-spot monitoring, rain-sensing wipers, and outside welcome lighting. The Touring and Grand Touring can be equipped with a package that includes a power moonroof, a Bose Centerpoint surround sound system, and Sirius satellite radio. Grand Touring models are available exclusively with a touch-screen navigation system. Notable among the dealer accessories are a remote starting system, a rear spoiler, splash guards, wheel locks, and a cargo net for the trunk.

The 2009 Mazda 6i is equipped with a new 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 167 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm running on regular unleaded fuel (slightly less with regionally available Partial Zero Emission Vehicle equipment). A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on the Mazda 6i, and a 5-speed automatic with a manual shift gate is optional, both driving the front wheels. This engine is rated to deliver 20 mpg city/29 mpg highway with the manual transmission and 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway with the optional automatic. Our test car, a Mazda 6i Touring with the automatic, averaged 22.6 mpg in mixed driving.

The 2009 Mazda 6s is powered by a new 3.7-liter V-6 engine making 272 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 269 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm, running on regular unleaded fuel. A 6-speed automatic transmission with Active Adaptive Shift technology and a manual shift mode drives the front wheels. This powertrain is rated to return 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway.

Safety equipment on the 2009 Mazda 6 includes dual front airbags, dual seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats. Every Mazda 6 also comes equipped with four-wheel-disc ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, traction control, and stability control. The front seats are equipped with whiplash reducing head restraints, and the brake and accelerator pedal assembly is designed to crush and break away to limit lower leg injury in an accident. A blind spot monitoring system is offered on the Touring and Grand Touring models as an option.

J.D. Power and Associates says the 2009 Mazda 6 competes against other midsize cars such as the Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, Saturn Aura, Toyota Camry, and Volkswagen Passat.