Zooming along with the Mazda6

MANILA, Philippines - Some say that Mazda’s “zoom zoom” tagline are just mere words from an inspired copywriter of an ad agency. Some also say that when you drive the immortal 1968 BMW 2002 and then take the wheel of a 2009 BMW 3-series coupe, you will instantly feel that you’re in a BMW. That’s automotive DNA that only the boys from Bavaria can replicate.

But the heroes from Hiroshima have imbued every Mazda with their own zoom-zoom DNA as well. Which probably explains why Mazda is the only Japanese car company to have won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Not Honda with its vast F1 experience. Not Toyota with its mighty financial and technological muscle. It was li’l ole Mazda. And it is undoubtedly why the Mazda6 is an absolute ball to drive.

While mid-sized sedans like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord take the heavy body/big engine (3.5-liter V6s) approach to high-speed luxury, the P1,599,000 Mazda6 embraces the nimble, light-footed approach: a trim, athletic chassis matched to an energetic and much more fuel-efficient 2.5-liter 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve motor with variable valve timing.

It’s no slouch in the numbers game, though, developing 170 ps at 6000 rpm and a generous 226 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. That’s way more than you need for Metro Manila driving.

Indeed, a prod of the throttle is enough to display the 6’s appetite for zoom-zoom. The combination of a relatively smaller body (compared to the Accord and Camry), an over-achieving engine, and a responsive 5-speed automatic with manumatic function result in exhilarating acceleration even in day-to-day driving. Keep your feet planted and you’ll see triple digits on your speedometer in 7 seconds or so. That’s just a couple of ticks off a Porsche Boxster’s time.

But it’s not just in a straight line where the Mazda6 shines. Approach an S-bend and marvel at the way the car hugs the road. And it’s not just wide tires-gripping-the-asphalt type of handling. In fact, the Mazda6 owes its agile character not to being “over-tired,” but to the BMW-like tuning of its front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension, both ends benefiting from thick stabilizer bars for truly flat cornering.

The engine speed-sensing electric power rack-and-pinion steering is light and alive, giving tactile feedback to what the front tires are doing and how much traction they have.

Of course zoom can quickly become doom if the car doesn’t have commensurate stopping power. And in this area, Mazda doesn’t just specify four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, EBD, etc. etc. Even compact cars have those systems now. What they don’t all have is the superb feel you get when you step on the Mazda6’s brake pedal.

It’s firm with – again – just the right amount of feel, delivering lots of delightful feedback to a spirited driver attacking a winding road. Needless to say, stopping power is immense and full of control, even from triple-digit speeds.

But what if you’re really in danger of losing it? Mazda fitted the 6 with a state-of-the-art electronic traction and stability controls, similar to those found in high-end European luxury sedans.

But the zoom-zoom DNA doesn’t just manifest itself in the mechanical aspect of the 6. Take a corner hard and feel the seats hug you in all the right places, keeping you from sliding into the center console or the door. No need to grip the tilting-and-telescoping steering wheel to hang on. You merely hold it to pilot this car – and you’re always in absolute control.

Which makes the thoughtfully designed and spacious cabin almost like a bonus. The interior might not be as luxurious as those found in the Camry and Accord, but it’s plenty comfy and cosseting nonetheless. It’s even got a power tilt-and-slide glass moonroof. And typical of Japanese cars, storage areas abound in the cabin.

All of which make the exterior styling the rich, sinful icing on the cake. Aside from its expressive visage, the Mazda6 boasts sweeping lines and curves that would be right at home on a low-slung exotic car.

How many sedans have you seen with the 6’s oh-so-sexy front fenders with those fabulous Mazda RX-8-inspired horizontal panels that sweep down into the headlamps? Subtle side skirts, big alloy wheels, a crisp character line that stretches from the driver’s door all the way to the wraparound taillights, and a graceful window-line that terminates in a pointed arrowhead at the rear edge of the side windows all help to create a taut, athletic profile.

The rear view is just as racy, with a steeply raked backlight that looks almost like a hatch, culminating in a high-tailed trunklid that delivers twin benefits of good aerodynamics and a large trunk space. Pointed edges on the nicely detailed trapezoidal taillamps, a sexy rear bumper with a discreet diffuser at the bottom, and dual polished exhaust tips all result in a sporty yet luxurious look.

The Mazda6 is truly a joy to behold. But the real joy starts when its driver turns on the ignition, shifts to Drive, and steps on the gas pedal.