Mazda

2010 Mazda 6 i Touring Plus

Sporty character, modern looks and good value.

By: Juan G. Robbin

Most sedans are a series of compromises, few get the mix right. Mazda seems to have gotten the secret formula and applied it to the Mazda 6 in the perfect proportions. Mazda clearly is emerging as the sportiest of all of the Japanese mainstream brands by offering a recipe of style, value and performance.

Approaching the Mazda 6 from the front, you can’t help but to notice the now signature look of the dramatically flowing front wheel fenders, a design philosophy of “Emotion in Motion” that Mazda calls Nagare. This emotion in motion idea has made its way into the Mazda lineup creating a family DNA that does make this manufacturers’ design stand out from the other, sometimes bland Japanese forms.

The lighting design, both front and back is dramatic, with sloping light covers extending into the fenders, which for most manufacturers today, this design element seems to be de rigeur. There are elegant contoured exhaust tips that give the rear end of the Mazda 6 an elegant flair, similar to more expensive sedans from the Continent.

Inside, the Mazda 6 offers all of the typical amenities and accoutrements that this vehicle segment expects, yet with more of a European flair than its competitors. The seating position is superbly comfortable, and touch areas feel 1^st class throughout the cabin. We liked the welcoming and soothing greeting from the infotainment system as well as the cleverly designed and useful buttons and switchgear. Fit, finish and trim are excellent, offering a design that sets the Mazda 6 apart from its competitors. Rear seat is typical for a sedan of this size, that is to say, comfortable for two, tight for three. We did notice a lower than usual roof line due to the sloping design angle towards the rear of the top, making it a bit more of an entry/exit challenge for those taller than average.

Driving the Mazda 6 feels more like a European sports sedan than a Japanese four door. Steering feedback is good, with almost no torque steer feel. Power on the Mazda 6 i Touring Plus is compliant and smooth; however, we would have liked a bit more power, especially when four adults are in the vehicle. Mazda does offer a 6 cylinder, 272 HP model as well. We tried several high performance braking events from 60-0 and the Mazda 6 felt surprisingly tight and strong, with no hint of brake fade or pedal mushiness. Cornering, the Mazda 6 feels tight and with good dampening and feedback.

Feeling sporty, yet not having to break the bank doing it? Then the 2010 Mazda 6 should be placed on top of your short list of contenders.

The Essentials:

MSRP: $23,750.00     MSRP (As tested): $24,930.00 for the i Touring Plus
MSRP pricing range: $18,600.00 for the i SV up to $28,540.00 for the s Grand Touring.
Fuel Economy (observed): 25.5 MPG
Engine: I-4, 2.5 liters, 170 HP
Popular Options: Sat. radio, Navigation.
visit: www.mazdausa.com

2010 Mazda CX-7

By Juan G. Robbin
A weekend in Napa Valley with a 2010 Mazda CX-7 Sport Front Wheel Drive.

Recently, this writer and his family did a long weekend stay in California’s Napa Valley wine growing region, enjoying decadent dining as well as world class wines. Mazda supplied us with a new 2010 CX-7 Sport FWD ideally suited for our wine region extravaganza. We made arrangements to stay in the town of St Helena, a quaint town on the northern end of the valley. We chose the Harvest Inn as our home away from home while in Napa. From our second floor terrace, the expansive vistas of the adjoining vineyard as well as the dramatic mountain ranged called the Mayacaymas where breathtaking. www.harvestinn.com

The Mazda CX-7 is a compact SUV that offers excellent versatility combined with good fuel economy. The look is crisp and modern and definitely is in keeping with the current Mazda Nagare theme, or “motion and flow” design philosophy. The front wheel fenders have a flowing arch and the rear hatch has a sweeping dramatic, almost exaggerated angle which creates a superb side profile for the CX-7.

Our 1st stop was the famous Chateau Montelena which became known after the stunning win in the 1976 Paris wine tasting event. This historic win clearly put Napa Valley on the radar screen of wine drinkers the world over. www.montelena.com

Inside the CX-7, the driver and its passengers are greeted with a neat and efficient interior. We loved the high-center dash information screen that also houses the handy-dandy rear back-up camera display. Additionally, this small screen is also used when the optional navigation package is ordered. Seats are sporty yet comfortable. Controls and switchgear feel great, maybe, even better than in some Japanese premium brand versions. There are plenty of cup holders as well as cubby holes, making the CX-7 a pleasure to use as a multi-person hauler.

The afternoon brought us to the superb, single vineyard winery called Nickel and Nickel. The tasting was held for us in the intimate setting of their 19th century restored house. We sampled their reds and whites, as well as their world famous desert wine called Dolce. Afterwards, we got a tour of their cellar where the attention to detail is astounding. Each barrel stack is perfectly lined and the floor is impeccable. www.nickelandnickel.com

One of the most pleasant drives we did during our 450 miles with the CX-7 was crossing over the valley towards Point Reyes where we picked up Highway 1. This is a spectacular road which borders the Pacific Ocean, cliff-winding its way south. The CX-7’s four-cylinder, 161 HP engine surprised us with its spirited performance as well as its excellent efficiency. The dramatic curves on Hwy 1 can be a challenge in most cars, while the CX-7 managed it with gusto! Brakes and steering feel direct and positive, even during aggressive turns. Throttle pedal resistance is excellent, making the CX-7 easy to drive smoothly. Our car came with the optional moon-roof as well as heated front seats. Curiously enough, we encountered multiple micro-climates along the way, going from A/C one minute to ambient temp heat 10 miles later. A must stop along Highway 1 is the famous Muir Woods reserve. There we experienced the majestic redwood trees, most being more than 100 years old.

One other winery we visited was Swanson Vineyards. This is a small, boutique winery that we discovered their wines by coincidence while having dinner the night before. Liking the wine so much, we called them and made reservations for a tasting. We were pleasantly surprised with the taste and quality of their wines not to mention their hospitality. www.swansonvineyards.com

The Napa region has hundreds of wineries that will satisfy the taste and budget of any wine drinker, all while having a great time and learning something new in the process.

Knowing that we would be four adults with luggage, the CX-7’s cargo capacity would be put to the test. We accommodated four medium suitcases as well as several personal bags. Yeah, it was maxed out, but we still managed to put everything we brought in the rear cargo compartment, quite impressive.

The 2010 Mazda CX-7 SUV: Nimble, sporty and superbly designed, offering an excellent blend of comfort, style and efficiency. The Napa region is blessed with superb weather, beautiful mountains and valleys as well as spectacular grapes that grow to become some of the best wines in the United States. Ironically, the color of our 2010 Mazda CX-7 was a red that looked like it was poured out of a bottle of Napa Merlot.

The Essentials

• MSRP: $22,340.00 MSRP (As tested): $25,110.00
• Fuel Economy (Observed): 24.5 MPG
• Engine: Inline 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, 161 HP
• Popular Options: Convenience Package, Navigation Package, moon-roof.
• visit: www.mazdausa.com

2007 Mazdaspeed 3

By: Juan G. Robbin

2007 Mazdaspeed 3
Mazdaspeed 3 (2007)

The now famous Mazda commercial: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom ! rings true with the Mazdaspeed 3; This is a car that turns any drive into a fun event. The High performance division of Mazda is called Mazdaspeed. This sporty wagon is the newest member of the Mazda family and it’s definitely making a mark with enthusiasts and fans alike.

Take a sports wagon, add sports seats, bigger wheels, a turbo charged 263 HP engine, finish off with an aggressive exhaust note and suspension. Wrap it around a handsome and stylish exterior, producing a winner.

The exterior, with its angular lines is current and fresh. Once inside, you are greeted with distinctive and supportive sports cloth seats that are six way adjustable. There is a complete dash with excellent information but disappointingly, there is no boost gauge to see what the turbo is actually doing. Mazda states that there is no need for one as the engine’s electronic controls takes care of managing the turbo. The Mazdaspeed 3 is stylish, fast, fun and easy to incorporate into any lifestyle. It has the comfort, agility and versatility of a small wagon plus the sporty feel of a sports sedan or coupe.

Rear seats are typical sedan-like, with the added bonus of being foldable enabling an increased space in the cargo compartment. During our time with the Mazdaspeed 3 we simply could not get enough of this car! We looked for excuses to go places so we could drive it. And drive we did, putting over 800 miles in less than a week’s time.

We loved the direct connection to the steering and brakes in addition to the smooth and capable suspension feedback, especially under hard, aggressive cornering. We wished Mazda had a less sensitive clutch as it was hard to be seamless all the time with the gear shifts. There is also a noticeable amount of torque steer but only during full acceleration, not enough to make it uncomfortable though. Torque steer is simply something you live with when you have a front wheel drive car with lots of horsepower.

Mazda has a winner with the Mazdaspeed 3. We loved the wide appeal and capability of this car. Definitely worth a serious look even if you are considering something twice as expensive. Sports car aficionados verdict: The Mazdaspeed 3 is an excellent sports car that happens to have five doors !

There is a sports version and a Grand Touring edition for $2,300.00 more than the sports which brings a center, pop-up navigation, Bose audio and a six CD changer.

The Mazdaspeed 3 is one of my top picks for fun to drive cars this year. I give it: Five Stars !

The Essentials

MSRP: $22,240.00 As tested: $24,980.00
Fuel Economy (observed): 21 MPG
Engine: 2.3 liter, 4 cylinder turbo charged, 263 HP
Popular options: Grand Touring package, Sirius Sat. radio
Visit: www.mazda.com