The zoom of 6

MANILA, Philippines -  When people buy a midsize sedan nowadays, they almost always go for a Toyota Camry, a Hyundai Sonata or a Honda Accord. While these three luxury sedans are exceedingly accomplished cars, people are unwittingly shortchanging themselves by not bothering to check out the Mazda6.

In pictures, this car looks great. In the flesh, it looks even sleeker – almost like a four-door sports car. (The fact that you don’t see too many on the roads lends it a certain level of exclusivity, too.)

And boy does it drive well! Mazdas have always been the BMWs of Japan – sporty in looks and in driving dynamics (even as a four-door sedan). The P1,688,000 Mazda6 embraces the nimble, light-footed approach: a sleek body matched to an energetic 2.5-liter 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve motor with variable valve timing.

This powerplant generates 172 ps at 6000 rpm and 228 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. That’s way more than you’ll ever need for city driving.

Indeed, tipping into the throttle is enough to display the 6’s appetite for zoom-zoom. The combination of an athletic chassis, a high-performance engine, and a responsive 5-speed automatic with manumatic function result in exhilarating acceleration even in day-to-day driving. Keep the pedal to the metal and you’ll see 100 kph on your speedo in a pretty brisk nine seconds or so.

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 18-inch tires-gripping-the-asphalt type of handling. This Mazda owes its agile character to its astute BMW-like tuning of its front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension.

The engine speed-sensing electric power steering seems too light and lacking in feel at low speeds, but gives more feedback to what the front tires are doing and how much traction they have at higher speeds. Strong braking is via four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). Mazda also fitted the 6 with a state-of-the-art electronic traction and stability controls, similar to those found in high-end European luxury sedans.

All of which makes the spacious and well-designed 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.

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.

The Good

• Curvaceously sexy styling

• Smooth, strong engine

• Delightfully responsive handling

• High build quality

• Built-in moonroof

• Superb 8-speaker Bose MP3/WMA audio system with AUX connectivity

The Bad

• Sporty cockpit could be more luxurious

• No big V6 option (at least locally)

• No paddle shifters

The Verdict

• Still – and seemingly always will be – the Japanese Ultimate Driving Machine.