You’ve got to get things just right if you're trying to compete in the mid-size sedan category vehicles.

With car buying on the rise, and so many of the biggest sellers in this category (Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry), anyone debuting a redesign in this category needs to dazzle to stand a chance.
Mazda recognizes this, and has come out with an impressive 2014 version of its Mazda6 mid-size sedan, and I recently got to spend a week with one. I'm back with a full report on what it offers, how it compares to its rivals, and who might be interested in buying one.

LOOKS
Looks aren't necessarily the primary factor people buying a mid-size sedan consider, but people still want to look sharp when they're driving down the road.
The Mazda6 is completely redesigned for 2014, and stands up well against its competitors in terms of overall design and has a classy type of vibe to it despite a reasonable price.
I tested out the top-of-the-line Grand Touring version of the Mazda6, with all the bells and whistles, but there are also more affordable Sport and Touring models available with less features.
My Grand Touring 2014 Mazda6 featured standard 19-inch alloy wheels, but the wheel size is smaller on the other models.

INTERIOR
I was a fan of the interior design in the Mazd6, which offers a decent amount of room in the back seat and trunk.
The Grand Touring model features a more luxurious look inside, and my test vehicle featured white leather-trimmed sport seats that were extra comfortable. I also had the option to preset a couple seat settings on the driver's seat, so you don't have to adjust every time. On Sport and Touring models, you can go with more basic cloth or vinyl seats for a lesser cost.
Thomas F. McDonald, Midwest Public Relations Representative for Mazda North American Operations, also said they tried to keep this vehicle with an upscale look inside via the materials choices: "There's not a lot of hard plastic on interior of the vehicle," he said.
If you choose touring or sport, can get vinyl or cloth seats.

ENGINE, HP
There is one engine offered on the 2014 Mazda6, regardless of trim level. It's a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that provdes 184 horsepower and 185 foot-pounds of torque.
You can get a manual transmission on Touring or Sport, but only automatic is offered on Grand Touring (though it has the paddle shifters available).
In my experience driving the Mazda6, it wasn't the best at getting up to speed, but it felt pretty strong once you got going. It was a somewhat quiet ride, but not the most quiet I've experienced. In short, there is adequate but not great power.
The car also did a good job for me in the area of handling and responsiveness to driver input, too. It was quite the sporty ride from a car you might not expect to have that.

MPG
I averaged 32 mpg during my time with the Mazda6; this was in line with the official numbers (28/40/32 combined), which are among the best in class. If you drive on the highway a lot, getting close to 40 mpg is a pretty tall accomplishment for a nonhybrid vehicle.
Part of the reason Mazda rates well in the mpg ratings is its Skyactiv technology program, which is aimed at trimming weight off of every part of the vehicle.

TECH FEATURES
A 5.5-inch screen touchscreen comes with the Grand Touring mode.
Also available is navigation (a TomTom based system) and the very helpful adaptive cruise control (which slows the car down for you if another vehicle jumps in front of you while you are in cruise control mode). This adaptive cruise takes a while to get used to, but is very helpful once you get used to it.
The central tech system in the Mazda6 can be used for making voice phone calls via Bluetooth connection, and to control your music or navigation. My experience on the Mazda6 is that the system worked pretty well, but was less sophisticated and user-friendly than tech systems I have seem in some of its competitors in the segment. The navigation, also, worked well for the most part; but occasionally through me in the wrong direction when i was a little out in the sticks and away from cities.
Other helpful features that come standard on the Grand Touring model include rain-sensing wipers, heated side mirrors and power moonroof. Some of the features can be added on Sport or Touring models via packages.

SAFETY FEATURES
Safety is the name of the game with today's cars. Grand Touring models feature a standard rear camera and standard blind spot warning (warns if you're going to hit someone in blind spot).
The optional tech package also offers other safety features like a warning when someone is approaching when you are backing out.

MUSIC, SOUND, PORTS
WIth the Mazda6 you'll get a USB port standard, Bluetooth capability standard, and an AUX jack standard. I had a souped-up Bose system on my test vehicle, but you'll get a standard stereo on Sport and Touring models.

PRICE
The Sport model of the Mazda6 starts a hair over $20,000 as the base price. The Touring's basic price is $23,645 base price. My test vehicle started at $29,695 and that number grew to over $32K. ($29,695 base plus tech package, a couple touches and destination charge). Know this: Whether you get the base model or the Grand Touring, engine and drive train are the same. What you change as you upgrade is you're adding safety, comfort and luxury features.

BOTTOM LINE
The newly redesigned 2014 Mazda6 offers a smooth ride and high MPG. Their competition is annual best-sellers, so the going will be tough for Mazda to get big sales numbes, but with a car this sharp they're sure to turn a few people away from the usual favorites. This is a classy ride inside and out that might appeal to people with a small family who don't necessarily need an SUV or crossover yet. And plenty of single folks will like it too, as it looks very sharp.