The Mazda 6i provides customers a good alternative to the Camry and the Accord.

Inside, the Mazda 6i has good-looking things!

For 2010, Mazda nailed it with the Mazda6. Gone is the slightly waffley suspension, the wide turning radius (now at 35.4 feet), the slightly sloppy handling and not very upmarket interior.

The four-banger provides good mileage!

That model was replaced by a car that feels like it benchmarked a Three Series BMW. With a 110-inch wheelbase and 215/55-17 tires on light alloy wheels, the ride is comfortable, but taut.

With four doors, there's no problem getting in . . . or out of the Mazda 6i!

Shifts of the 5-speed automatic were smooth as silk, part-throttle acceleration around town gave spot-on power. That our test car had the four-banger under the hood became obvious when, with a full load of people, the performance lagged hard up a ramp.

And, in punching it to pass on the highway, the engine felt a bit less than enthusiastic.

This comes as no surprise because the four-banger, while willing, has 170 horses coming in at 6,000 rpm and 167 foot/pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm.

The four concedes nearly 100 horses and pounds of torque to the V-6, but then you have to ask: Do you want to go with splendid power everywhere and 17/25 miles per gallon, or choose a four-banger for 21/30?

Here's another view of the Mazda 6i Grand Touring . . . which is grand!

Damning with faint praise? Hardly!

Our reviewer says the Mazda 6i reminds him of . . . a BMW!

After looking at several brands and models, she went in to look at the Mazda3, drove it and loved the way it handled. Then, she looked at the kids and all their junk, drove a Mazda6 with a four-banger and a stick, and went home with the Mazda6 with the four and the self-stirrer (reconfirming the reasons Vern fell for Angie in the first place.)

The Mazda 6 has climbed up from being a middling player to one of the best performing mid-sized sedans in its class, a tremendous value for the money, and finally a true full-blooded member of the Mazda “Zoom-Zoom” family of performance vehicles.