There's more than 96 cubic feet of useable space inside the 6s, according to the EPA measuring system, and that translates as plenty of room for four, or five in a pinch. The rear seats are quite comfortable. The flipping mechanism for the 60/40 split rear seat makes for easy switchovers from people to cargo hauling duties, and pops the seat back up just as easily as it goes down. There are half-liter and smaller cupholders in the doors and both front and rear center consoles, and lots of other open and covered storage. The new seat pockets and door pockets are huge. The interior door handles lacked heft.

Leather is in all the right places in the Mazda 6s. The front seats, with perforated leather seating areas, are comfortable through a wide range of adjustments. The interior design is complemented by carbon fiber, titanium and body-color finishes along with three choices of leather color. The sharp new gauge package and other controls are illuminated in red light, but are conventional black and white during the day, with nice, large callouts, labels, and pleasing graphics.

The Sport Package includes clear-lens halogen foglamps, dual exhaust outlets, a front air dam, side sill extensions, a rear apron and a rear spoiler with an integral center high-mount brake light. The new shape, accented and highlighted with this package, is truly fetching in hot colors.

The trunk compartment is quite a good size at more than 15.2 cubic feet, and the trunk lid is designed with hinges that do not impinge in any way on the storage space. The compact lateral link rear suspension system allows for a perfectly flat trunk floor.