Our favorite mid-size car, the Mazda 6, has been sweetened for 2017 with a bit more standard equipment; prices have inched up by $500 or less, depending on model. Importantly, the choice of a manual transmission remains, and not just on the base car.
The opening gambit for the 6, the base Sport model, is now $450 dearer than before at $22,780 with the manual transmission; the automatic is unchanged at $23,830. Both get Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control, which slightly tweaks torque delivery to the front wheels when the steering wheel is moved off-center, in order to boost turn-in response. (This technology is newly standard on all Mazda 6?and Mazda 3?models.) The manual also sees the addition of the Mazda Connect 7.0-inch touchscreen with rotary knob controller?which was already standard on the automatic. Other standard fare includes push-button ignition, a backup camera, and 17-inch wheels. Moving up to the Touring trim level, we again find a manual transmission available at a starting price of $25,030?the automatic is $26,080. Both represent a $250 bump versus last year. That extra cash nets buyers Smart City brake support, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic headlamps. As before, the Touring trim level comes with 19-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a power driver’s seat, faux-leather upholstery, and other finery. Buyers are invited to fancy it up further with the Bose/Moonroof/Satellite Radio Package ($1325) and the Touring Premium P...