Sporty Family Cars

Roomy new 2010 Mazda6 wins over the experts

Most family cars emphasize interior space, a quiet ride and overall dependability more than handling; "fun to drive" isn't a phrase that's often applied to family sedans. But several 2009 models promise to add more focus on responsive handling and power than others.

The all-new 2009 Mazda6 (*Est. $18,550 to $28,465) earns rare perfect scores in government crash tests. But reviewers don't notice: They're too busy talking about how fun the Mazda is to drive. "The new Mazda 6 continues to be the rowdy, spirited stud of the mid-size pack," Car and Driver reports. The 2009 Mazda6 gets a sleek exterior that critics love, plus one of the biggest interiors you'll find in a family sedan. Edmunds.com praises its "impressively large 16.6 cubic feet of trunk space E Texas-sized front seats and a backseat fit for 6-footers." Autobytel.com agrees that the Mazda6's front and back seats easily pass "the self-behind-self test of our 6-foot-2-inch-tall editor."

Despite its size, "the Mazda6 feels like a two-year-old thoroughbred that wants to run" -- even with the base four-cylinder engine, The Truth About Cars' William C. Montgomery writes. The Wall Street Journal and Car and Driver recommend the four-cylinder Mazda6 over the V-6 version, too, for its cheaper price and class-competitive fuel economy (23 mpg mixed city/highway with the manual transmission, or 24 mpg with the automatic). Other testers get better acceleration with the Mazda6's optional 272-horsepower V-6, which is the most powerful engine you'll find in this class. However, fuel economy with the six-cylinder drops to just 20 mpg in mixed city/highway driving -- which is the main reason critics give for not recommending the Mazda6 as the best family car overall.

Another practical, moderately priced family car that drives like a sports sedan, according to reviews, is the 2009 Nissan Altima (*Est. $19,900 to $29,380). Some of the most reliable experts still maintain that the Altima is the sportiest family sedan you can buy. They find it more agile and responsive than either the Honda Accord (*Est. $20,905 to $28,955) or Mazda6 (*Est. $18,550 to $28,465), with ample room and a nice interior. Several pick the Altima as the best family car, period.

However, other experts aren't nearly as impressed with the Altima's handling or ride, which can be stiff. The Altima's average reliability doesn't compare to the Accord's excellent dependability record, either, reviewers say. The Altima delivers good gas mileage for a family sedan, thanks in part to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which testers find either smooth and effortless or downright fun-sapping. "Governing the CVT is a strict old schoolmarm with her hair in a bun and yardstick in her hand," warns William C. Montgomery at The Truth About Cars. "She's got nothing but fuel economy on her mind." A six-speed manual transmission delivers similar gas mileage (and presumably, a more entertaining experience behind the wheel).

Critics love the Australian-built Pontiac G8 (*Est. $28,250 to $37,610), but some wonder whether it has any place in today's world. The Pontiac G8 GT's 6.0-liter V-8 engine lets the sedan roar from zero to 60 in 5.3 seconds. More than one reviewer classes the G8's taut, excellent handling with the likes of BMW and Porsche. And it still delivers a roomy, comfortable ride, experts say. Jonny Lieberman at The Truth About Cars calls the G8 "the best American car I've ever driven." Unfortunately, the Pontiac G8 gets worse gas mileage than just about any other family car (18 mpg with the V-8, though the base car's V-6 isn't much better, averaging 20 mpg). With American families now worried about fuel economy -- and the economy, period -- critics say the G8 may have arrived too late.

The Chrysler 300 (*Est. $26,665 to $44,160) and Dodge Charger (*Est. $24,835 to $38,970) are built on the same platform. Both offer aggressive optional V-8s and bold styling, but few experts recommend the 300, and even fewer recommend the Charger. The consensus among critics is that the Pontiac G8 is a far better choice for anyone looking for a muscular family-hauler.