The current generation Mazda6 is what I believe has brought back some credibility to driving or owning a Japanese car. Prior to this I do not think of any mid-sized Japanese cars that had technology already common to the Germans and, surprisingly the Koreans.

The Mazda6 is one of the first new Japanese cars with Direct Injection (like most German cars and some Korean cars these days) and one that has eco-friendly gizmos that actually make sense instead of just hybrid this and hybrid that.

It also comes with decent built quality, ergonomics as well as having decent handling and drivability too. But after sitting on one recently, I think Mazda, or the Japanese manufacturers need some further polishing to do.

Now the cabin of the Mazda6, or the 'Kodomobil', as I like to call it (after its 'Kodo' exterior design language) is a pretty nice place to be in. All of its controls are where you expect it to be and the materials used are pretty good to the touch.

I would like more tactile feel in some of the secondary switches but it isn