Mazda6

Fixing an issue like road noise is relatively easy. The trouble arises in the tradeoffs, not always foreseen, that arise when engineers alter a car’s character to satisfy customer complaints. (Our man Bob Lutz recently wrote an entire column about this.) In the case of the 6, the problem was that the tires’ quietness came at the expense of grip and feedback. You know, the stuff that made the 6 appealing in the first place. To restore the lost joie de vivre, Mazda changed the front suspension geometry, re-tuned the dampers and bushings, and eliminated the bushings between the steering rack and the front subframe. All pretty standard suspension tweaks, it’s worth pointing out. Yet compared to most automakers—certainly the ones selling mainstream sedans—Mazda seems to have a better sense of the feel it’s looking for.More at www.oktilli.com