Mazda

The 2009 Mazda6 is my new favorite mid-size family sedan. Why? First of all, it does family-sedan stuff brilliantly well. It's roomy and fuel-efficient with a great cabin and a very reasonable price tag. Second, it makes safety a priority, with six airbags and electronic stability control standard in all models, even the cheapest one. And third, it's brilliant to drive. The standard four-cylinder engine delivers plenty of power (the optional V6 delivers tons more) and the road manners are fantastic -- the Mazda6 is amazingly fun in the curves, yet it has a smooth, quiet ride that makes it a pleasure to live with on a day-to-day basis. If there's a downside to this car, I haven't found it yet.