Photos by Ulysses Ang |
Normally, when one thinks of the Mazda
brand, the image of a young driver, perhaps bordering on “boy-racer” comes to
mind. Mind you, with products like the Mazda 2, 3 and the MX-5, that’s not such
a bad thing. However, bringing back the love in everyday driving goes way
beyond the “go-fast, live-fast” mantra that’s been instilled, somewhat
unofficially, to the Mazda brand. In fact, beyond the compacts and sports cars,
Mazda is home to three bright driving gems, all of which show an equal dose of
sophistication and speed; comfort and handling fun; practicality and attitude:
the Mazda6, CX-7, and CX-9.
Driving and comparing Mazda’s executive
sedan, five-seater and seven-seater crossovers may seem somewhat odd given the
different market segments they’re supposed to cater to. However, after driving
these cars back-to-back-to-back, one thing’s clear: they’re all machined from
the same magical piece of Mazda magic. The sheet metal alone serves as an
indication to the sort of experience waiting to be discovered. Whether it’s the
6, CX-7 or CX-9, they’re equally aggressive and expressive without being
comical or over-the-top. The flowing lines and taut features continue to remain
fresh in the respective segments they’re in; while the squinting headlamps and
large, smiling grille clearly ties them together as one family.