Mazda 6

The all-new Mazda 6’s look breaks through the clutter of a crowded segment. Its design is expressive, and the 6 is now lighter, shorter, and lower. It’s powered by a 2.5-liter direct-injected four—no more V-6—and a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel is on the way. A six-speed manual or a new six-speed automatic perform shifting duties. There’s an upscale interior, but powertrain choices are limited: there’s no all-wheel drive or a hybrid. Still, we love its finesse and named it to our 2014 10Best list.