UNSUNG HEROES: Mazda 6 (2002-2007)

The car that rejuvenated Mazda with an unlikely halo-effect across its line-up.

AS Mazda celebrates its 100th birthday. There will be countless tributes and columns dedicated to the RX-7 and the MX-5. In all fairness, they were the cars that put Mazda on the map. They're great sports cars, and are the Japanese company's landmark models. But Mazda are also famed and well-respected for their engineering integrity and thinking outside the box.

However, I do think there is one car that is worthy of recognition to celebrate its centenary is with the original incarnation of their Mazda 6 saloon. At the very least, it deserves a mention and is something of an unsung hero from the Japanese company.

When the original Mazda 6 arrived in 2002, as the replacement for the 626. It literally caught everyone by surprise. For years, Mazda's line-up of everyday cars were very forgettable. That's not to say they were bad cars, as Mazda had a good reputation for making reliable cars. They just never left much in the way of a lasting impression like drinking a glass of water would.

But they lacked any design or engineering flair that their sports cars had in abundance. Which left you feeling cold with no emotional response or attachment. Dull but worthy white goods. Then came the arrival of the Mazda 6. It was one car that single-handedly, transformed its rather dowdy image overnight.

What Mazda made here, was a smart and slick family saloon. That wouldn't fade into the background in the company car park that its predecessor would. Compared to the usual Mondeo, Passat, and Vectra of the day, the Mazda 6 stood out like a swan in the canal full of ducks and geese.

Furthermore, the 6 single handedly rocked up the D-segment sector at that time as well. As the motoring press raving about the Mazda's solid build quality, sharp handling, and good road manners. The beauty also lied with the engineering as well as the styling.

'More than any family saloon has expects and has any right to be', something reviewers and critics would probably have said about the Mazda 6. Many loved the fact that it had sporting pedigree, and feel good factor behind the wheel like its very own MX-5 (Miata).

Given how the Mazda 6 pleasantly shocked and surprised the motoring press. Consumers were soon taken in by the Japanese company's family saloon. As a complete package itself, the Mazda 6 was enough to lure buyers and fleets out of their usual Mondeo, Passat, Vectra, or maybe even their BMW 3-Series or Audi A4. Rated as a smart and credible alternative to what many would've considered before.

Reception was well received by the media and the public alike. So much so that Mazda used the successful 6 as a template. For re-inventing themselves as a maker of mass produced cars with some sporting pedigree. Which in effect, created a ripple effect within the Mazda brand. As was seen with newer cars that arrived in Mazda's line up in the following years.