2009 Mazda6 i Touring

If you’re a numbers kind of person who likes to get the most for your money, the four-cylinder variant of the 2009 Mazda6 should make perfect sense to you. It gets better mileage than its six-cylinder-powered 6 sibling, produces fewer tailpipe emissions, has the same five-star crash ratings, and does it all for thousands less. But do the numbers tell the whole story?

In an effort to find out, we performed a comparison of sorts, pitting our V-6-powered 2009 Mazda6 S Grand Touring long-termer against the four-cylinder-equipped 2009 Mazda6 i Touring we recently had in for a test spin.

Our long-term 6 has drawn rave reviews from the staff since joining the MT fleet a few months ago. Decked out in range-topping S Grand Touring trim, it features a 272-hp V-6 in addition to options including navigation, sunroof and a Bose audio package -- pushing the price to $32,790. Our short-termer, meanwhile, arrived in mid-range i Touring trim with Mazda’s 168-hp PZEV-rated four-cylinder engine, optional convenience package (standard on the S Grand Touring) and the same optional sunroof and Bose audio package.

With similar trim levels, the real question comes down to engine choice. We’re fans of Mazda’s new 2.5L MZR four-cylinder, which smartly hustles the smaller Mazda3 around. It’s a smooth-revving and quiet engine with a nice, linear power curve that does a fine job of moving the larger Mazda6 in most situations. But give it the spurs when merging with freeway traffic or driving hard in the twisties, and it can feel sluggish.