I drove Mazda's answer to the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry - and I was blown away

Dennis Green/Business Insider

The Mazda6 Signature in all its glory.

• The Mazda6 is Mazda's midsize car.
• It competes with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry directly, though it distinguishes itself by focusing on performance and "zoom zoom."
• I tested a Signature model with a manufacturers' suggested retail price of $34,750, but the base edition carries a starting price tag of $21,950.
• I liked everything from the design of the car to the way it looks and drives, but it had some admittedly weird design flourishes.

The Mazda6 is not to be overlooked.

That's my conclusion after spending a few days with the car and driving it hundreds of miles through three states.

The Mazda6 is a roomy, midsize car, but it feels like so much more. That's because its thoughtful design is evident throughout the vehicle, and its refinement feels like a class above.

The Mazda6 competes with other midsized cars like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry directly, though it distinguishes itself by speaking to driving enthusiasts in the language of "zoom zoom." And that's evident by the way the car drives.

Still, Mazda is a niche player. Mazda sold only 22,618 cars in 2018 as of August, compared to the hundreds of thousands sold by the bigger players, according to sales figures from Kelley Blue Book. Worse news for people who love four-door sedans: the midsize segment itself is suffering a dramatic overall decline. Sales are down 20% year-over-year as consumers opt for crossover SUVs and pickup trucks.

That's a shame, since the Mazda6 can easily hold its own against some of the best automotive offerings. I had the chance to take the 2018 Mazda6 for a spin, and I wound up falling in love.

I tested a Signature model with an MSRP of $34,750, but the base edition carries a starting price tag of $21,950. Here's what we thought: