 I love car shopping, so when the lease on my 2010 Mazda6 Touring was up, I made the rounds to midsize dealers.  The Mazda/Kia/Nissan dealer offered me a better deal on a beautiful, well-equipped Kia Optima, easily the best-looking sedan this side of a Jaguar XE. So I drove it, but when I got to the corners, I noticed the Optima's handling was worse than my 2010 6.  I paid a bit more for a soul red Mazda6 with the sand leatherette interior, and I agree with the car magazine editors who love its driving characteristics.  With the optional tech package (a must) one gets the Bose stereo, navigation, blind spot monitoring, bluetooth, back-up camera, etc.). No issues after 20 months.  Update after 32 months: Stellar fuel mileage (36 highway with 80mph speed limit).  Comfortable seats.  Exceptional handling.  Nice automatic transmission (no CVT for Mazda), but I miss the V6.  Road noise a bit of an issue, but no worse than the Accord.  Bose stereo merely adequate.  I doubt I would lease a newer one, since I want a car with a smooth V6. (No, Mazda, putting the turbo 4 from the CX-9 into a 2017 6  is not going to entice me). Furthermore, I dislike the new (since 2015) interior design with tacked-on infotainment screen.  I only hope I can find a car that I enjoy driving as much as this Mazda6.  If only I could afford to lease a Jaguar XE.