Overview & Reviews

With a few well-established vehicles dominating the midsize sedan segment, and numerous likable competitors trying to unseat them, it's tough for any particular vehicle to stand out. But the Mazda 6 has often offered something most competitors don't: charisma.

While just about any car in this segment will get the job done, the Mazda 6 manages to engage the driver in the process. This was particularly true of the first-generation 6, which had a relatively compact, European-size footprint and sporty suspension tuning that gave the car a remarkably nimble feel. For the second- and third-generation 6, Mazda enlarged the dimensions but retained much of the original model's handling panache. Whichever vintage you choose, the Mazda 6 is a solid choice as a midsize sedan.

Current Mazda 6
The Mazda 6 midsize sedan comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. Two transmissions are available: a six speed manual or a six-speed automatic (with shift paddles on the steering wheel).

Sport, Touring and Grand Touring are the three trim levels for the current Mazda 6. Standard equipment on the base Sport with the manual transmission includes a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, air-conditioning, cruise control, full power accessories, a 60/40-split rear seat and a six-speaker sound system. The automatic transmission-equipped Sport gets Bluetooth, an infotainment touchscreen and a rearview camera.

Stepping up to the Touring adds items such as keyless ignition and entry, blind-spot monitoring, dual-zone climate control and a power-adjustable driver seat. Options for the Touring include automatic headlights, a sunroof, an upgraded sound system, navigation and a frontal collision mitigation system. The Grand Touring gets all the standard and optional features from the Touring, plus bi-xenon headlights, foglights, leather upholstery and heated front seats. Notable options for the Grand Touring include adaptive cruise control and the i-Eloop system that improves fuel economy by 2-3 mpg.

Visually, the 6 is no wallflower, with a distinctive face and a sleek profile that stands out in a crowd. In terms of practicality, the Mazda 6 also stacks up well against class leaders such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry with regard to passenger space and cargo volume. Moreover, most midsize sedans can't match the Mazda's entertaining character on twisty back roads. The car's main downsides are an electronic interface that's a little behind the times and a ride quality that some drivers might deem a tad too stiff.

Used Mazda 6 Models
The newest, third-generation Mazda 6 appeared for 2014. Compared to the previous-generation model, the latest 6 differentiates itself with sleeker styling, higher fuel economy and added safety features. Mazda hasn't made any major changes since.

The second-generation Mazda 6 debuted for the 2009 model year and was produced through 2013. There were two available engines: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 170 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque or a 3.7-liter V6 that put out 272 hp and 269 lb-ft. The four-cylinder was paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic, while the V6 was only available with a six-speed automatic.

In its second generation, the 6 was available in five trim levels: i Sport, i Touring, i Touring Plus, i Grand Touring and s Grand Touring. Models with the "i" prefix come with the four-cylinder engine, while those with the "s"prefix come with the V6. Base models were respectably equipped, while higher trim levels came with such niceties as a sunroof, Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control and an audible blind-spot monitoring system. Other notable options included xenon headlights, keyless ignition and entry, satellite radio and a navigation system.

As with other Mazda 6 models, we appreciated this generation's sporty handling. It was also pretty practical thanks to a roomy interior and a big trunk. On the downside, though, fuel economy wasn't the best in the segment and interior materials were lackluster. In its final couple years, this 6 also seemed increasingly outdated compared to newer rivals from Hyundai, Nissan and Toyota. But overall we think it's still worth considering as a used family sedan.

Launched for the 2003 model year and produced through 2008, the first-generation Mazda 6 was initially available only as a sedan, while a four-door hatchback and a wagon joined the lineup from 2004-'07. There were two basic trim levels: i and s. The Mazda 6 i was powered by a 160-hp four-cylinder engine mated to either a manual or an automatic transmission. The s came with a 220-hp 3.0-liter V6 -- also available with a manual transmission or an automatic.

The Mazdaspeed 6 was a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive variant of the Mazda 6 sedan that was only offered in 2006 and '07. Boasting 278 hp, a six-speed manual transmission and sports-car-like handling, this European-style sedan delivered great driving excitement. As a used car, it's a compelling package for those with a need for speed, not to mention all-wheel-drive traction.

With power accessories, cruise control and pleasant cloth upholstery, even base models were reasonably well equipped. Optional features included a rear spoiler, foglights, leather seating, a power sunroof and an upgraded audio system with a CD changer.

We like the original Mazda 6 for its edgy, handsome design and stylish interior. Even more impressive were its communicative steering and tight suspension. Both the hatchback and wagon were fun-to-drive and sensible alternatives to other sedans and even SUVs. On the downside, the first-gen Mazda 6's interior quality was lacking, and the sedan was relatively short on passenger space. Moreover, the V6 lacked the punch of rival uplevel motors.

There were a few changes made to the first-generation Mazda 6 over the years. In 2005, a six-speed automatic replaced the five-speed unit on V6 models. For 2006, four-cylinder cars received an upgraded five-speed automatic in place of the old four-speed, and all Mazda 6 models were treated to minor styling updates. The 2006 and '07 models benefited from additional safety features being made standard.

User Reviews:

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  Beautiful, fun to drive - 2010 Mazda Mazda6
  By David - October 25 - 10:23 pm

  Purchased a couple of weeks ago. Got the solid black; exterior styling most attractive on the road, kudos to the designers. Was appealing that the car, though selling well, is somewhat rare compared to the other brands, and very eye catching. The touches in the Touring Plus trim line with the leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift really set off the inside. Interior fit and finish is excellent, very high quality look and feel. Got the 4-cyl to get better gas mileage (got 29 MPG on first tank of mostly highway), but the engine theyre using is not particularly well engineered when compared to the performance of my older model 4-cyl Camry.

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  Brakes - 2008 Mazda Mazda6
  By annoyed - October 4 - 10:30 pm

  This is my second 6. I had a 2006 Mazda 6 and recently purchased a 2008 6. I have just 2,000 miles and once AGAIN, my brakes are shuttering and pulsating and my steering wheel has vibration from the brakes.I had the same issue with my 2006. Now I have to again bring the car in to be checked. The only concern is after I repaired the 2006, new brakes, rotors, I had to after, 1,500 miles have the new rotors re-surfaced! I am hoping I do not have the same issue all over. Mazda needs to fix this problem! I do not think I will purchase another Mazda. This is a pain, to say the least, also quite expensive to repair.

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  Sport Sedan of Choice - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By nomovdubya - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Goal: replace 99 Passat. Finals: Acura TSX and the Mazda 6. 13 and 11 year old need four doors.Pluses: TSX interior, tad nicer but not by much,lighting on the gauges better on the TSX, 6s are nice but harder to read in day with lights on.6s moonroof switches better location.A/C controls ease of use a wash. The ride and handling of both cars is great,but for less money(Mazdas deal, Acuras dont) Mazdas V/6 beats the TSXs 4cyl on reg vs prem gas. 6s rear seat plus 2inches leg room and a bigger trunk, and nifty rear seat release levers in the trunk. Hopefully, reliability will be better than the VW.

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  Unique and Stylish - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By Battleaxe - September 30 - 6:06 am

  This is the first Mazda Ive owned. Its been a great car for the past 2 years. I love the performance and styling. I get comments all the time asking what kind of car it is. Ive only seen a few others on the road. Mileage isnt great, but at 220HP, I dont expect a lot, especially the way I drive. I really like the internal components in that the vents close completely, the controls are easy, auto temp AC, seat heaters. Theres tons of room when the seats are down. Just a great car.

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  Great Car - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By James C - September 26 - 6:30 pm

  My wife and I bought our 04 used, it had 90,000km on it, Weve had it for about 3 weeks now and its been a dream driving it. We shopped for over 1 year and found this to be the perfect car. We have a 9 month old daughter and needed a car that was big enough for everything we had to lug around, as well as be fun to drive. The 6 hit the mark. With the car seat in the center of the back seat (due to side airbags deployed from front seats) there is still enough room to put the front seats all the way back. The 3L V6 is a little big for what we wanted, but with the 5 speed manual, its a lot of fun to drive and so far the fuel mileage seems to be good, even in cold winter driving (Canada).

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  Mazda6 Sportwagon - 2005 Mazda Mazda6
  By Bruce - September 25 - 9:33 pm

  Comfortable and sporty - much more fun to drive than my old Odyssey (but I miss the extra seats). Winter driving has been a pleasant surprise - the traction control really works. Factory finishes are good - Michelin tires, leather interior, etc. No problems in 14,000 km of driving. A very reasonable ($50) dealer service. The only "shortcoming" is with cruise control - accelerating with the steering wheel button often causes the transmission to kick down to a lower gear rather than simply accelerating in 5th. Fuel economy is not as good as expected but it runs fine on regular gas - something that cant be said for a lot of the other cars I considered.

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  A Great Car for a Great Price - 2005 Mazda Mazda6
  By Tick131 - September 24 - 7:30 am

  I recently purchased a Mazda 6 at the beginning of this year after an accident left my Honda Civic totaled. I looked at Pontiac G6s, Hyundai Tiburons, Civics, a Lexus and even BMW to replace my beloved Honda. After testing a BMW 325, I discovered a Mazda6 sitting on the lot, intrigued by its designed I took it for a drive, and was blown away. Id never thought to even look at Mazda, but this had exactly what I wanted: great looks, great equipment (almost fully loaded), great handling & performance, and a value I couldnt pass. The manual is much sloppier than my Civic, but feels like a rocket ship despite its competitions better numbers.

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  AWESOME! I love this car - 2004 Mazda Mazda6
  By Pete - September 23 - 10:00 am

  So, this is the first time I have EVER felt compelled to offer an online review. I am 43 years old and have owned 12 new cars, and this is by far the best. GREAT looks, catlike handling, a very smooth ride, it is very quiet and silky smooth. With incentives, and out the door price at 23k invoice this is the steal of the century. Mine has everything but leather (any leather burns your legs in summer, and is cold in winter, and is slippery). The Lapis Blue is stunning when seen in person. Manual transmission smooth and precise. Gripes? Ha! Get real, go see for yourself. Wish list - Nav as an option.

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  Zoom Zoom!! - 2011 Mazda Mazda6
  By monkeytoes - September 23 - 5:03 am

  It is a great car for someone with a family and it also great for the single person. I have had mine for 1 month and I am 100% happy with the car. I only wish the V6 motor had a little more power behind it! I think the car shifts way too early which cuts down on the horsepower. My previous cars were 2.0 and this is a 3.7 and I am confident is saying the 2.0 was much quicker off the line. The gas mileage is taking some getting used too. I am averaging 23.5 miles both highway and city.

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  Mazda Zoom Zoom - 2007 Mazda Mazda6
  By sar3000 - September 15 - 12:33 am

  This is my first new car in 20 years and its awesome. The styling blows away Honda and Toyota. So far after 6 months there have been NO issues except it requires a weekly washing. Everyone loves to ride in "zoom zoom".