Mazda 6 (2013-2022) Review

The Mazda 6 is a stylish saloon offering low running costs, an engaging experience and good equipment levels

Strengths & weaknesses

  • Distinctive design
  • Energetic and sporty to drive
  • Low running costs
  • Limited choice of engines
  • Tight rear headroom for tall passengers
  • Some reliability concerns

If you’re looking for a car with more space than a Ford Focus-size hatchback, then an increasing number of buyers are choosing crossovers, like the Nissan Qashqai and VW Tiguan, which combine the efficient mechanical parts from family cars with the higher driving position and interior space of an off-roader.

But opting a larger car like the Mazda 6, is likely to cost a similar amount, and offer more legroom in the back, as well as a more comfortable and smooth ride.

Despite the Mazda 6’s saloon shape, with its small boot opening, it comes close to the practicality of a hatchback or crossover, which have bootlids that open up the entire back of the car. That’s thanks to the folding rear seats, which allow you to slide luggage into the interior.

In total, there’s 1,632 litres of luggage space, which is big - but not quite as big as the rival Skoda Superb. With the back seats in position, the Skoda’s boot is 625 litres compared with the Mazda’s 489 litres. You can opt for more space with the Mazda 6 estate.

There’s plenty of space for occupants in the front, but the curved roof comes at the expense of rear headroom. Three average-sized adults can sit on the back seat comfortably, but anyone taller will feel their head brushing the rooflining. Legroom is reasonable but again, the Skoda Superb offers loads more, and more headroom, too.

Despite a comprehensive update earlier in 2016, the Mazda 6’s interior styling, and quality trail key rivals including the Ford Mondeo. However, its dashboard screen is simple to use because it uses a dial, making it less distracting to operate while driving.

Even in basic SE trim the Mazda 6 is well equipped, while at the other extreme, Sport Nav boasts features including a head-up display and LED headlights that can light your way around corners. Getting the right combination of features isn’t that simple. For example, if you must have an automatic transmission, then you’re restricted to expensive SE-L Nav or Sport Nav trims.

The Mazda 6 is a large car that can be a handful to park. Fortunately, parking sensors are fitted on SE-L trim and above, while Sport Nav brings a very useful rearview camera.

The Mazda 6 is great to drive. The car is quick to respond with a change of direction when you move the steering wheel, and you have a sense of how much the wheels have turned, helping you to steer the car accurately.

It’s not as smooth over bumps as the similarly-sized Mercedes C-Class or Audi A4, but it is comfortable and steady.

Key facts

Warranty 3 years
Boot size 489 litres
Width 1840mm
Length 4870mm
Height 1450mm
Tax (min to max) £20 to £130

Best Mazda 6 for...

Best for Economy – Mazda 6 2.2d 150PS SE Nav

The diesel engine in this Mazda 6 has the highest official fuel economy figure of 68.9mpg, making it an ideal choice for high-mileage drivers, as the fuel savings will pay for the higher purchase price.

Best for Families – Mazda 6 2.2d 150PS SE-L Nav

The 2.2d 150PS SE Nav is good value but the extra equipment that SE-L Nav brings, including parking sensors, is well worth making the stretch for since it turns the model into a reasonably luxurious and very safe family motor.

Best for Performance – Mazda 6 2.2d 175PS Sport Nav

With a 0-62mph acceleration time of just 7.9 seconds the 2.2d 175PS Mazda 6 is the fastest version.

One to Avoid – Mazda 6 2.0 145PS SE-L Nav auto

Avoid this automatic version of the car, which is the least efficient in the line-up. It’s the slowest and thirstiest, and the most expensive to tax.

Understanding Mazda 6 names

Engine 2.2d 150PS

The numbers referring to the engine's size, in litres. If there's a letter d, then this indicates a diesel engine. They are available in different power outputs indicated by their power rating – in this example, 150PS, which is another way of writing 150 horsepower (hp).

Trim level SE-L Nav

The trim level indicates how much equipment comes as standard. The cheapest and least well-equipped Mazda 6 is the SE model, followed by SE-L and then Sport. Trim levels with Nav include sat-nav.

Mazda 6 Engines

Petrol: 2.0 145PS, 2.0 165PS
Diesel: 2.2d 150PS, 2.2d 175PS

The Mazda 6 is powered by a choice of 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel engines, all with i-Stop technology which stops and starts the engine to save fuel, and each available in two power outputs. They power the car’s front wheels through, on most versions, a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. The exception is the more powerful of the two petrol engines (the 2.0 165PS) which is only offered with a manual gearbox.

In manual form, the lower-powered diesel engine, badged 2.2d 150PS, is the most economical, as well as being the cheapest to tax. At the opposite end of the scale is the 2.0 145PS petrol auto, which also happens to be the slowest. The quickest engine is the 2.2d 175PS. It’s also very economical so a good choice for sporty drivers with an eye on running costs.

Worth noting, if you’re looking at an older used Mazda 6, is that in 2013, the 2.2d 150PS engine was made more efficient. Meanwhile, if you’re looking to buy nearly new, from August 2016, all the diesel engines were became quieter and more responsive. At the same time, sound insulation was improved across all versions.

 

 

Fuel

Fuel economy

Power

Acceleration

Top speed

2.0

Petrol

47.1 - 51.4mpg

145PS

0-62mph: 9.5 - 10.5s

129mph

2.0

Petrol

47.9mpg

165PS

0-62mph: 9.1s

134mph

2.2d

Diesel

58.9 - 68.9mpg

150PS

0-62mph: 9.1 - 9.8s

127 - 130mph

2.2d

Diesel

58.9 - 62.8mpg

175PS

0-62mph: 7.9 - 8.4s

134 - 139mph

Mazda 6 Trims

SE, SE Nav, SE-L Nav, Sport Nav

The Mazda 6 is a family car but one which, like most models of its type, is aimed squarely at the company car market. For this reason even the basic SE model is well equipped, highlights including manual air conditioning, electric windows all-round, 17in alloy wheels, cruise control, a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen, a DAB digital radio and Bluetooth. SE Nav adds a sat nav but costs around £700 more. Both trims are only available with the least powerful petrol and diesel engines, and only in manual form.

SE-L Nav trim adds dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, privacy glass and Smart City Brake Support, a system that applies extra braking force when it senses an impending low-speed collision.

Top-of-the-range Sport Nav goes the whole hog with 19in alloy wheels, keyless entry, LED headlights that cast their beam in the direction of the curve ahead to give you a better view, a reversing camera and electrically powered leather front seats. It also brings a head-up display so you don’t have to take your eyes away from the road.

Mazda 6 Reliability and warranty

Mazda’s three years, or 60,000 miles, warranty is not especially generous. It’s the same as Ford’s but BMW’s mileage allowance is unlimited over the three-year period.

The model is relatively average for reliability, ranking 79 out of 150 cars in the Auto Express 2016 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. Quality appeared to improve in August 2016, when an updated model with better sound insulation, improved dashboard software and additional safety features was launched.

Used Mazda 6

Big discounts on new cars mean even larger reductions for used buyers, making the Mazda 6 an excellent second-hand purchase.

You can pick up a year-old Mazda 6 for around 30% than its official new price. That discount grows to almost half for a two-year-old car. Although some of these will have been sold before the car was updated in February 2015 (it was updated for a second time in August 2016), these early cars are still worh buying, as they feel more responsive to drive, even though they are a little less comfortable over bumps.

Business users tended to order diesel versions of the Mazda 6, meaning that there's no shortage of them on the used market, so you can afford to be oicky and fin d the car in the specification that you want. Petrols will be a little cheaper and if you’re a low to average-mileage driver, will make more sense.

 

   

List price

BuyaCar new

1 year old

2 years old

 

Best for performance

Price

£26,795

£23,075

£17,990

£14,390

 

Mazda 6 2.2d 175PS Sport Nav

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13.9%

32.9%

46.3%

 

Best for families

Price

£23,895

£20,325

£15,700

£12,495

 

Mazda 6 2.2d 150PS SE-L Nav

Save

 

14.9%

34.3%

47.7%

 

Best for economy

Price

£22,995

       

Mazda 6 2.2d 150PS SE Nav

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Other Editions

6 Tourer (2013 – 2022)

Handsome and good value, the Mazda 6 offers a left-field alternative for estate car buyers