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Is a used Mazda 6 a good buy?
Large family saloon cars don’t tend to hold onto much of their original value over time, which while being a pain for drivers who bought it new is a blessing for used buyers. Thanks to their steep depreciation, it means you can pick up a pretty spacious car for a relatively slim amount of money.
While this is most apparent with upmarket cars, it also applies to more mainstream models - after all, you can save a hefty chunk of change with a used or nearly new mass market model than you would with a brand-new like-for-like one. If you’d prefer something that’s a bit more left-field than a Volkswagen Passat or Skoda Superb, then a worthy candidate is the Mazda 6.
It's certainly worth short-listing if you’d prefer your used family car to be a bit of a head-turner on the road. The early versions of the Mazda 6 were quite striking to look at and the light tweaks made to the basic shape in the years since have sharpened the styling even further.
On the inside, the Mazda 6 hasn’t aged as gracefully, though the interior is at least solidly-built while post-facelift cars from 2018 onwards do at least get some more contemporary creature comforts over the early models.
One constant across the Mazda 6 is its fun and engaging handling. Considering how long the car is, the Mazda 6 is quite nimble and responsive plus there’s decent grip when cornering. Despite this sporty setup, the ride on the Mazda 6 isn’t firm or uncomfortable.
Which used Mazda 6 should you buy?
Because the Mazda 6 hasn’t been as strong a seller as some other family cars of this size, the used market isn’t awash with examples. If outright ride comfort is a priority for you, you may want to avoid the GT Sport models – these came as standard with big 19-inch wheels, so don’t ride over bumps and potholes as smoothly as the models with smaller wheels.
What used Mazda 6 trim levels are available?
On the equipment front, the Mazda 6 was fairly well specified, with all cars getting air-conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth and all-around electric windows. Most get a touchscreen display with built-in sat-nav. The Mazda 6 did get a few nip-and-tuck spec upgrades throughout its life and had a more comprehensive mid-life refresh in 2018, so you may want to go for one of the later cars if you’d prefer a few more mod cons on your Mazda 6.
Mazda 6 SE
If you were specifically after an early entry-level version of the Mazda 6, then the SE models are the ones you’ll want to look out for. This spec was the starting point of the Mazda 6 range until it was removed from the order forms in 2018, and came as standard with cloth seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning and cruise control.
There was also an SE Nav version of this Mazda 6 spec. As its name implies, the feature list was broadly identical, with the main addition being built-in sat nav on the car’s 5.8-inch touchscreen. For 2015, the screen size was increased to seven inches.
Mazda 6 SE-L
Many of the features on the Mazda 6 SE-L were carried over from the entry-level SE model, though this spec did bring to the table a few notable creature comforts. Front and rear parking sensors came as standard, for instance, as did automatic air-conditioning, rear privacy glass and automatic windscreen wipers.
Just as with the SE spec, the Mazda 6 was also available with an SE-L Nav version, which came with the same equipment as the standard SE-L in addition to built-in sat-nav. For 2018, the car’s touchscreen was updated to a more modern system and grew in size to eight inches.
Mazda 6 Sport
If you’d prefer your Mazda 6 to have the looks to back up its fun handling, then the Sport models may be the way to go for you. Standard-fit Bi-Xenon headlights give the car a more distinctive look, and the large 19-inch alloy wheels help fill out the car’s wheel arches. In addition to the visual flourishes, the Mazda 6 Sport came as standard with leather upholstery, a reversing camera, keyless entry and power-adjustable front seats.
The equipment levels stayed mostly the same across the Mazda 6’s production run, though there were a few detail changes over the course of the car’s time on sale. For example, heating for the steering wheel and heated seats in the front became standard from 2015 onwards and in 2018 the Xenon headlights were replaced with LED lights.
Mazda 6 GT Sport
The GT Sport trim is a later trim on the Mazda 6, having been introduced when the car was facelifted. This means Mazda 6 models in this spec will typically carry a premium over other models, though the price may be worth it for you if you’re after the plushest possible Mazda 6. As well as fine leather upholstery, this spec of Mazda 6 was also equipped out of the box with a digital instrument display and ventilated front seats.
Befitting its spot as the range-topping Mazda 6, GT Sport models came as standard with the most tech features. Highlights include a surround-view parking camera, a powered sunroof, and a driver drowsiness monitor.