Mazda 6 Saloon Review
The Mazda 6 is a smart saloon car that comes packed with standard equipment and safety kit, but there are roomier alternatives and engine choice is a little limited.
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What's good
What's not so good
Mazda 6 Saloon: what would you like to read next?
Is the Mazda 6 Saloon a good car?
The Mazda 6 has long been the Robin of the posh saloon world, when really it deserves to be the Batman. It’s a bit of a left-field alternative to the likes of Ford Mondeo or Volkswagen Passat but certainly deserves to be on your shortlist. Even besides more expensive saloons such as the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class. Honest.
A suite of updates to the exterior design in 2018 gave the Mazda 6 a much-needed refresh. The mesh grille looks sporty and is connected to the redesigned headlights by a strip of smart-looking chrome trim. The rear lights have been redesigned too, and there are new designs for the alloy wheels.
Slip into the driver’s seat and you’re faced with a dashboard covered in lovely soft-touch plastics, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an 8-inch touchscreen that allows you to change and set up the car’s infotainment system. You can also switch through the various menus with a rotary controller between the driver and passenger seats.
Speaking of seats, the driver’s seat should be a comfortable place to spend time in. Every Mazda 6 comes with lumbar support – which helps reduce stress on your back during long journeys – and the steering wheel moves for height and reach. Step up to SE-L Lux Nav+ cars and above and the driver’s seat adjusts electronically and has a memory function too.
Passengers in the back don’t get such a great deal. Knee room is OK, but if you’re over six foot, headroom is a little tight and there isn’t a great deal of space for three adults to sit side-by-side. Generally, a Skoda Superb is much roomier.
It’s lovely inside the Mazda 6 - that interior could give the BMW 3 Series a run for its money, never mind a Mondeo
It’s a similar story for Mazda 6 boot space. The saloon has a 480-litre boot, but a VW Passat has 100 litres more. The narrow boot opening hinders practicality further but at least there’s a button in the boot to fold down the rear seats in a 60:40 configuration.
There are just four trim levels to choose from – each with an impressive list of standard features. As such there are few extra options to pay for, and only one option pack so deciding which suits you best is easy. SE-L Lux Nav has probably the best balance between price and kit.
The Mazda 6 is good to drive. It manages to be comfortable on all types of road, as long as you avoid the biggest wheel options. It’s confidence-inspiring on fast country roads too, although you’ll have more fun in a Ford Mondeo or BMW 3 Series.
There are three petrol engines and two diesels to choose from in the Mazda – the 2.0-litre 165bhp petrol is the best to go for if you don’t drive too many miles. The lower-powered of the 2.2-litre diesels is the best bet if you are a high miler. All engines can come with either a manual or automatic gearbox, except the top-of-the-range 2.5-litre petrol, which is auto only.
The Mazda 6 scored five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests when it was last tested in 2013. The tests have since got tougher since but the Mazda 6 still has an impressive list of safety kit and driver aids. Every car gets Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist. Every Mazda 6 also gets a heads-up display so you don’t need to look away from the road ahead for sat-nav instructions or speed limits.
So, if all this has persuaded you that the Mazda 6 is worth buying before its established German alternatives, make sure you deal out our deals pages for the very best prices.
How practical is it?
Four (not-too-tall) people can travel in comfort, but the boot is smaller than alternatives, and its saloon body style makes it less versatile than a hatchback
Back seat passengers in top-spec cars will love you for the heated rear seats
What's it like to drive?
The Mazda 6 is comfortable to drive but the high-powered petrol car only comes with an automatic gearbox
Drive down an empty twisting road and you’ll think the Mazda 6 is a sportscar just itching to burst out of its saloon body style
What's it like inside?
A 2018 update has really brought the Mazda 6 interior bang up to date. Every surface feels lovely and there’s neat tech too
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Used Mazda 6 Saloon deals
carwow price from £10,300 -
Lease Mazda 6 Saloon
carwow price from £253/month