Mazda 6 (2013 – 2022) Review

Mazda 6 (2013 – 2022) At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
Often overlooked, the Mazda 6 is a handsome car which is good to drive, although rear headroom is tight in the saloon version.

+Nimble and agile handling. Spacious cabin is very well made. Huge improvements to refinement and steering from October 2016.

-On 19-inch wheels, suspension of 2012-2016 cars can feel firm at low speeds. Limited rear headroom in saloon.

New prices start from £19,795
Insurance Groups are between 16–23
On average it achieves 75% of the official MPG figure

You can rely on Mazda to do things its own way, and the Mazda 6 is a perfect example of this. It may offer many of the same abilities as its rivals, but it also comes with a range of engines that are just that bit different. It also has a very stylish cabin, strong build quality, and is one of the best cars in its class for driver engagement. Read on for our full Mazda 6 review.

The Mazda 6 put the Japanese company firmly among the frontrunners in the family car class alongside the likes of the Skoda Superb and popular Vauxhall Insignia.

Thanks to the firm’s attention to detail and commitment to weight reduction in order to improve economy and emissions, the Mazda 6 is good to drive and easy on the wallet.

Mazda’s SkyActiv programme is the over-arching name for the push towards lower emissions and fuel consumption. Rather than any one single technology, SkyActiv looks to make savings anywhere and everywhere, working on the basis that a lot of small savings add up to one large overall saving.

It’s a system that works and means the entry-point 2.0-litre petrol engine offers 51.4mpg claimed average consumption, while the most frugal diesel delivers an official 67.3mpg. Both of these figures are very competitive for the family car class and are coupled to reasonable emissions, too, making the Mazda 6 a sound used buy.

Further helping to mark out the Mazda 6 is the way it drives, which is also helped by the weight-saving of the SkyActiv approach.

The Mazda 6 easily bears comparison with the Volkswagen Passat and even the Ford Mondeo although some might find the ride quality of the Mazda a little on the firm side.

The upside to this is that the Mazda 6 has excellent handling manners and feels very lithe. Its petrol and diesel engines are very well matched to the car’s abilities and they offer good refinement unless pressed right to their red lines.

Just about the only glaring fault with the Mazda 6 is that it’s not offered as a hatchback, where most of its rivals are and this is the preferred body style for the majority of UK buyers. Still, the saloon is spacious inside, the Tourer estate is very practical and both are extremely well made.

Looking for a second opinion? Read heycar’s Mazda 6 review.

Ask Honest John

Is there anything interesting second hand to buy you'd recommend?

"Showrooms and forecourts are dreary places these days - like looking for a washing machine. No SUV's or EV's or diesels please but is there anything used, reasonably aerodynamic but interesting/ less common for about £15,000. It needs to cover 5 hour drives in comfort. Thank you for any inspiration."
How about a Mazda 6? It's a very comfortable, left-field saloon (or estate) car that's great to drive and very comfortable on long journeys. Alternatively, look for an Alfa Romeo Giulia or Volvo S90. The budget might need stretching for these but they're very desirable premium saloon cars that are a bit different to the usual German competitors.
Answered by Andrew Brady

How accurate are used car valuations?

"My last car was an Accord estate, sold in Sep 2015 having been owned by me from new in 2007. WeBuyAnyCar offered me £2650 whilst the Mazda dealer where I bought my current Mazda 6 from didn't want to buy the Accord as they couldn't offer more than £2650 and believed it to be worth much more than that. I keep my cars well with careful running in at purchase (It does make a difference), regular servicing and DIY repairs to minor scratches, internal and external. I sold the Accord within one day for £3900, almost 50% more than the online valuations previously provided. I'm now looking to sell my 6 which, like the Honda, has suffered zero issues since I bought it. It is immaculate inside and out and is in much better condition than the one I've seen at a local garage, marked at £13,999.... plus mine has metallic paint and £800 optional stone leather interior. According to the various websites, I should be looking at around £8k if selling privately, but this seems low for a car with typical mileage for its age, no-fault history and in immaculate condition other than for a handful of stone chips around the front - all touched in with Mazda touch-up. Based on my experience with the Honda I should be seeking around £12,000 to £13,000 (50% more than online valuations) and this would still make it a bargain compared to the local garage offering, though clearly without the three-month warranty. Anyone have similar experience and should we not place such faith in online values?"
Car valuations are only intended as a guide, and there will be variations in a vehicle based on its condition, regional variations and market demands. Ultimately if you are selling a car privately you have the option to set the price that you deem appropriate, and the right price for a vehicle is the one that both suits your expectations and attracts a buyer.
Answered by David Ross

Is it worth getting an ECU remap on my Mazda?

"Is it worth remapping my 2020 Mazda 6 Skyactive 165ps?"
An ECU remap can deliver additional performance and economy, but the potential benefits can vary between engine types and also between specialists that provide them. Generally speaking naturally aspirated engines offer smaller gains from a remap than turbocharged diesel or petrol engines, but we would suggest searching online for companies that offer this service for your car to find out what the potential improvements could be.
Answered by David Ross

Which dual clutch and CVT would you recommend?

"I’ve been researching and debating about the type of auto boxes available. There seems to be an even amount of disadvantages for all of them. Torque converters aren’t as fuel efficient, CVTs are noisy and dual clutches can be unreliable. My budget is £10k. Torque converters in this price range seem to be either too old, too small or not well equipped. Can you recommend a medium sized CVT that isn’t noisy (if possible) and a medium sized dual clutch that’s reliable (if they exist) for this price range?"
No type of automatic gearbox is perfect, but there are good examples of each that would be within your budget. The Mazda 6 is available as a saloon or estate and uses an efficient torque converter gearbox, while 2.0-litre versions of the Skoda Octavia use a wet-clutch version of the DSG gearbox which has proved to be more reliable than the dry clutch version. You could also look at the Honda Jazz or CR-V which use a CVT transmission. CVT-equipped cars can be noisy but this can be mitigated by adapting your driving style slightly - as long as you avoid using full throttle too frequently or for too long you should find it perfectly acceptable. We would recommend a test drive to decide for yourself.
Answered by David Ross
More Questions

What does a Mazda 6 (2013 – 2022) cost?