Used 2017 Mazda 6 for sale 

There are a total of 3 trims offered on the Mazda 6 sedan, namely Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. All the trims feature a similar 2.5L DOHC naturally aspirated engine that can either be paired with an automatic or a 6-speed manual transmission which sends the power to the front wheels. The base Sport (automatic) trim comes with a price tag of $22,995. The trim comes standard with features like halogen light units, 7-inch color touchscreen, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, etc.

Then, there is the mid-level Touring variant which sports a price tag of $25,245. The trim comes standard with automatic headlamps, auto wipers, advanced keyless entry, and synthetic leather upholstery amongst other features. Then there is the top of the line Grand Touring variant that comes standard with a sunroof, steering mounted paddles, and LED fog lights amongst other stuff.

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The Touring trim is the best option to go for as it is the middle trim with extra features added to the lower trim and has a lower price tag than the higher variant. The touring trim is in the $25,000 range with very good features included with it and comes out to be the best value for money option in the lineup.

The engine on the Mazda 6 is a 2.5L naturally aspirated unit belting out 184 bhp and 185 lb-ft torque. The engine revs freely to the redline, producing linear power throughout. It certainly is no road scorcher but it is not a dud either. Mazda could've thrown in a turbocharger to make the game more interesting, but still, there is nothing to complain about.

In comparison with rivals, the Honda Accord is the only one more powerful but only by 1 bhp. All in all, all the rivals of the 6 sedan are more or less equally powered. The same is the case with torque also, all the competition are in the same range of 180+ lb-ft, except for the Camry, which has a lower 170 lb-ft torque output.

How fast is the 2017 Mazda 6?

A 2.5L motor is a lively unit, and its nature is most evident when the car is accelerating. The car accelerates in a way that makes things interesting for the driver without causing any discomfort to the occupants. Well done Mazda. The Mazda 6 takes 7.6 sec in a 0-60 mph run, which is a good half a second slower than the segment leader, Toyota Camry. 

The Camry takes 7.0 seconds to reach 60mph, followed by the Accord that takes 7.3 seconds. The Mazda takes 7.6 seconds to reach 60mph, while the Chevy takes 8 seconds to achieve the same feat. Ironically, the slowest to reach 60mph is the fastest to cross the quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds, followed by the Camry, Accord, and Mazda in 15.4, 15.8, and 16.1 seconds, respectively.

How well does the Mazda 6 Ride and Handle?

Although all the torque vectoring employed by Mazda does help it to a certain extent but it turns to be more of a gimmick. Nonetheless, the car in itself is sufficiently fun to drive. The chassis is stiff, the corners are swallowed neatly at genuinely high speeds, and the steering feedback is much better than what you would expect at this price range. All in all, the Mazda 6 sedan is great at what it tries to sell, a family-oriented sport sedan that is not over the top expensive.

How good are the brakes of the Mazda 6?

Brakes on the Mazda 6 feature an 11.7-inch rotor on the front and a 10.9-inch rotor at the rear. The brakes are enough to bring it to a standstill from 60 mph in 126 feet. They aren't exactly top of the line but do the required job well.

Although the brake rotor sizes are in the same territory as the rivals and so is the weight, the Mazda performs just around in the same levels or maybe even lower than most of its rivals.

The Chevy Malibu with the lightest curb weight leads the tally with a stopping distance of 113 feet, with the Honda Accord following it closely with 117 feet, while the Mazda 6 takes 126 ft. The Toyota Camry takes the most distance to stop from 60mph, that is 129 ft. The Malibu’s lowest curb weight of 3,108 lbs helps it in achieving the best stopping distance.

Fuel economy is a big concern at present with rising fuel prices. Mazda has given adequate attention to the fuel economy department with the Mazda 6 returning a fuel economy of 29 mpg combined. It delivers an efficiency of 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. The Mazda 6 gets a fuel capacity of 16.4 gallons.

All the rivals in the segment are almost equally fuel-efficient, but the top spot is taken jointly by the Honda Accord and Chevy Malibu, with both of them returning 30 mpg. The Mazda comes in next with a combined efficiency of 29 mpg while the Camry stands last with 27 mpg. The Accord has the largest fuel capacity of 17.2 gallons, followed by the Camry with 17 gallons and the Mazda with 16.4 gallons, while the Malibu gets the smallest fuel tank of 13 gallons.

The seats on the sedan are one of the better sets of seats you would find on a car in its price range. The padding and bolstering are enough for providing optimum comfort for long hours.

The passage in and out of the vehicle is easy and does not require any special attention. Faux leather seats are the highlight of the cabin and air conditioning with a pollen filter is also a standard feature. The interior and seats are comfortable and do match up to others in the segment.

Honda Accord leads the table in the front row space with 39.1 inches of headroom, 58.6 inches of shoulder room, and 42.5 inches of legroom. On the other hand, it's the Chevy Malibu which takes the crown in the second-row department with a shoulder room of 57.1 inches. The interior spaces among the rivals have no drastic difference, and each of them is on par with each other in terms of interior space. Interior features on the Mazda 6 sedan include :

• Faux leather seats
• Air conditioning with pollen filter
• Power windows with one-touch auto up/down
• Power automatic door locks
• Cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls
• Manual day/night rearview mirror
• Push-button start
• Driver and passenger-side covered visor vanity mirrors

Infotainment System

Mazda 6 features a 7-inch touch screen display as standard on all trims. The infotainment system as a whole is visually appealing and easy to use.

It is controlled by a central knob that surprisingly feels as if it is straight out of a German premium sedan. The inputs are smooth and shifting between menus is never a hiccup. Few key features include-

• 7-inch touchscreen
• Dash-mounted display
• Rotary knob for the infotainment
• USB port and AUX input

Cargo Capacity

Cargo capacity is where Mazda falls short of the competitors. But, all 14.8 cubic feet of space available on the sedan is fairly easy to utilize. The loading angles are right, the boot lip is at the correct height, and space too is enough for regular long drives or airport runs. Mazda has offered various spaces inside the cabin to keep small belongings with ease.

In comparison with rivals, it’s the Honda Accord and the Chevy Malibu who share the top spot with a cargo space of 15.8 cubic feet, while the Toyota Camry comes in at a close 2nd spot with 15.4 cubic feet of space in the trunk. The Mazda 6 comes last in the competition with 14.8 cu-ft of cargo capacity.

Mazda 6 is not particularly a big car, but it does settle into its given dimensions rather well. The car doesn't feel overly elongated or shortened from either of the sides. It does, however, weigh quite a lot with a curb weight of 3,250 lbs.

The Mazda 6 looks sleek and stylish with aerodynamic design cues and elements. The rear side has a more edgy styling with sharp cuts and lines and the design of the tail lamps.

It is the Chevy Malibu which is the longest and widest car in the segment at 193.8-inch length and 73-inch width. It also shares the top spot for the longest wheelbase with the Mazda 6. The Mazda has the most ground clearance of 6.4 inches, followed by the Camry with 6.1 and the Accord with 5.8 inches of ground clearance.The list of exterior features on the Mazda 6 sedan includes-

• 17 or 19-inch alloys
• Optional sunroof
• Pentagonal grill
• LED DRLs
• LED taillights

The Mazda 6 sedan has been crash-tested by all prominent agencies and has passed the test with flying colors. The vehicle has achieved a 5-star rating in almost all departments by NHTSA. On the feature front, Mazda has loaded the vehicle with safety features such as dual front airbags, hill launch assist, dynamic stability control, and much more to ensure the well being of the occupants in case of a mishap. Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control System are among the advanced safety tech incorporated in the Mazda. Some standout safety features include-

• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Rearview camera (wide angle)
• Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
• Dual front airbags, dual front side airbags, and dual side air curtains
• Side-door impact-protection beams (front and rear)
• 3-point seat-belts for all seating positions

Mazda 6 vs Honda Accord

Honda Accord is one of the constant sellers from the carmaker. The car now enjoys legendary status in its segment and is perhaps the favorite amongst many households. The latest iteration of the car features a feisty exterior and a bucketload of trims to choose from, ranging from a 2.4L motor to a 1.6L turbo motor to spice up things.

The Mazda 6 still has some catching up to do in terms of the interior, but it still is a fabulous car to drive in all its guises. There is a $2,000 price difference between the two cars but it’s not big enough to be a deciding factor. All in all, if you see yourself in the driving seat often, the Mazda 6 should be on the list of options.

Mazda 6 vs Toyota Camry

Toyota Camry is another heavyweight in the segment and for good reason. It follows the same old rock-solid Toyota reliability and bombproof engines.

The car is rather boring to look at in comparison with the rivals but it still features one of the best in class cabins. The price difference between the two sedans is nothing significant. The Mazda 6 is both more exciting to look at and to drive. Hence, this should be your weapon of choice.

Mazda 6 vs Chevy Malibu

The Chevy Malibu is another solid midsize vehicle in the segment. The exteriors of the car are just interesting enough to keep things from getting boring. The interior of the car is ergonomically placed but the cloth upholstery feels rather disappointing. However, fuel economy on the Chevy is class-leading, albeit not by much.

The utility on the Malibu however is much more than the Mazda 6. All in all, neither the Chevy looks as good as the Mazda nor does it drive as well. The interior space might be better, the quality is much more refined on the Mazda. Hence, it’s the Mazda 6 sedan that emerges as the clear winner.

The 2017 Mazda 6 is a genuine enthusiast pleaser even in its base form, which is a rarity given how most of the cars in the segment are passenger comfort centric. There is not a shortage of creature comforts with a well-designed interior that utilized upscale materials like real wood and aluminum accents. The engine might be the most sprightful but the overall dynamics of the car are sure to bring a smile to your face. Overall, the Mazda 6 is a hot contender that you just can't overlook.