Mazda 6 2021 Review

Among other midsize sedans, the 2021 Mazda 6 has style to spare and continues to highlight driving enjoyment and interior quality. Take a top-level Signature trim, for example, and it'd be pretty easy to pass off as an entry-level luxury sedan from the likes of Acura or Lexus. The rush of power from the 6's available turbocharged engine is pretty addictive too.

But this generation of Mazda 6 is entering its seventh year or production. Many rivals, such as the Kia K5, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, have considerably fresher designs. And if your priority is getting a comfortable and relaxed ride, you might want to look elsewhere. But overall that's a minor trade-off to get what is otherwise a sleek and appealing sedan. Read the categories of our Expert Rating below to get our full in-depth evaluation on this year's Mazda 6.

Which 6 does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Mazda 6 comes in six trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, Carbon Edition (new for 2021) and Signature. All are front-wheel-drive. Highlighted standard features include:

Sport Gets things going with:

• 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (187 horsepower, 186 lb-ft of torque)
• Six-speed automatic transmission
• 17-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Dual-zone climate control
• Push-button start
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility
• Six-speaker sound system

Every Mazda 6 also comes with these driver aids:

• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
• Blind-spot monitoring (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Mazda 6 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Mazda and the car in front)
• Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse)

Touring Adds some nice-to-have features, such as:

• 19-inch wheels
• Sunroof
• Heated front seats
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Proximity key entry
• Rear air-conditioning vents and two USB ports for rear passengers

Grand Touring Ups the Mazda 6's performance and luxury with:

• Turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder (227 hp and 310 lb-ft with regular gas, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with 93 octane)
• Driver's side dimming and heated outside mirrors
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• 11-speaker Bose audio system
• Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
• Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay
• Satellite radio

Grand Touring Reserve Dresses up the Mazda 6 with:

• Unique 19-inch wheels
• Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
• Chrome exterior trim
• Trunk-mounted spoiler
• Windshield wiper de-icer
• Driver-seat memory settings
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
• Heated steering wheel
• Leather upholstery
• Heated outboard rear seats
• Ventilated front seats

Carbon Edition Similar to the Grand Touring Reserve but has:

• Special gray paint
• Black-painted wheels and exterior trim
• Red leather seating surfaces
• Contrasting interior stitching

Signature Tops the range with extra luxury and safety features, such as:

• Dark gray exterior trim
• Ambient interior lighting
• Upgraded leather upholstery
• Wood and faux suede interior trim
• Navigation system
• 360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Mazda 6 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
• Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)