Mazda 6

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

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?

It's one of the more pricier versions of the Mazda 6, but we think the Grand Touring Reserve is the way to go. Not only do you get the more powerful turbocharged engine, but the Reserve adds leather seating surfaces, adaptive headlights, a head-up display, and ventilated front and heated rear seats.

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)