Mazda 6

Mazda 6: which version to buy

If you need a Mazda 6 for daily use and want one number to start from, take the 3 generation, restyling 2 (2018-12-01 to 2024-06-30) Estate 5-door 2.5L AT (195 hp, Gasoline, Automatic, 6, FWD): 8.1 s to 100 km/h, 223 km/h, 7.52 kg/hp, mixed 6.8 l/100 km.

If you need a Mazda 6 for daily use and want one number to start from, take the 3 generation, restyling 2 (2018-12-01 to 2024-06-30) Estate 5-door 2.5L AT (195 hp, Gasoline, Automatic, 6, FWD): 8.1 s to 100 km/h, 223 km/h, 7.52 kg/hp, mixed 6.8 l/100 km. If the job is long highway miles, the same generation’s 2.2 MT (184 hp, Diesel, Manual, 6, FWD) is the faster diesel (9.2 s, 225 km/h) and uses 4.8 l/100 km mixed versus 6.8 for the 2.5L AT. If you need AWD, stay on the 184 hp 2.2 AT (AWD): 9.7 s and 5.4 l/100 km mixed, 62 kg heavier than the FWD 2.2 AT (184 hp). Do not buy a first-generation 3.0 AT or 3.0 MT (222 hp, 6, V-shaped) unless you want the lowest kg/hp in the whole catalogue (6.82–6.98) and accept 130 mm ground clearance and mixed consumption 10.7 l/100 km where measured. The catalogue lists 7 generations and 12 versions per generation here (23 / 21 / 26 / 28 / 30 / 36 / 36 versions exist in the source for those generations; only the 12 shown per generation are compared below).

Which generation to choose

3 generation, restyling 2 (2018-12-01–2024-06-30), Estate 5-door, 23 versions in source, 12 shown: newest listed cars, Euro 6 on the shown set, 62 l tank, 165 mm clearance. Peak Gasoline here is 195 hp (2.5L AT), peak Diesel 184 hp (2.2 MT / 2.2 AT). This is the only listed generation with both AWD diesel and a 195 hp Gasoline Automatic.

3 generation, restyling (2015-01-01–2018-12-31), Estate 5-door, 21 versions, 12 shown: same 165 mm and 62 l. The 2.5 AT (192 hp) is 0.2 s quicker to 100 than the later 195 hp 2.5L AT (7.9 vs 8.1 s) and 101 kg lighter (1365 vs 1466 kg). The strong diesel is 175 hp, not 184: 2.2 MT (175 hp, FWD) does 8.0 s and 4.6 l/100 km mixed — 1.2 s quicker than the later 184 hp 2.2 MT FWD, at 1410 vs 1566 kg.

3 generation (2012-08-01–2016-01-31), Sedan, 26 versions, 12 shown: only Sedan in the listed set. The 2.5 AT (192 hp) matches 7.8 s with the 2.5 MT (184 hp); top speed for that 2.5 MT is not measured. Diesel 2.2 MT (175 hp) is 7.8 s and 4.5 l/100 km mixed — the quickest diesel-to-100 in the third generation. No AWD is shown here.

2 generation, restyling (2010-03-01–2012-07-31) and 2 generation (2007-08-01–2013-06-30), Liftback, 28 and 30 versions, 12 shown each: 64 l tank, 165 mm. Peak diesel is 185 hp 2.2 MT (8.5 s, 5.6 l/100 km mixed). Gasoline peak is 170 hp 2.5 MT (8.1 s restyling / 8.3 s pre-restyle). Automatics here are 5-speed on 2.0 AT and 2.5 AT, not 6. The 1.8 MT (120 hp) is the slowest listed 6 of this era (11.4–11.7 s).

1 generation, restyling (2005-06-01–2008-09-30) and 1 generation (2002-02-01–2005-06-30), Liftback, 36 versions each, 12 shown: only place for 3.0 AT / 3.0 MT (222 hp, 6, V-shaped) and for 2.3 CVT. Clearance is 130–150 mm on shown cars, not 165. City/highway/mixed figures are not measured on most of these versions.

Engine specs (listed versions)

Exact names as in the catalogue. Same name, different power, is a different car.

Power per litre (hp ÷ litres): 3 generation restyling 2 2.2 MT 184 hp = 84.0 hp/l; 2.0 MT 165 hp = 82.6 hp/l; 2.5L AT 195 hp = 78.4 hp/l; 2.2 MT 150 hp = 68.5 hp/l. Second-generation 2.2 MT 185 hp is 84.7 hp/l — the highest among listed diesels. First-generation 3.0 AT 222 hp is 74.8 hp/l: more total power, less specific output than the later 2.0 165 hp.

Performance, mpg and CO2 — what the extra power buys

Manual versus Automatic on the same engine (3 generation, restyling 2). 2.0 MT 145 hp: 10.0 s, 206 km/h, 1399 kg, 9.65 kg/hp. 2.0 AT 145 hp: 10.9 s (+0.9 s), 204 km/h (−2), 1435 kg (+36 kg), 9.90 kg/hp. Mixed consumption is the same 6.3 l/100 km, city 7.7, highway 5.4, CO2 144 g/km, Euro 6. The Automatic does not buy economy here; it costs 0.9 s and 36 kg.

145 versus 165 hp Gasoline Manual. 2.0 MT 165 hp: 9.3 s (−0.7 s vs 145 MT), 214 km/h (+8), 1411 kg, 8.55 kg/hp, mixed 6.6 (+0.3 vs 6.3), city 8.4 (+0.7), highway still 5.4, CO2 150 vs 144. Twenty extra horsepower buy 0.7 s and 8 km/h and cost 0.3 l/100 km mixed.

165 hp Automatic: two names. 2.0L (165 hp, Automatic, 6, FWD): 10.5 s, 209 km/h, 1500 kg, 9.09 kg/hp, mixed 6.3, city 7.7, highway 5.5, CO2 144. That is 1.2 s slower than the 165 hp 2.0 MT and 89 kg heavier. Do not treat 2.0L as the same car as 2.0 AT 145 hp: 20 hp more, 0.4 s quicker than the 145 2.0 AT, 65 kg heavier.

Gasoline 2.5 versus 2.0. 2.5L AT 195 hp: 8.1 s, 223 km/h, 1466 kg, 7.52 kg/hp (best kg/hp in this generation), mixed 6.8, city 8.9, highway 5.6, CO2 156. Versus 2.0L 165 hp: −2.4 s, +14 km/h, −34 kg, +0.5 mixed, +12 CO2. Versus 145 hp 2.0 AT: −2.8 s, +19 km/h, +31 kg, +0.5 mixed.

Diesel 150 versus 184 hp, FWD Manual. 2.2 MT 150 hp FWD: 10.1 s, 210 km/h, 1554 kg, 10.36 kg/hp, mixed 4.6, city 5.3, highway 4.2, CO2 122. 2.2 MT 184 hp FWD: 9.2 s (−0.9), 225 km/h (+15), 1566 kg (+12), 8.51 kg/hp, mixed 4.8 (+0.2), city 5.5, highway 4.3, CO2 126. Thirty-four horsepower and 65 Nm (445 vs 380) buy 0.9 s and 15 km/h for 0.2 l/100 km mixed.

FWD versus AWD on 150 hp diesel. Manual: FWD 10.1 s / 210 km/h / 1554 kg / mixed 4.6 / CO2 122; AWD 10.4 s (+0.3) / 201 (−9) / 1618 (+64) / mixed 5.1 (+0.5) / CO2 135. Automatic: FWD 10.8 s / 202 / 1563 / mixed 5.1 / CO2 134; AWD 11.3 s (+0.5) / 195 (−7) / 1631 (+68) / mixed 5.4 (+0.3) / CO2 142. AWD is the slowest 150 hp pairing (11.3 s) and the heaviest 150 hp pairing (1631 kg, 10.87 kg/hp).

184 hp Automatic FWD versus AWD. FWD 2.2 AT 184: 9.2 s, 219 km/h, 1573 kg, 8.55 kg/hp, mixed 5.1, CO2 134. AWD 2.2 AT 184: 9.7 s (+0.5), 212 (−7), 1635 (+62), 8.89 kg/hp, mixed 5.4 (+0.3), CO2 142. Manual FWD and Automatic FWD share 9.2 s; the Automatic loses 6 km/h (219 vs 225).

Earlier third generation can be quicker at lower listed power. 2.2 MT 175 hp FWD in 3 generation: 7.8 s, 223 km/h, 1405 kg, 8.03 kg/hp, mixed 4.5, CO2 119. That is 1.4 s faster than the later 184 hp 2.2 MT and 161 kg lighter. 2.5 AT 192 hp in 3 generation restyling: 7.9 s, 1365 kg, 7.11 kg/hp, mixed 6.4 — still quicker and 101 kg lighter than 195 hp 2.5L AT.

Second generation: 185 hp diesel versus 170 hp Gasoline. 2.2 MT 185 (both 2 generation and restyling): 8.5 s, 218 km/h, 1570 kg, 8.49 kg/hp, mixed 5.6, city 7.1, highway 4.7; CO2 not measured. 2.5 MT 170 restyling: 8.1 s (−0.4), 220 km/h, 1445 kg (−125), 8.50 kg/hp, mixed 8.0 (+2.4), CO2 186. The Gasoline Manual is quicker and lighter; the diesel uses 2.4 l/100 km less mixed. 2.2 MT 125 hp: 10.9 s, 12.48 kg/hp — do not buy it for pace; mixed is still 5.5, same as 163 hp 2.2 MT. 2.0 AT 147 versus 2.0 MT 147 (restyling, one pairing): 11.2 vs 10.3 s, Automatic 5 versus Manual 6, mixed 7.7 vs 7.1.

First generation: 222 hp 3.0 versus everything later. 3.0 AT (1 generation): 7.8 s, 226 km/h, 1550 kg, 6.98 kg/hp, mixed 10.7, city 12.4, highway 9.0. 3.0 MT: 8.0 s, 230 km/h, 1513 kg, 6.82 kg/hp (lowest kg/hp in the listed set), same consumption 10.7. Restyling 3.0 AT / 3.0 MT: torque 274 Nm (not 260); 3.0 AT 8.0 s, 230 km/h; 3.0 MT 0–100 not measured, 230 km/h. 2.3 CVT 162 hp: 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, mixed 9.4 versus 8.7 for 2.3 MT 162 hp. 2.0 AT 141 hp: 11.8 s and Automatic 4 — the slowest Automatic in the listed first generation.

Dimensions and weight as a buying filter

Ground clearance: 165 mm on all shown 2 generation and 3 generation cars; 130 mm on 1 generation (and 130–150 mm on 1 generation restyling, including 143 mm on one 2.0 MT 147 hp). If you need the later 165 mm, do not choose 1 generation.

Tank: 62 l on 3 generation (all shown); 64 l on 1 and 2 generation. Range is not measured in the data.

Kerb weight span on shown cars: 1245 kg (1.8 MT restyling 1 generation) to 1635 kg (2.2 AT 184 hp AWD, 3 generation restyling 2). Gross: 1800 kg (3 generation 2.0 MT) to 2260 kg (AWD diesels in restyling 2).

Wheels where measured: 3 generation restyling and restyling 2 Gasoline/Diesel (except 2.0L and 2.5L AT, wheels not measured) 225/55 R17 and 225/45 R19. 2 generation diesels 205/60 R16, 215/50 R17, 225/45 R18 as listed. 1 generation 2.0 AT 147 hp: 195/65 R15 and 205/55 R16. Other 1 generation wheels not measured.

Reliability and problems

Fault rates, service costs, engine-out failures, and “problems” lists are not measured in this catalogue. Eco class is measured on some versions (Euro 6 on shown 3 generation restyling cars; Euro 5 or Euro 6 on parts of 3 generation; Euro 4 / Euro 5 on parts of 2 generation; not measured on most 1 generation). CO2 is not measured on many 1 generation and 2 generation versions — write “not measured”, not zero.

Which version to choose (by job)

Newest listed Estate, Gasoline, one Automatic, FWD: 2.5L AT 195 hp (3 generation, restyling 2). Fastest Gasoline 0–100 in that generation (8.1 s), 223 km/h, 7.52 kg/hp, mixed 6.8. Wheels not measured.

Newest listed Estate, Diesel, FWD, lowest mixed use among 184 hp: 2.2 MT 184 hp (4.8 mixed, 9.2 s, 225 km/h). If you need Automatic, 2.2 AT 184 hp FWD keeps 9.2 s and moves mixed to 5.1.

AWD: only shown on 3 generation restyling and restyling 2 diesels. Prefer 2.2 AT 184 hp AWD (9.7 s) over 2.2 AT 150 hp AWD (11.3 s). The AWD tax versus FWD 184 hp Automatic is +0.5 s, +62 kg, +0.3 l/100 km mixed.

Cheapest-to-run listed new-era Gasoline: 2.0 MT 145 hp or 2.0 AT 145 hp, both mixed 6.3 and CO2 144. Take Manual if 10.0 s is acceptable; Automatic is the same fuel, slower.

Estate with more punch than 145, still 2.0: 2.0 MT 165 hp (9.3 s, 6.6 mixed) in restyling 2, or the lighter 3 generation restyling 2.0 MT 165 hp (9.1 s, 1305 kg, 6.0 mixed).

Sedan only: 3 generation. For pace, 2.5 AT 192 hp or 2.2 MT 175 hp, both 7.8 s. 2.5 MT 184 hp is also 7.8 s; top speed not measured; consumption not measured.

Liftback, second generation: 2.5 MT 170 hp if you want the lowest 0–100 among listed Gasoline (8.1 s restyling). 2.2 MT 185 hp if you want diesel (8.5 s, 5.6 mixed). Skip 1.8 MT 120 hp unless 11.4–11.7 s and 6.4–7.0 mixed are enough. Skip 2.2 MT 125 hp for acceleration (10.9 s, 12.48 kg/hp).

First generation only if you want 222 hp 6 V-shaped: 3.0 AT or 3.0 MT. Expect 130 mm clearance, 64 l tank, mixed 10.7 where measured. 2.3 CVT 162 hp: consumption 9.4 mixed, 0–100 not measured — not the performance pick. Diesel 2.0 MT 143 hp restyling is the strongest listed first-gen diesel (9.5 s, 360 Nm); 120/121 hp diesels are 11.0 / 10.6 s.

Do not mix names: 2.0 MT is 145, 150, 165, 141, 147, or diesel 120/121/136/143 hp depending on generation. 2.2 AT is 150, 175, or 184 hp. 2.0L is only the 165 hp Automatic in 3 generation restyling 2. 2.5 AT is 192 hp; 2.5L AT is 195 hp; 2.5 AT in 2 generation is 170 hp. Use power and generation together with the exact catalogue name.