One last look at Mazda 6 as it slinks toward sedan extinction
Don’t make me the bad guy. I care about extinction. I’ve adopted manatees and whales, donated to help giant pandas and black rhinos.
But I have a hard time caring that midsize sedans are an endangered species. This makes me an outlier among auto writers who can be accused of overvaluing characteristics like acceleration and skid pad ratings versus passenger space and ease of entry, even in vehicles for which Jobs 1-4 are carrying families and groceries reliably and in comfort.
Midsize sedans are dropping like flies as customers’ — and in turn automakers’ — fancy turns to SUVs. The list of the nearly departed grows as Mazda and VW recently announced the impending demise of the 6 and Passat sedans, respectively.
I drove a well-equipped 2021 Mazda 6 to Chicago and back recently. The trip reminded me why some of my colleagues mourn sedans, but didn’t change my mind.
The Mazda 6 is one of the best looking midsize family sedans: sleek, relatively low, long nose, short deck, flowing lines and a sporty forward-leaning stance.
Mazda 6 prices start at $24,475. All 6s have frontwheel drive. A 187-horsepower normally aspirated engine is standard. I tested a top of the line Signature model with a turbocharged version of the same engine that produces 227 hp and a healthy 310 pound-feet of torque with regular gasoline. You can bump the turbo’s output to 250 hp and 320 pound-feet with premium fuel.
But there’s a limit to how much performance you can deliver and remain competitive in terms of price and other features. Low-luxury brands like Acura and Infiniti pressured models like the 6 from above, while Honda, Toyota, Kia and Hyundai’s
continual improvement squeezed them from below.
But 6s are still on dealer lots, and prices are only going to go down from here. It’s still a comfortable car, but connectivity and other features trail sedans that have gotten continuous investment and upgrades. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, but you can’t charge your device or access those features wirelessly.
Mazda has been diligent about keeping the 6’s driver assistance and safety systems up to date. Standard features include adaptive cruise control, automatic front braking with pedestrian detection and collision alert, lane departure alert and assist, blind spot and cross-traffic alerts.
The 6 is a comfortable vehicle for long drives. Headroom is adequate, and rear seat space gave another journalist nothing to complain about.
I can’t say the same about Mazda’s infotainment system. The 6 requires you to use a dial in the center console to control features including audio and navigation.
SUVs fit more customers’ desire than sedans, though, so customers who want a midsize with Mazda’s signature virtues and quirks better act fast.