Mazda announced the end of two vehicles for the U.S. market today. The Mazda6 midsize sedan and CX-3 subcompact crossover will be phased out of Mazda’s American lineup and will not see the 2022 model year. Both cars remain on dealership lots, but production of the vehicles will stop.
The Mazda6 is largely considered the most engaging among mainsteam midsize sedans. Our reviewers love its taut handling and the responsive, optional turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It lacks an all-wheel-drive option and has a smaller trunk than most cars in its class, however. It currently sits at number five in our list of the best midsize sedans.
But it’s not being phased out over a small trunk. It’s leaving the lineup because Americans aren’t interested in sedans anymore. Mazda sold just over 16,000 Mazda6 sedans in the U.S. last year. Compared to the 146,000-plus CX-5 SUVs it sold, that makes further production of the Mazda6 hard to justify.
The CX-3 likely suffers from stiffer competition right on the Mazda sales lot. It is relegated to the second tier of our list of the best subcompact SUVs. Mazda’s other subcompact crossover, the CX-30, is in second place on the first-tier list. It’s a newer design, with more styling flair and more room for just a bit more money.
While the Mazda6 and the CX-3 are disappearing from the Mazda lineup, they will remain at dealerships until they are sold out. That’s an opportunity for those in the market. Dealers are often willing to accept a lower offer on a discontinued car.
