Used 2020 MAZDA MAZDA6

#4 in Best Midsize Cars of 2020

If you’re looking for a midsize sedan with impressive ride and handling characteristics, a powerful engine and an elegant interior, the 2020 Mazda6 may just be the perfect choice. Its clean lines have a rather timeless feel and Mazda coats the Mazda6 in one of the most delicious metallic red paint colors ever created.

Inside, the Mazda6 stuns with its high-quality materials, simple and clean design and comfortable seats. The infotainment system is a bit behind the times, however, a far cry from what you’ll find in the Subaru Legacy and Hyundai Sonata. Still, the Mazda6 remains a driver’s car above all else. An optional turbocharged engine brings the Mazda6 to life, but you’ll pay a pretty penny to get it.

Every contemporary Mazda has some degree of driving fun and many have plenty. The Mazda6 balances high levels of engagement with a family-friendly ride quality. The steering is one of our favorites in this class, with the right amount of assistance and plenty of feel. The G-Vectoring Control Plus system might sound daunting, but a driver never has to worry about it. The system makes subtle adjustments of engine power and braking to make everything smoother. It also helps during sudden lane changes and other evasive moves.

A standard 187-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine delivers adequate power most will find acceptable, but the 227-horsepower turbocharged alternative gives the Mazda6 greater acceleration and passing power. The Mazda6’s 6-speed automatic transmission has fewer gears than many rivals, but it’s responsive and well-matched to both engines. The inclusion of a Sport mode is another plus.

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Despite younger rivals, Mazda’s Mazda6 sedan for 2020 still has one of the best interiors in its class, with clean design, impressive materials and upscale decor. The front seats are accommodating and comfortable, while the rears are also well-cushioned. Rear legroom of 38.7 inches seems good in theory, but in reality it can feel a tad tight.

The infotainment system employs an 8-inch display, along with a rotary control dial in the center console. As mentioned earlier, 14.7 cubic feet of trunk space is not so impressive, but at least the rear seats split and fold in time-honored 60/40 fashion.

Replace the Mazda badge with Audi’s four rings, Tesla’s “T” or Jaguar’s leaping cat, and this exterior design would still look absolutely right. There’s a certain skill to giving a car a premium appearance and Mazda’s designers have that skill by the truckload. The Mazda6 is a prime example.

There’s a cohesive quality to the shapes, lines and proportions, giving the impression that it was designed by one person with a strong vision, as opposed to styling by committee and market-research findings. On either side of the grille are standard LED headlights, while at the rear are LED taillights and dual exhaust pipes.

RADAR CRUISE CONTROL WITH STOP-AND-GO
Standard on every 2020 Mazda6, adaptive-radar cruise control maintains a safe distance between the Mazda6 and traffic ahead. You can choose how close or far you wish to follow, and the system works at all speeds. It can even bring the vehicle to a complete stop and then resume acceleration once the way is clear.

BOSE AUDIO
Standard on the Grand Touring and higher trim, the Bose Centerpoint 2 Surround Sound audio system pumps amazingly realistic sound through 11 specially designed speakers. It’s a must-have for music lovers.

In a bid to keep pricing low, the entry-level Mazda6 Sport forgoes must-haves like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it remains a nicely equipped car. Standard fare includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic high beams.

Seats are covered in durable cloth but are manually adjustable, while unexpected features such as rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control and 17-inch alloy wheels abound. The standard audio includes an AM/FM 6-speaker radio with an 8-inch color touch screen, USB ports and Bluetooth. On the performance side, Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control is onboard, as are LED headlights and daytime running lights.

To obtain more equipment in the 2020 Mazda6 is not a case of ordering from a list of options, but choosing a higher trim. For example, the Touring has Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration, heated front seats, power-adjustable driver’s seat, power moonroof, 19-inch alloys, and a couple more USB ports for the rear quarters.

The Grand Touring model adds the turbocharged engine, uprated brakes and an 11-speaker Bose audio system among its extra features.

Things become ever grander until we reach Signature trim with Nappa leather, real Japanese Sen wood accents, 360-degree-camera system, front and rear parking sensors, traffic-sign recognition, configurable driver display, and many other luxury touches.

Standard on the Sport and Touring trims is a 2.5-liter Skyactiv 4-cylinder engine good for 187 horsepower. This engine features cylinder deactivation that helps improve fuel economy and lessen wear and tear on the engine. The results show with an EPA-estimated 35 mpg on the highway, and that’s burning regular gasoline.

Optional on the Mazda6 is a 227-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to the same 6-speed automatic as the base engine. Although this engine can get 250 horsepower if you use 93-octane premium gasoline, it can run just fine on regular unleaded (though the horsepower drops to 227).

2.5-liter inline-4 (Sport, Touring)
187 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
186 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/35 mpg

2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 (Grand Touring, Reserve, Signature)
227 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm (250 horsepower with 93 octane)
310 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/31 mpg