The 2021 Mazda3 vs. The 2021 Mazda6

Mazda does things different. They just always have. While the other carmakers race to make the most affordable and fuel-efficient compact cars, or the mid-size sedans with cushy but boring rides, Mazda is focused on the driver. Mazda doesn’t sacrifice driving enjoyment for the current buying trends – which is one of the reasons why so many Mazda buyers never stop buying Mazdas! The 2021 Mazda3 and 2021 Mazda6 are shining examples of why.

Performance

The performance in both the 2021 Mazda3 and 2021 Mazda6 is highlighted by the athletic handling of the vehicles. Both of them provide best-in-class steering and balanced suspensions that focus on cornering ability without sacrificing much in the way of comfort. The Mazda3 has an extra trick up its sleeve – you can get it in all-wheel drive! It’s one of the few non-luxury sedans – let alone compact sedans – that offer this. The 2021 Mazda6 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive, but future models will.

Under the hood of the base Mazda3 is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower, aimed squarely at fuel efficiency. Both models offer a 186-horsepower, 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine. In the Mazda6, this is the base engine, while it is the midlevel engine on the Mazda3. Both vehicles can be equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with up to 250 horsepower ready to break free, perfect for the driving connoisseur. All of these are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, although the Mazda3 hatchback has a six-speed manual optional.

Both vehicles get gas mileage in the same range. With the base engine, the Mazda3 gets 28 MPG city and 36 MPG highway. For the Mazda6 with the larger base engine, you’ll still get 26 MPG city and 35 MPG highway. Upgrading to the larger engines – or in the case of the Mazda3, opting for all-wheel drive – will reduce these numbers slightly.

Design & Comfort

Mazda has always provided a classy cabin that occupies a place between the budget cabins and entry-level luxury cabins. Upscale soft-touch materials across the dash and along the door panels, along with available synthetic or genuine leather upholstery. The front seats are roomy in both – although the Mazda3 can be a little cramped in the second row while the Mazda6 remains spacious.

The Mazda3 gets new trim level naming, replacing the old Base/Sport/Touring/Grand Touring of the Mazda6 with Base/Select/Preferred/Premium. Being a little more upscale, the Mazda6 gets additional trim levels with unique design notes. The Carbon Edition is a great-looking version of the Grand Touring reserve with unique interior accents. The Signature trim, meanwhile, gets genuine Nappa leather upholstery and ambient lighting.

Both vehicles have similar levels of comfort, but the Mazda6 just goes a step further. Both have plenty of driver-centered features standard across the board – the Mazda6, for example, features push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob at even the base level! Even entry-level luxury sedans don’t offer that level of amenities.

Technology

Mazda offers a stripped-down base 2.0 Sedan model in the Mazda3 line that is a no-frills, affordable, accessible entry point. Still, it does feature an 8.8-inch infotainment display with an eight-speaker stereo and Bluetooth. But once you step up to the 2.5 S, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, both of which are standard across the entire Mazda6 line-up. All Mazda3 and Mazda6 models feature at least 2 USB ports, however, the Mazda6 offers additional USB ports for rear seat passengers in some trim levels for charging on the go. Both offer satellite radio and navigation as options, as well as Bose premium audio systems – an 11-speaker unit in the Mazda6, and a 12-speaker system in the Mazda3.

Safety

Both the 2021 Mazda3 and Mazda6 start out with pretty comprehensive safety suites, with additional features that can be added. Both feature a rearview camera, automatic high-beam headlights, driver attention monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Mazda6 adds in pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert as standard features. Pedestrian detection is not available on the Mazda3, however the other two systems are, along with traffic sign recognition and a surround-view parking camera system. Available advanced safety features on the Mazda6 include a 360-degree parking camera system, reverse automatic emergency braking, and driver attention alert.