Click for vehicles with £200-£700 cashback + free delivery
£5,995
£16,990
£13,290
£16,990
£16,400
£17,700
£16,400
£17,500
£13,413
£12,550
19-36 of 28 vehicles
While many used car buyers are drawn to SUVs, the Mazda 6 provides a strong counter argument that a traditional saloon can be just as appealing. It offers handsome styling, an engaging driving experience and a generous level of standard equipment.
The pool of alternatives to the Mazda 6 is smaller than it it once was, but there is still the Skoda Superb and Peugeot 508 to consider. Other choices include the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat, plus the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport. With an image and build quality that are close to premium-brand levels, the Mazda 6 is potentially also a challenger for those considering a BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class or Audi A4.
If you are thinking about a used Mazda 6, keep reading for all the information you need to know. Have a look at the choice of models available on heycar, too.
The Mazda 6 is a handsome car with styling inspired by Mazda’s ‘Kodo’ design philosophy. It’s certainly a car that will look good parked on your drive.
It will also be good to drive, serving up a genuinely engaging experience from behind the wheel. Mazda says the 6 has the soul of the MX-5 sports car, a claim that isn’t as tenuous as you might think. The Skyactiv engines love to be revved, while the six-speed manual gearbox has a short and precise shift. It offers good steering feedback, too, along with a refined ride quality.
On the inside, various updates have made the Mazda 6 feel genuinely upmarket. The use of soft padded trim on the dashboard, and a minimalist approach to design, bring the car close to a premium level. Everything feels built to last, with quality materials used throughout.
Space inside the Mazda 6 is generous, with those in the front getting the best deal. Passengers in the back will have more than adequate legroom, although the saloon’s sloping roof does eat into headroom slightly. Boot space is slightly less than its rivals at 480 litres, but the rear bench splits and folds.
Standard technology is strong across the range, and features such as adaptive cruise control and LED headlights became standard on all models sold from early 2018. The range-topping GT Sport is particularly well-equipped, with brown Nappa leather upholstery and real Japanese wood trim found inside.
What makes the Mazda 6 four-door saloon impressive is its lack of weaknesses. As an all-round family car, it ticks all the boxes, without the added weight and inferior fuel economy of an SUV. Throw in generous levels of standard equipment, plus a reputation for dependability, and the Mazda 6 really can be counted as a leftfield alternative to BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi saloons. It all makes for a great used car to buy.
A Mazda 6 not for you? We've got 1000s of used cars for sale to suit all budgets and needs.
The entire Mazda 6 range comes comprehensively equipped but the SE-L Lux Nav+ has the best balance of all, with luxuries like a heated steering wheel and seats, both being leather covered. Sport Nav+ above it might appeal, too, adding some more body-coloured exterior trim and larger alloy wheels as standard, but that does impact slightly on the ride comfort.
The engine choice is less complicated, as even though diesels have received a bad press of late, the 2.2-litre turbodiesel is a superb engine, with good economy and emissions allied to fine refinement and good driving characteristics. It’s down to which power output you want, that too dictating the trim, as with the 150PS model you can have that SE-L Lux Nav+ or Sport Nav+ from the later trim offerings, picking the more powerful 184PS version introduced in early 2018 limits you to the Sport Nav+.
As for the transmission we’d go with the slick manual, as the auto impacts on economy, robs the 6 of some of its driving appeal, and isn’t as good as its rivals’ twin-clutch automatics.
The Mazda 6 is offered with three versions of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. These feature different levels of power, and use clever Skyactiv-G technology to boost efficiency. Depending on the version chosen, either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox is fitted.
The Mazda 6 is offered with a selection of trim levels, all of which feature generous amounts of standard equipment. Unlike many car manufacturers, Mazda didn't offer individual optional extras. Those wanting more kit were encouraged to move up a trim level instead when buying new and the same applies now with used examples.
The Mazda 6 Saloon’s exterior dimensions are:
The Mazda 6 Saloon’s boot space is:
Any Mazda 6 originally registered before 1 April 2017 will have its road tax calculated on a sliding scale based on CO2 emissions. This isn't a concern as the Mazda's engines are low emitters. For those cars put on the road after this date, all will pay the standard road tax rate of £180 for a year's duty.
The Mazda 6 should be relatively affordable to insure. Entry-level SE and SE-L models with the 145PS engine start from insurance group 18 (out of 50). Moving up the range to the Sport version, with 165PS, lifts this to insurance group 21. Topping the range, the 194PS GT Sport model is rated in group 26.
Read our full Mazda 6 review