Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Mazda 6 (2012-2022) - Practicality, comfort and boot space

Large, practical Mazda 6 is a comfortable long-distance car, although the saloon boot isn’t as flexible as a hatchback

Practicality, comfort and boot space rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Mazda 6
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Just so you know, this is an older review of the 2012-2022 Mazda 6. If you are interested in information about a used Mazda 6, or news about the latest Mazda models, please follow the links provided.

The Mazda 6 is only sold as a saloon and Tourer estate these days, unlike earlier generations, which offered a hatchback option, too. This is part of the company’s desire to push the 6 upmarket, as more of a premium alternative. However, it does limit practicality a little alongside volume rivals: the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia are offered exclusively as hatchbacks for added versatility, for instance.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The boot is still pretty roomy, though, plus there’s no shortage of passenger space; the large exterior dimensions are reflected inside. There’s an excellent, feelgood driving position, with plenty of adjustment to take full advantage of this space, and when you sit behind the wheel, the Mazda 6 inspires confidence.

Cabin stowage space is good, enhanced since the 2015 revisions by an electric parking brake that makes the central stowage area even more useful. The door pockets could be better shaped, but the glovebox is a handy size, as is the space ahead of the short-throw gearlever. 

Size

This is a large car; at 4,870mm long and 1,840mm wide, the Mazda 6 is roomy and accommodating inside. All family cars are large these days, and this one follows the trend; it’s wide, too, although just on the right side of manageable on the road.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s almost identical in size to its rivals. A Ford Mondeo is 4,871mm long and 1,852mm wide, for example; a Volkswagen Passat is a bit shorter at 4,767mm, and a little narrower at 1,832mm wide. All versions of the 6 have front and rear parking sensors as standard, which helps immeasurably with low-speed maneouvres.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

Passengers fare pretty well in the Mazda 6. Wide door openings make getting in and out easy and, once inside, there’s decent legroom, even if it isn’t quite as roomy here as the vast Skoda Superb

Advertisement - Article continues below

The sporty saloon bodystyle does slightly compromise rear headroom for taller passengers, though: the rear screen is steeply raked, which brings the roofline down slightly, although most people won’t have an issue. 

Boot

The Mazda 6 saloon’s boot can’t match the carrying capacity of its key mainstream rivals. It has 480 litres of space, compared to 541 litres in a Ford Mondeo hatch and a yawning 625 litres in a Skoda Superb. Space is more on a par with premium cars such as the BMW 3 Series

The seatbacks do fold, however; push them down (they’re not spring-assisted, despite the handy levers in the boot), and you can free up a completely flat load area of 1,632 litres, although again the Superb has the edge here, with a maximum capacity of 1,760 litres. Still, the space in the 6 is long and useful, making full use of the car’s overall length, and the boot’s usefulness is only really limited by the overall height of the body.

Towing

If you are planning on using the Mazda 6 to tow, you should be aware that its maximum braked towing capacity changes dependent on specification. The 143bhp petrol is the least capable tow car in the line-up, only managing a maximum of 1,300kg, but the 148bhp and 181bhp diesels (both available as autos) sit at the top of the range, able to pull 1,600kg.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,505Avg. savings £4,317 off RRP*Used from £19,564
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,235Avg. savings £1,824 off RRP*Used from £24,000
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £15,940Avg. savings £2,827 off RRP*Used from £9,000
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,080Avg. savings £3,743 off RRP*Used from £25,098
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options
Renault Clio design render - front

New Renault Clio to shun electric power and stick with petrol and hybrid options

Renault’s sixth-generation Clio hatchback will get a clean look and hi-tech kit, and our exclusive images show what it could look like
News
12 Feb 2025
Car Deal of the Day: VW Golf GTI hot hatch legend for a very cool price
Volkswagen Golf GTI - front corner right

Car Deal of the Day: VW Golf GTI hot hatch legend for a very cool price

The Golf GTI has skilfully combined racy performance with everyday useability for nearly 50 years. It’s our Deal of the Day for 10 February
News
10 Feb 2025
The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027
Fiat Panda Cross - front static

The small petrol car lives! Pint-sized Fiat Pandina due in 2027

Fiat will build a new city-sized Pandina based on the new 500 platform, bringing a proper, petrol powered A-segment city car to market as early as 202…
News
12 Feb 2025