Key Points
- Mazda’s well-regarded Mazda3 remains its sole U.S. sedan after the Mazda6’s 2021 discontinuation.
- China-built electric Mazda6e models are unlikely to reach America because of tariffs and Mazda’s market strategy.
- A revived Mazda6 could use gas, hybrid, or plug-in-hybrid powertrains and capitalize on renewed sedan demand.
We have to applaud Mazda for holding onto its only sedan, the Mazda3. The compact sedan is so good that it has been universally praised in its current and somewhat long-in-the-tooth 8th generation that debuted in 2019. Not only has its design held up well for years, but it’s also rewarding to drive and near-premium inside, especially the higher trim levels. The Mazda3 sedan even experienced a sales surge in 2026 to the tune of 146% year-over-year (combined with its hatchback sibling).
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Its bigger brother, the Mazda6 (above), hasn’t been built since 2021. Its disappearance can be lumped together with the demise of so many midsize family sedans at the hands of the ubiquitous crossover. But sedans are coming back to the American landscape, as seen in sales increases for some models. Automakers such as Ford, GM, and Stellantis are considering bringing midsize sedans back into their ranks. When the Mazda6 left our shores, it was considered one of the most stylish, best-appointed, and most fun to drive mainstream sedans.
China Has an Electric Mazda 6e
Mazda
Although Mazda no longer builds the 6 for the U.S. market, they did build an all-electric Mazda 6e, a stylish and practical five-door hatchback. With whiffs of the last gas Mazda6, the 6e has rear-wheel drive and 258 horsepower from a 78-kWh batter. It blends Mazda’s signature evolved Kodo design and driver-focused philosophy with the efficiency and refinement of an all-electric powertrain. It also introduced an SUV version, named the Mazda CX-6e.
Mazda
The biggest reason the Mazda 6e (and the CX-6e) isn’t sold in America comes down to a combination of market strategy, tariffs and the now much smaller sedan market. The 6e was developed in partnership with Chinese automaker Changan and is manufactured through that collaboration, making it subject to high U.S. tariffs on Chinese-built vehicles. Mazda is focusing its EV efforts in Europe, Australia, and China, and the Changan partnership makes that possible. However, these China-built models are unlikely for North America due to the aforementioned import tariffs.
A Mazda EV Won’t Arrive Here Anytime Soon
Mazda is a bit gunshy about brining a new EV to the U.S. market after the abysmal failure of its first and last EV, the MX-30. It arrived on our shores in the U.S. for the 2022 model year with unique hatchback styling, short suicide rear doors, a minimalist cabin and eco-conscious materials. Despite its premium feel and fun driving dynamics, the MX-30 eluded success because its 35.5-kWh battery provided a paltry 100 miles of range, while its starting price of around $35,000 made it even tougher to swallow.
Mazda sold only 181 examples in 2021, 324 in 2022 and 100 in 2023. It died after two years on the market, and it hasn’t built a replacement. The MX-30 survived in overseas markets, where a range-extending version paired an electric motor with a rotary engine generator, offering a somewhat unorthodox solution to its weak range. Mazda’s EV plans have been delayed for at least a couple of years more.
What a New Mazda6 Could Look Like
Mazda makes some of the most attractive vehicles on the planet, and they certainly lean toward more premium styling, most notably on its CX-90 and CX-70 SUVs. A new 6 sedan could borrow some of their Kodo “soul of motion” design elements like thin headlights, sweeping body lines, slab doors, and curvaceous fenders, while retaining the aerodynamic shape of the original Mazda6.
Any successor to the last Mazda6 has to do a lot really well. The 2021 Mazda6 Grand Touring was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The top trim delivered 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular 87-octane fuel, increasing to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft with premium 93-octane gas. Fuel economy was 26 mpg combined. It also had ample rear legroom and cargo space, to the tune of 38.7 inches and 14.7 cubic feet, respectively,
A new Mazda6 could get up to three choices when it comes to power, and Mazda doesn’t have to go very far to get them. Its current 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six is already offered in the CX-90 with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance. It’s good for 280 horsepower in standard form or up to 340 horsepower on premium fuel. Paired with an eight-speed automatic and rear-biased all-wheel drive, it would give the Mazda6 the performance and refinement to complement its sleek exterior and upscale cabin. Such a configuration would require an appropriate longitudinal-engine platform, however, rather than a straightforward update of the previous Mazda6.
Mazda
Of course, a modern family sedan needs to offer a hybrid, and the brand’s 2.5-liter Skyactiv-Z four-cylinder and proprietary hybrid system is coming to the current CX-5 in 2027. It would also present a significant engineering and cost question: the architecture best suited to an affordable four-cylinder hybrid might not be the one best suited to a longitudinal inline-six solution.
A plug-in hybrid would offer another compelling and efficient option. The CX-90 PHEV combines a recently revised and smoother powertrain using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a 17.8-kWh battery to deliver 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Adapting that setup to a sedan could provide electric commuting capability alongside gasoline-powered long-distance flexibility, although battery placement, curb weight, trunk space, and seating height would need careful consideration. Its performance and electric range would also need to be established for the sedan rather than assumed from the SUV.
Final Thoughts
As some automakers are planning to bring sedans back into their lineups, Mazda could benefit from a modern 6 sedan, especially if it makes use of their current gas and hybrid powertrains. Many car buyers lament the disappearance of the last Mazda6, and many used models still roam American roads. Honda and Toyota hybrid midsize family sedans are doing quite well, and Mazda needs to strike while the iron is hot. It would, undoubtedly, be one of the freshest and most stylish sedans on the market.
About the author
Amos Kwon
Contributing Writer, Autoblog