Mazda has clearly worked hard over the past decade to differentiate itself from the stiff competition of other automakers in terms of reliability, style, and perhaps most importantly, safety. The 2021 Mazda6 follows suit with those efforts, going so far as to earn a top safety designation from a trusted car safety testing agency. Learn more about what makes the 2021 Mazda6 so special and why it earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS. 

Is the 2021 Mazda6 a good car?

The 2021 Mazda6 is a fantastic sedan overall, scoring an impressive 8.6/10 overall on U.S. News‘s scorecard. The only midsize car to score above that is the 2021 Honda Accord, which is widely recognized as the best in its class by many critics and car enthusiasts alike. 

On the outside, the 2021 Mazda6 is quite striking for a car of its price, and it looks especially dazzling in the “Deep Crystal Blue” color. The interior is also incredible for the price, as it looks and feels luxurious thanks to the high-quality materials that come in even the base model. Drivers have the option to upgrade the interior to make it even more luxurious with synthetic or genuine leather, heated front seats, and more. 

One common complaint about the 2021 Mazda6 that deserves mention is the somewhat frustrating infotainment center. It features a nice 8-inch touchscreen, but it locks you out from using it while you are driving. This means that you’ll have to use the central control knob, which is intuitive for some, but more agitating for others.

Even still, the 2021 Mazda6 comes standard with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, voice recognition, and HD radio. You can upgrade to include satellite radio, a premium 11-speaker Bose stereo system, remote keyless entry, and more. 

Finally, the engine of the 2021 Mazda6 is pretty darn good for its class. It comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, capable of producing 187 hp. If you opt to purchase the Grand Touring trim or above, you will have the luxury of a turbocharged four-cylinder that can get up to 250 hp. 

The 2021 Mazda6 starts at $24,475. 

The 2021 Mazda6 won a Top Safety Pick+ award

The above facts and features make the 2021 Mazda6 worth buying on its own, but the vast array of safety features of the car and its superior crash test ratings make it an even better choice for prospective car buyers. 

The 2021 Mazda6 comes standard with helpful safety features, such as lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and so much more. 

According to MotorTrend, the Mazda6 won a coveted IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, the highest possible designation IIHS gives. It also earned five out of five stars for nearly all categories in NHTSA’s crash test ratings, only getting a four in the rollover test. 

Of course, you want your ride to look great and be fun to drive, but you also want it to come with tech that prevents accidents and keeps you safe in case you get into one. 

Mazda is no stranger to safety awards and designations

The 2021 Mazda6 is far from the only vehicle that earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation; in fact, it’s just one of seven total Mazda vehicles that received the award in 2021. The 2021 Mazda3 sedan and hatchback, CX-3, CX-30, CX-5, and CX-9, all snagged the award this year. Seven Mazda vehicles also won the award in 2020, making Mazda look like a company that consistently prioritizes safety. 

If you are in the market for a safe, cost-effective, and reliable ride, it’s hard to go wrong with a Mazda.