The mid-size sedan category is among the toughest segments to compete in but the Mazda6 has done well in holding its own over the years. With sharp and sophisticated styling, a pair of smooth and efficient engines, and an interior from a class above, it’s safe to say that the 2020 Mazda6 did not fail to impress us during the time that we spent in it. It’s easy to see the car’s rich textures and smooth design queues from pictures, but what surprised us the most was the car’s sporty, yet quiet driving characteristics. Further proving that if you’re looking for a driver’s car with a touch of luxury, the Mazda6 could be the sedan to get.

The 2020 Mazda6 exudes sophisticated athleticism

It’s almost hard to believe that the Mazda6 has been in existence since 2003, yet it’s only in its third generation. That doesn’t mean that it hasn’t had its fair share of improvements along the way, though. Mazda last updated its family sedan in 2018 by giving it a new turbocharged mill, a restyled interior, and more sound deadening, which was surprisingly effective, but we’ll get to that later.

Along with the new revisions came some suspension tweaks, and although the folks over at Jalopnik said that there aren’t any noticeable differences between the 2018 Mazda6 and the older version, we still came away impressed. There’s a good amount of feedback coming through the steering wheel and its response was sharp as a tack. Also, the car’s overall handling characteristics made spirited driving fun and highway cruising a comfortable affair. Whether or not the suspension tweaks were noticeable, we can definitely say that Mazda6 was an utter joy to control from behind the wheel.

The interior is a quiet and pleasant place to be

If you’re shopping for any Mazda nowadays, you’ll likely be impressed at the quality of their interiors and the Mazda6 is no exception. Our Signature-trim test car had a “parchment” leather interior that looked white, which contrasted well with the black headliner and Sen Wood dash and door trim. Needless to say, it looked elegant and not overdone. Additionally, every button and knob are within easy reach of the driver, so toggling between modes on the infotainment system or going through menus on the digital instrument panel was easy.

Another big surprise is just how quiet the cabin is while driving. It felt like we could hold a conversation by whispering at residential speeds and there was no need to shout when driving on the highway. Mazda reduced the noise, vibration, and harshness levels during the 2018 refresh by adding sound-deadening materials to 20 different panels and effectively tuning the harmonics of the subframes, floor pans, and front struts to “attenuate din-creating frequencies,” according to Car and Driver. The result was a serene cabin that is quieter than its competitors including the Honda Accord Touring.

Is it worth it buy the Signature trim level?

There are currently five different trim levels for the Mazda6: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature. The Signature trim adds the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, Nappa leather seats, a black headliner, Sen Wood trim pieces, and a 360-degree monitor, all of which might be pointless to some buyers, however, we would suggest going for it.

With a $36,915 MSRP (including destination), the price might seem a little steep for some, but if you’re going to go with a mid-size sedan, then it’s best to go all out, especially considering the Mazda6’s supreme level of refinement. You most likely will not be disappointed, and even you somehow are, the car’s driving dynamics will more than make up for it.