The Mazda Mazda6 is a vehicle built from 2003 to 2021 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 78.8% of those on record. Between 2003 and 2022 it grew 18 cm longer and gained 122 kg. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Mazda6 is
The Mazda Mazda6 is a vehicle that Mazda built from 2003 to 2021 — 19 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2010. Its closest siblings in the Mazda range: CX-5, CX-50, MX-5.
Where the Mazda6 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 1,910 Mazda6s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1YV | 2003-2019 | |
| Japan | JM1 | 2003-2021 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mazda VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Mazda6 belongs to. What every character in a Mazda6 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mazda Mazda6 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Mazda6 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Mazda6's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Mazda6 that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-2009 | 476 cm | 268 cm | 1426 kg | - | - |
| 2010-2022 | 494 cm | 279 cm | 1548 kg | +18 cm | +122 kg |
Between 2003 and 2022 the Mazda6 gained 18 cm in length (+3.8%) and 122 kg in weight (+8.6%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Mazda6 that is 122 kg against 18 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Mazda Mazda6 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Mazda6 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mazda Mazda6 have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
The Mazda6 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mazda Mazda6. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Mazda6 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 89 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2,262 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Used value | 247 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mazda Mazda6?
The Mazda6 is a vehicle, built from 2003 to 2021 across 2 generations.
Where is the Mazda Mazda6 made?
Across 1,910 cars in our records the split is: the United States (78.8%), Japan (21.2%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Mazda6 have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2010. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Mazda6 grew 18 cm longer and gained 122 kg.
What is the Mazda Mazda6 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Mazda6 reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Mazda6?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mazda
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | 2013–2026 | 33 | 38 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-50 | 2023–2026 | 10 | 38 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mazda MX-5 | 1990–2026 | 34 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mazda RX-7 | 1981–1996 | 23 | 18 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-30 | 2020–2026 | 11 | 29 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-90 | 2024–2026 | 15 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |