Compare the2019 Lexus IS SeriesVS 2018 Mazda 6

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus IS Series have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The IS Series’ optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The IS Series offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the IS Series and the Mazda 6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lexus IS Series is safer than the Mazda 6:

	IS Series	Mazda 6
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Compression	64 lbs.	107 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus IS Series is safer than the Mazda 6:

	IS Series	Mazda 6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	99	154
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	193 G’s	256 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	89	356
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	64 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The IS Series comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 6’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS Series 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the 6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Mazda 6 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The IS Series’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Mazda 6’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the IS Series’ reliability 13 points higher than the Mazda 6.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2018 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in reliability. Mazda is ranked 12th.

Engine

The IS Series has more powerful engines than the Mazda 6:

	Horsepower	Torque
IS 300 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.	241 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6	260 HP	236 lbs.-ft.
IS 350 3.5 DOHC V6	311 HP	280 lbs.-ft.
Mazda 6 2.5 4 cyl.	187 HP	186 lbs.-ft.
Mazda 6 Grand Touring/Signature 2.5 turbo 4 cyl.	250 HP	310 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the IS 300 is faster than the Mazda 6 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

	IS Series	6
Zero to 30 MPH	2.4 sec	2.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	7.7 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	12.2 sec	13.2 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.7 sec	4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.9 MPH	87.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The IS Series has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Mazda 6 (17.4 vs. 16.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Lexus IS Series comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Mazda 6.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus IS Series, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Mazda 6.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the IS Series’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Mazda 6:

	IS Series	6
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	10.9 inches

The IS Series’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Mazda 6 are solid, not vented.

The IS Series stops much shorter than the Mazda 6:

	IS Series	Mazda 6
70 to 0 MPH	177 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The IS Series’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mazda 6 Sport’s standard 55 series tires. The IS Series’ optional 225/40R18 front and 255/35R18 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Mazda 6 Touring/Grand Touring/Signature’s 45 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The IS Series offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Mazda 6’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The IS Series’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Mazda 6’s (58% to 42%). This gives the IS Series more stable handling and braking.

The IS Series AWD handles at .89 G’s, while the Mazda 6 Grand Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 350 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Mazda 6 Touring (26 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS Series’ turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Mazda 6’s (34.2 feet vs. 36.7 feet). The IS Series AWD’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Mazda 6’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

Chassis

The IS Series is 8.4 inches shorter than the Mazda 6, making the IS Series easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the IS 350 F Sport is quieter than the Mazda 6 Grand Touring:

	IS Series	6
At idle	42 dB	42 dB
Full-Throttle	73 dB	80 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	69 dB

Passenger Space

The IS Series has 2.6 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room and .5 inches more rear hip room than the Mazda 6.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the IS Series offers cargo security. The Mazda 6’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the IS Series. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The IS Series uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Mazda 6 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the IS Series is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Mazda 6. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The IS Series has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Mazda 6 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in service department satisfaction. With a 85% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 27th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat in the Mazda 6 Grand Touring Reserve/Signature, the IS Series offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The IS Series’ optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

If the windows are left open on the IS Series the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (Your Lexus service department must activate this window function.) The driver of the Mazda 6 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The IS Series has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Mazda 6 only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the IS Series to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The IS Series’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the Mazda 6 Grand Touring/Signature.

When the IS Series with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Mazda 6’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the IS Series and the Mazda 6 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the IS Series has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the IS Series is less expensive to operate than the Mazda 6 because it costs $43 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the IS Series than the Mazda 6, including $28 less for front brake pads and $76 less for a fuel pump.

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