Compare the2022 Kia K5VS 2021 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
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the K5 and Mazda 6 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The K5 EX Premium/GT-1 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Mazda 6’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the K5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kia K5 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The K5 1.6T offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Compared to metal, the K5’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda 6 has a metal gas tank.

Both the K5 and the Mazda 6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors 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 Kia K5 is safer than the Mazda 6:

	K5	Mazda 6
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	23%
Neck Stress	180 lbs.	266 lbs.
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	24 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	50%	53%
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	107 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	20/31 lbs.	335/150 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia K5 is safer than the Mazda 6:

	K5	Mazda 6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	110	154
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	190 G’s	256 G’s
Hip Force	264 lbs.	437 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	202	356
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	36 G’s
Hip Force	589 lbs.	671 lbs.

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

Warranty

The K5 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-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 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the K5 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the 6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Mazda 6 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 39 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the K5’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the K5 has a standard 130-amp alternator. The Mazda 6’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 48 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

Engine

The K5 1.6T’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 186) than the Mazda 6’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The K5 GT 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (290 vs. 250) than the Mazda 6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the K5 1.6T 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Mazda 6 4 cyl.:

	K5	6
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	9.2 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.8 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	17.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	86 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the K5 1.6T LX FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Mazda 6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition turbo 4 cyl. (29 city/38 hwy vs. 23 city/31 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the K5 LX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia K5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Mazda 6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Kia K5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Mazda 6.

The K5 offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the K5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Mazda 6:

	K5	K5 GT	Mazda 6	Mazda 6 Turbo
Front Rotors	12 inches	13.6 inches	11.7 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	12.8 inches	10.9 inches	10.9 inches

The K5 stops much shorter than the Mazda 6:

	K5	Mazda 6
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	140 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the K5 GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 6 (245/40R19 vs. 225/55R17).

The K5 GT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mazda 6 Touring/Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition’s 45 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the K5 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Mazda 6.

The K5 GT handles at .86 G’s, while the Mazda 6 Signature pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The K5 GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Mazda 6 Touring (26.3 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the K5’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Mazda 6’s (36 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

Chassis

The Kia K5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Mazda 6.

The design of the Kia K5 amounts to more than styling. The K5 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the Mazda 6 (.285) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the K5 get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the K5 EX is quieter than the Mazda 6 Grand Touring (67 vs. 69 dB).

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the K5 a Large car, while the Mazda 6 is rated a Mid-size.

The K5 has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mazda 6 (105.3 vs. 99.8).

The K5 has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 3.9 inches more front legroom, 3.1 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Mazda 6.

Cargo Capacity

The K5 has a much larger trunk than the Mazda 6 (16 vs. 14.7 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the K5 LXS/GT-Line/EX/GT’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The K5 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.

Ergonomics

The K5 EX/GT’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back 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.

The power windows standard on both the K5 and the Mazda 6 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the K5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Mazda 6 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The K5’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Mazda 6’s power lock and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The K5’s 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/Carbon Edition.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia K5 GT-Line/EX/GT has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia K5 and the Mazda 6, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2021 issue and they ranked the Kia K5 GT-Line AWD three places higher than the Mazda 6 Carbon Edition.