Compare the2022 Toyota Camry HybridVS 2021 Mazda 6

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Camry Hybrid 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.

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 Camry Hybrid 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 Toyota Camry Hybrid has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help 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 Camry Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Compared to metal, the Camry Hybrid’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 Camry Hybrid and the Mazda 6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Toyota Camry Hybrid is safer than the Mazda 6:

	Camry Hybrid	Mazda 6
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	20%	23%
Neck Stress	262 lbs.	266 lbs.
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	24 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	53%
Neck Compression	45 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Camry Hybrid is safer than the Mazda 6:

	Camry Hybrid	Mazda 6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	134	154
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	136 G’s	256 G’s
Hip Force	296 lbs.	437 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	289	356
Spine Acceleration	48 G’s	64 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
HIC	164	271
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	36 G’s
Hip Force	622 lbs.	671 lbs.

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

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Camry Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 6.

There are over 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Camry Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 19th in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 22nd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

Engine

The Camry Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 21 more horsepower (208 vs. 187) than the Mazda 6’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Camry Hybrid is faster than the Mazda 6 4 cyl.:

	Camry Hybrid	6
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	3.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	9.2 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.6 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	17.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	86 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Camry Hybrid gets better mileage than the Mazda 6:

		MPG
Camry Hybrid
	LE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	51 city/53 hwy
	SE/XLE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	44 city/47 hwy
Mazda 6
	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/35 hwy
	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Camry Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Camry Hybrid’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. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Camry Hybrid 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.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Camry Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Mazda 6 (3 to 7). This means the Camry Hybrid produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Mazda 6 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Camry Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Camry Hybrid	6
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.06 inches	10.9 inches

The Camry Hybrid stops shorter than the Mazda 6:

	Camry Hybrid	Mazda 6
70 to 0 MPH	180 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Camry Hybrid SE/XLE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 6 (235/45R18 vs. 225/55R17).

The Camry Hybrid XSE’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

The Camry Hybrid’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57.3% to 42.7%) than the Mazda 6’s (60% to 40%). This gives the Camry Hybrid more stable handling and braking.

The Camry Hybrid XLE handles at .84 G’s, while the Mazda 6 Signature pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The front grille of the Camry Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Camry Hybrid XLE is quieter than the Mazda 6 Grand Touring:

	Camry Hybrid	6
At idle	38 dB	42 dB
Full-Throttle	72 dB	80 dB
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	69 dB

Passenger Space

The Camry Hybrid has 1.9 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear hip room and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mazda 6.

Cargo Capacity

The Camry Hybrid has a larger trunk than the Mazda 6 (15.1 vs. 14.7 cubic feet).

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

Servicing Ease

The Camry Hybrid 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 power windows standard on both the Camry Hybrid and the Mazda 6 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Camry Hybrid 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.

If the windows are left open on the Camry Hybrid 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. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Mazda 6 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Camry Hybrid’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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Camry Hybrid (except Nightshade) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Camry Hybrid will be $255 to $5518 less than for the Mazda 6.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Camry Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Camry Hybrid first among midsize cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Mazda 6 isn’t in the top three.