Compare the2022 Honda Accord 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
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Accord 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 Honda Accord 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.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Accord Hybrid deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Accord Hybrid’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Mazda 6’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Compared to metal, the Accord 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 Accord Hybrid 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, 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 Honda Accord Hybrid is safer than the Mazda 6:

	Accord Hybrid	Mazda 6
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	23%
Neck Stress	184 lbs.	266 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34%	53%
Neck Compression	54 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 Honda Accord Hybrid is safer than the Mazda 6:

	Accord Hybrid	Mazda 6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	140	154
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	152 G’s	256 G’s
Hip Force	431 lbs.	437 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	62 G’s	64 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	242	271
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	36 G’s

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

Warranty

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

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 17th in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 23rd.

Engine

The Accord Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 25 more horsepower (212 vs. 187) and 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 186) than the Mazda 6’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

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

	Accord Hybrid	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	5 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	17.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	86 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

		MPG
Accord Hybrid
	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	48 city/47 hwy
	Sport/Touring 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	44 city/41 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 Accord 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 Accord 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 Honda Accord 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.

The Accord Hybrid has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

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

Transmission

The Accord 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 Accord Hybrid’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Mazda 6:

	Accord Hybrid	6
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	10.9 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Accord Hybrid Sport/Touring’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Mazda 6 (235/40R19 vs. 225/55R17).

The Accord Hybrid’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mazda 6 Sport’s standard 55 series tires. The Accord Hybrid Sport/Touring’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Mazda 6 Touring/Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition’s 45 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Accord Hybrid offers an available 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 Accord Hybrid’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Accord Hybrid is .4 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Mazda 6.

Chassis

The front grille of the Accord 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.

Passenger Space

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

The Accord Hybrid has 5.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mazda 6 (105.6 vs. 99.8).

The Accord Hybrid has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Mazda 6.

Cargo Capacity

The Accord Hybrid has a much larger trunk than the Mazda 6 (16.7 vs. 14.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Accord Hybrid easier. The Accord Hybrid’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the Mazda 6’s liftover is 28.3 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Accord Hybrid 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 Accord Hybrid. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Ergonomics

The Accord Hybrid EX-L/Touring’s standard 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.

If the windows are left open on the Accord 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. The driver of the Mazda 6 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the Accord Hybrid’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Mazda 6’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

When the Accord Hybrid Touring 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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Accord Hybrid Sport/EX-L/Touring 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 Honda Accord Hybrid and the Mazda 6, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Accord was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 25 of the last 27 years. The Mazda 6 hasn’t been picked since 2015.

The Honda Accord outsold the Mazda 6 by over 11 to one during the 2021 model year.