Compare the2022 Mercedes A-ClassVS 2021 Mazda 6

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes A-Class 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 A-Class’ 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 Mercedes A-Class 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 A-Class 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 A-Class and the Mazda 6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

Warranty

The A-Class 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 or 14,000 miles sooner.

Engine

The A-Class’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 1 more horsepower (188 vs. 187) and 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 186) than the Mazda 6’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes A-Class is faster than the Mazda 6:

	A-Class	6 4 cyl.	Mazda 6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	7.3 sec	6.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	16.9 sec	20.9 sec	16 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6.8 sec	7.5 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	15.8 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	89 MPH	97 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the A-Class gets better mileage than the Mazda 6:

			MPG
A-Class
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/35 hwy
Mazda 6
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the A-Class’ 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. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

A seven-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes A-Class, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Mazda 6.

The A-Class offers a standard 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 A-Class’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Mazda 6:

	A-Class	6
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.6 inches	10.9 inches

The A-Class stops much shorter than the Mazda 6:

	A-Class	Mazda 6
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The A-Class’ optional 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.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the A-Class can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The A-Class 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 A-Class’ 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.

The A 220 4MATIC handles at .95 G’s, while the Mazda 6 Signature pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The A 220 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Mazda 6 Touring (26.5 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the A-Class’ turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Mazda 6’s (36.1 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

Chassis

The A-Class is 1 foot, 1.6 inches shorter than the Mazda 6, making the A-Class easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Mercedes A-Class amounts to more than styling. The A-Class 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 A-Class get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The A-Class has 1.9 inches more front headroom and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Mazda 6.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the A-Class easier. The A-Class’ trunk lift-over height is 26.1 inches, while the Mazda 6’s liftover is 28.3 inches.

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the A-Class’ available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under 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 A-Class 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.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Mercedes service is better than Mazda. J.D. Power ranks Mercedes 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 25% lower rating, Mazda is ranked 23rd.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat in the Mazda 6 Grand Touring Reserve/Signature/Carbon Edition, the A-Class has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The A-Class’ standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, 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 A-Class and the Mazda 6 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the A-Class 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 A-Class the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows 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.

The A-Class’ 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 A-Class’ 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.

When the A-Class is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Mazda 6’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the A-Class and the Mazda 6 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the A-Class 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.

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

The A-Class’ optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Mazda 6 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.