For 2006, the Mazda 6 sedans, five-door hatchbacks, and wagons were available in a wide variety of trim packages. New for the year was a high-end Grand Sport package, which added such features as heated seats, xenon high-intensity headlights, heated exterior mirrors, a power glass sunroof, and a Bose audio system to an already extensive list of features. Other trim packages included the Sport and Grand Touring packages, in addition to the base models.

The Mazda 6 vehicles came with either i or s designations, which referred to the size of the engine. Sedans and hatchbacks with the i designation were equipped with a 160-horsepower, 2.3-liter four cylinder engine, while sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons with the s designation came with a 215-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6.

A five-speed manual transmission was standard for base and Sport packages, while either a five-speed automatic or a six-speed automatic was standard on the higher-end Grand Touring and Grand Sport packages.

Drivers were attracted to the Mazda 6 vehicles for their smooth handling, comfortable interiors, sporty styling, and good value. Some drivers noted minor problems with the cars, but since most of the cars are still under warranty, these problems have proven to be easily resolved.