The Mazda6 competes in the midsize family sedan category, along with the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Subaru Legacy, Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, and Kia Optima. For 2020, it sees no major changes but will feature a new key fob.

Mazda offers two engines in the MAZDA6. The base unit comprises a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine good for 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, plus cylinder deactivation. You can upgrade to a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that makes 250 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque using 93-octane premium fuel. That option also gets you bigger front ventilated brake discs. Both engines come with front-wheel drive (FWD) and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The base mill is rated for 26 mpg city, 35 highway, and 29 combined, while the more-powerful one gets estimates of 23, 31, and 26.

Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve, and Signature trims make up the Mazda6 lineup. The Sport bundles 17-inch alloy wheels, auto-leveling LED headlights, LED taillights, an 8-inch infotainment system, front USB ports, 6 speakers, Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and keyless start. Other trims enjoy a 6- or 8-way power driver’s seat, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, keyless access, a power moonroof, larger wheels, rear USB ports, a Bose 11-speaker audio system, satellite radio, adaptive front lighting, leather upholstery, a windshield-wiper de-icer, a 6-way power passenger’s seat, and premium LED headlights.

For 2020, the entire i-Activsense safety suite comes standard on the Mazda6. That includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a reversing camera. Optional upgrades include a 360-degree monitor, a heads-up display, and parking sensors. Most Mazda models achieved top scores in their most recent round of crash tests, and the Mazda6 is no exception.