Honda Civic vs Mazda MAZDA6

The Mazda6 hasn’t been completely redesigned since 2014, making it one of the older members of the midsize car class (only the Volkswagen Passat has more wrinkles). And while this great-looking car is not a top-seller in its segment, making it a relative rarity on the road, it’s also been around long enough that what once was a daringly seductive design is now as familiar as favorite comfort food.

But don’t let this familiarity make you indifferent to the Mazda6’s long list of charms. Inside and out, this Mazda remains one of the more stylish and high-quality choices in a family-sized four-door, and when you drive it you can’t help but have a great time behind its perfectly shaped steering wheel. The 2021 Mazda6 might be older than other choices in its class, but it’s still better than most of its competitors. Especially in the athletics department.

It’s been almost half a decade since Honda introduced this latest Civic. That’s hard to believe, because this car has aged with remarkable grace. After a mild update for the 2025 model year, the 2026 Civic lineup carries over unchanged. It continues to offer sedans and hatchbacks, with or without hybrid power. Sporty Si and performance-tuned Type R variants are also available, but Honda still doesn’t offer the Civic with all-wheel drive. Does that matter? Seemingly not, because the Civic is Honda’s second-best-selling car (behind the CR-V), and one of the top-selling compact cars in America.

Verdict: You’ll pay a premium to buy a Honda Civic. In many ways, it’s worth the extra money. In others, not so much. Still, while there are better deals in the compact car class, few are as satisfying to drive, and that’s true even when the Civic is equipped with its base engine.