2017 Honda Accord vs. 2017 Mazda6: Which is Best?

2017 Honda Accord vs 2017 Mazda6 ・ Photo by Honda and Mazda

Though SUVs have largely taken over as the family cars of choice, competition in the midsize sedan segment remains hot, with lots of good choices on the market. In this article, we’ll compare two of the best: the Honda Accord and the Mazda6. Since its introduction in the 1970s, the Accord has become synonymous with efficient, reliable transportation. Today’s Accord is one of the roomiest midsizers on the market, and while Accords of a few years back were starting to get a little squidgy around the edges, the latest generation marks a return to the Accord’s athletic roots. But if Honda wants that fun-to-drive title back, they’ll have to face the Mazda6. Mazda’s “zoom-zoom” tagline is truth in advertising: Their cars really are big fun on a curvy road, and Mazda has made further refinements in 2017 to improve the driving experience.

Pricing and Trim Levels

No question, Honda has the broader model range: Along with a 4-door sedan, they also make the Accord as a 2-door coupe. Sedans are available in six trim levels: LX, Sport, Sport SE, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Coupes are offered in LX-S, EX, EX-L and Touring models, while hybrids come in Hybrid, EX-L, and Touring trim. Prices (including destination charge) range from $23,330 for and LX sedan with a manual transmission up to $36,830 for a Touring sedan with a hybrid drivetrain. The Mazda6 lineup is simpler, with only one body style (4-door) and three trim levels: Sport, Touring and Grand Touring. Prices range from $22,820 for a manual-transmission Sport to $31,570 for a Grand Touring, but Mazda does offer factory options that can raise the price as high as $34,730.

Photo by Honda and Mazda

Options

Honda offers few extra-cost options; instead, the trim level determines how the car is equipped. LX models get most of the power accessories we expect nowadays, plus alloy wheels and Bluetooth. The Sport adds a sport-tuned suspension, fold-down rear seat, and a tad more power for the engine, with the SE adding red-stitched leather seats (heated in front) and extra badging. The EX gets push-button start, a sunroof, and Honda’s nifty LaneWatch camera (more on that soon), with the EX-L adding leather upholstery on top of that. Adaptive cruise control and a lane-keeping assistance system are offered as an option package on all models, and navigation is offered on the EX; all are standard on the Touring, which also gets heated rear seats and LED headlights with automatic high beams. Over on the Mazda side, the Mazda6 Sport offers basic power amenities and a cloth interior, with the Touring adding fake leather, alloy wheels, and keyless entry. The Grand Touring gets genuine leather and  host of comfort and convenience features including navigation and active safety equipment. Option packages are few: An automatic transmission for the Sport, sunroof, upgraded stereo, heated seats and auto-dimming mirrors for the Touring, and upgraded interior trim, heated steering wheel, and a fuel-saving i-ELOOP system for the Grand Touring. Note also that some paint colors cost $200-$300 extra.

Photo by Mazda

Powertrains and Efficiency

Again, if you want choices, the Accord rules. Most Accords get a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 185 hp (189 in Sport trim). LX and Sport models can be had with a manual transmission or a CVT automatic; EX and Touring are automatic-only. Optional on the EX-L and standard on Touring is a 278-hp V6. EPA ratings for the Accord sedan are 23 mpg city/32 mpg highway for the 2.4 manual, 27/36 for the 2.4 automatic (26/34 in Sport trim), and 21/33 for the V6 automatic. (Coupe figures are slightly lower.) Honda also offers the Accord with a brilliant 212-hp hybrid powertrain. EPA fuel economy ratings are 49 mpg city/47 mpg highway. We’ve had no problem topping 45 mpg in real-world driving. In contrast, Mazda6 is available with just one engine, though it’s a good one: A 185-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder. This being a driver-oriented car, Mazda offers a 6-speed manual transmission in Sport and Touring trims and a 6-speed automatic in all three models. EPA fuel economy estimates are 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway with a manual transmission and 26/35 with the automatic. Mazda offers a system called i-ELOOP on Grand Touring models that improves the EPA city figure by 1 mpg.

Photo by Mazda

Standout Features

We admire Honda’s commitment to safety: Lane departure warning, collision warning with automatic braking, and adaptive cruise control are optional on all models. Oddly enough, what we consider to be the Accord’s killer safety app is only offered on EX, EX-L and Touring models: LaneWatch, which uses a camera in the right-side mirror to show a wide angle view in the center screen when the driver uses the right-side turn signal. It provides a broader field of view than the mirror and allows the driver to (safely) glance at the camera rather than over her shoulder when changing lanes to the right. This is one of the best safety inventions we’ve ever seen, and we’d like to see every Accord model—and come to think of it, every competitor’s car—available with this brilliant feature. The Mazda6’s stand-out feature is the construction of their Skyactiv automatic transmission. Mazda engineers devised a new type of torque converter (the doohickey that connects the engine to the transmission) that gives a more direct feel, eliminating the “mushiness” of traditional automatics, while saving fuel. The resulting fuel economy is outstanding, though it’s hard to compete with Honda, a master of fuel efficiency.

Photo by Honda

Exterior Design

We find it hard to fall in love with the looks of the Accord sedan—it’s upright and a bit stodgy, though certainly not unattractive. That said, we love the Accord coupe, largely by dint of its very existence—few brands offer big 2-doors nowadays. The Accord coupe is slick and racy, though we wish Honda offered more bright colors to show off its handsome profile—blue is the brightest shade offered on all models, with red reserved for higher trim levels.

Mazda may only offer the 6 as a 4-door, but it’s a very good looking car, from its upright grille to the sweeping curves that adorn its body sides. Mazda offers a full color palette in all trim levels, and the 6 looks good in all of them.

Photo by Honda and Mazda

Interior Design

The Accord’s interior is a bit strange, especially the EX and Touring models, which have not one but two screens, one for the stereo and one for… oh, wait, that one displays stereo information as well. That’s one of the problems with the Accord: We’re never quite sure where to look. We prefer the LX and Sport models, which get a single screen and more conventional stereo controls. We prefer the design of the Mazda6, which is better organized, though the variety of trim colors and materials in the top-line Grand Touring can be jarring. The Mazda’s infotainment system can be controlled either by a touch screen or a dial on the console, an ideal answer to the eternal debate about which method is better.

Photo by Honda and Mazda

Interior Space and Cargo Capacity

It’s hard to beat the Honda Accord for interior space; it’s one of the roomiest midsize sedans on the market, with generous rear-seat legroom and a big 15.8-cubic foot trunk. That said, the Mazda comes close—it actually offers slightly more rear seat legroom, though overall seat comfort isn’t quite up to Accord standards. The Mazda trails the Honda slightly on trunk space at 14.8 cubic feet.

Photo by Honda

Safety Ratings and Technology

In terms of crash tests scores, there’s little between these two cars: Both the Honda Accord sedan and Mazda6 have 5-star ratings from the government and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (the 2-door Accord is a Top Safety Pick; no +). But the Honda has the edge: They offer advanced driver safety features as an option on all models, while the Mazda6 only offers them in the top-of-the-line Grand Touring model.

Photo by Honda

The Driving Experience

Normally, this would be a slam dunk for the Mazda: Every car they make is great to drive, and the 6 is no exception. This car’s handling belies its size, and automotive purists will appreciate that a manual transmission is offered in two of the three trim levels. But the Mazda scores a tough win because the Accord is very, very good. Honda has gone to great lengths to give it a small, agile feel, and we’re particularly fond of the Sport and Sport SE models, which feel even sharper. We find the ride in other 4-cylinder Accords a bit on the harsh side, though, and some people will object to the slushy feel of the CVT automatic (though others will like its smooth, shift-free acceleration). Power junkies will love the Accord’s optional V6, and greenies will revel in the Prius-like fuel economy of the Accord Hybrid. Neither powertrain option is offered by Mazda.

Photo by Mazda

Which is best?

As with many things in life, here “best” comes down to personal preference. There’s a lot to like about the Accord: A large array of models and powertrain choices, great safety equipment, and an excellent driving experience. And Honda’s reputation for reliability is deserved: A well-cared-for Honda will last forever. But the Mazda6 has plenty of its own appeal. It’s just as roomy inside as the Accord and even better to drive, and those who object to the feel of the Accord’s CVT will love the direct feel of the Mazda6’s Skyactiv automatic. And we’d argue that it’s the more handsome of the two cars. At the end of the day, these cars both do the job to which they are assigned, but with vastly different approaches. We recommend test-driving both the 2017 Honda Accord and the 2017 Mazda6 so you can decide for yourself which better suits your needs.

Photo by Honda and Mazda