Price
Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
The 2019 Honda Accord barely edges out the Mazda6 on price, with the base model starting at $23,720. Three mid-level variants cost $26,180, $27,620, and $30,120, respectively. The top-of-the-line Accord Touring starts at $35,950.
The 2019 Mazda6 starts at $23,800. Midrange trims are priced from $26,400 to $32,000. The range-topping Mazda6 Signature will cost you $35,100, which is in line with the price of the top trim levels of many competing midsize cars (including the Accord).
Seat Comfort
Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
Both the Mazda6 and Accord accommodate five passengers. Most adults will find the rear seats accommodating in these midsize sedans. However, the Mazda6 comes up a bit short on rear-seat legroom. While the Accord provides plenty of legroom in the back, some rivals’ models have more headroom. Additionally, some people may not like the Accord’s low seating position.
Still, the Honda offers larger interior dimensions and more overall passenger volume than the Mazda6, giving it the win in this category.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2019 Mazda6
The Mazda6 has a classy cabin with first-rate materials throughout. It looks and feels more upscale than many other vehicles in its class. The Accord features a quality interior with lots of soft-touch materials, though there are still some hard plastics present.
Interior Technology
Winner: Tie
The Mazda6 comes standard with Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, push-button start, a six-speaker audio system, and an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available. The infotainment interface is mostly user-friendly, though you’ll have to sift through multiple menus to find some functions. Notable available features include navigation, satellite radio, a moonroof, two additional USB ports, and an 11-speaker Bose audio system.
The Accord offers a 7-inch display screen as standard, as well as Bluetooth, a USB port, and a four-speaker stereo. The standard infotainment system is reasonably intuitive and includes physical buttons and knobs to adjust audio and climate settings. Upgrades include HD Radio, an eight- or 10-speaker audio system, and an 8-inch touch screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
The Mazda6 has a 15-cubic-foot trunk, which is on par with many vehicles in our midsize car rankings. Its wide opening makes it easy to load.
On the other hand, the Accord offers more trunk space, at 16.7 cubic feet, but it’s important to note that its narrow opening makes it more difficult to load longer items.
Acceleration
Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
The Mazda6 comes standard with a 187-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission. Unfortunately, the 2019 model year saw the departure of a manual gearbox option. The base engine is not particularly powerful, though it should suffice for most typical driving. For the 2018 model year, Mazda added an optional turbocharged four-cylinder that provides enjoyable acceleration. To get the maximum 250 horsepower, though, you have to use premium fuel. With regular fuel, you get 227 horsepower.
The base Accord is equipped with a 192-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Added to the fact that a turbo comes standard, the Honda is lighter than the Mazda6, so its acceleration feels stronger. If you prefer a manual transmission, choose the Accord Sport, which comes standard with a six-speed manual.
If the standard powertrain isn’t enough, you can upgrade to the optional 2.0-liter 252-horsepower turbo-four. It comes with a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission. Those opting for the more powerful engine can choose to pair it with the manual gearbox in the Sport trim. It does not require premium gasoline to meet its horsepower rating, as the Mazda6 does.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
With its base engine and the available automatic transmission, the Mazda6 returns an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Its available turbocharged four-cylinder gets 23 and 31, respectively.
Choosing the Accord with its standard powertrain gets you 30 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway, which is fantastic for the class. Models with the 2.0-liter engine and automatic transmission return 23 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway.
For comparison, a base Mazda6 with an automatic transmission will cost you about $150 more per year to fuel than the base Accord.
The Accord is also available in a hybrid trim that gets 48 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway.
Ride and Handling
Winner: 2019 Mazda6
Like virtually every Mazda vehicle, the Mazda6 delivers best-in-class driving dynamics. It features exceptionally agile handling and a smooth ride.
The Accord is no slouch when it comes to handling, and it provides a coddling ride. Its standard driving modes let you choose settings to tailor your driving experience to fit your preferences. Despite the Accord’s solid road manners, it can’t quite match the Mazda6’s athleticism.
Reliability
Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
According to J.D. Power, the 2019 Mazda6 earns a predicted reliability rating of 2.5 out of five. That's a below-average rating, and one of the lowest in the class.
The 2019 Accord, meanwhile, fares slightly better in the reliability department. It receives a three out of five predicted reliability rating, which is considered average.
Safety
Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
The 2019 Mazda6 gets a five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned five stars in the front driver and side crash evaluations, and four stars in the front passenger and rollover tests. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda6 is a 2019 Top Safety Pick.
The Mazda6 comes standard with a rearview camera, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and Mazda's Smart City Brake Support, which helps stop the car if it detects a potential forward collision at speeds under 20 mph. Many other advanced driver assistance aids are available.
The 2019 Honda Accord is also an IIHS 2019 Top Safety Pick, with the same ratings as the Mazda6 in every category. The NHTSA gives it a five-star overall rating. However, unlike the Mazda6, it earns five stars in frontal passenger and rollover evaluations.
The Accord includes the Honda Sensing system as standard. It features lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control. A rearview camera and driver drowsiness monitoring are standard as well. Rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring are optional.
While both vehicles score well on safety, the Accord’s longer list of standard safety features – and slight edge in safety tests – gives it the win.
The Winner Is …
2019 Honda Accord
While the 2019 Mazda6 offers a nicer interior and better driving dynamics, the 2019 Honda Accord exceeds it in too many categories. The Accord offers more powerful engines and returns better fuel economy. It’s more spacious inside and has more intuitive interior technology. The Accord also offers greater cargo volume, though its trunk may be more difficult to load. To top it off, the Honda is safer and more reliable.
In the end, both the Mazda6 and Honda Accord are outstanding midsize cars. The choice between them comes down to your priorities.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
To learn more about the Mazda6 and Honda Accord, check out their reviews. Visit our midsize car rankings to see how they stack up against the competition.
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2019 Honda Accord vs. 2019 Mazda6: Head to Head
- Price - Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
- Seat Comfort - Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
- Interior Quality - Winner: 2019 Mazda6
- Interior Technology - Winner: Tie
- Cargo Space - Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
- Acceleration - Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
- Fuel Economy - Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
- Ride and Handling - Winner: 2019 Mazda6
- Reliability - Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
- Safety - Winner: 2019 Honda Accord
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Mazda6 vs. Accord: Which Midsize Japanese Sedan Is Right for You?
The Mazda6 and Honda Accord both fare well in our competitive midsize car rankings. Both offer sufficient room for five passengers, as well as desirable driving dynamics, upscale interiors, and terrific safety scores.
The Mazda6 was completely redesigned in 2014 and significantly refreshed in 2016. Since then, it has received a healthy list of updates, including an upgraded cabin with an intuitive infotainment system as standard, along with additional standard active safety features and an available turbocharged engine.
Honda fully redesigned the Accord for the 2018 model year. With the redesign came improved interior materials, two peppy turbocharged engine options, and a full suite of standard advanced driver assistance technologies. The Accord is the winner of U.S. News’ 2019 Best Midsize Car for Families award.
To help you make an informed buying decision, we use U.S. New Best Cars reviews and scoring data to compare these midsize sedans in categories that matter most to car shoppers. First, you need to determine your priorities. Then, you can apply the information in this article to decide whether the Mazda6 or Honda Accord is the best fit for you.
Continue reading to learn which new vehicle comes out ahead in this battle of midsize cars.
(Keep in mind that U.S. News scores are updated constantly as new data comes in, so the scores mentioned in this article may not match those in our rankings and reviews.)