Used 2019 Mazda 6 Sedan

We have to give Mazda some credit for steadily refining its sporty 6 sedan into more of a well-rounded competitor. Last year's round of improvements, along with some much needed turbocharged horsepower, helped catapult the Mazda 6 into the top tier of Edmunds rankings for midsize sedans.

It's with some sorrow that the six-speed manual transmission is no longer available for 2019. But when Mazda taketh away, Mazda also giveth. The i-Activsense safety suite of driver aids is now standard equipment across all trims, as is G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus), a system designed to enhance the handling of the 6. Mazda has also fitted bigger front brakes for cars equipped with the optional turbocharged engine.

Mazda's continued insistence on making athletic handling a hallmark of its 6 sedan is admirable, but it does come at a slight cost: Most rival sedans provide a more relaxed and comfortable ride. Also, Mazda doesn't offer a hybrid version of the 6, so you'll need to look elsewhere if you want maximum fuel economy. But overall we think the 2019 Mazda 6 offers an enviable balance of style, performance and refinement.

The 2019 Mazda 6 is a midsize sedan that's available in five trim levels. The base Sport is fairly bare in terms of features, but it comes in at a reasonable price. The Touring and the Grand Touring have the features most shoppers would want, and the latter includes a more powerful engine. For a more premium experience, consider the Grand Touring Reserve or the Signature. Both come with more attractive exterior trimmings, higher-quality materials and even more features.

The entry-level Sport starts with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder (187 horsepower, 186 lb-ft of torque) and a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment includes 17-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights, push-button start, 60/40-split folding rear seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It also comes with an 8-inch touchscreen (also operated by a rotary knob controller), Bluetooth, one USB port and a six-speaker sound system.

Standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring, a rearview camera, rear cross-traffic alert, and Mazda's i-Activsense set of features that bundles forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning and lane keeping assist. Mazda's G-Vectoring Control Plus is now standard this year as well.

It's worthwhile to step up to the Touring trim, which adds features throughout the vehicle. Here you get gray-painted 19-inch wheels, a sunroof, proximity keyless entry, automatic wipers, automatic high beams, simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. Rear passengers get additional vents in the center console and a center armrest with two USB charging ports.

The Grand Touring starts where the Touring leaves off, but it adds the desirable turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (250 hp, or 227 hp on non-premium fuel, and 310 lb-ft of torque) and the six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The infotainment system gets more power, too, with the addition of an 11-speaker stereo and satellite radio. There are also auto-dimming rearview and driver-side mirrors as well as heated side mirrors.

You can tell the Grand Touring Reserve apart by its upgraded LED lighting, silver-painted 19-inch wheels and rear spoiler. Comfort improvements for the driver include a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable front passenger seat and driver-seat memory functions. There's leather seating for everyone else, along with ventilation for the front row and heating for the rear. Above the gauge cluster sits a transparent panel that works like a head-up display, showing information such as traffic signs and your current speed.

Aside from the addition of a gunmetal front grille, the fully loaded Signature trim level primarily improves the look and feel of the interior. You'll find higher-quality materials such as microfiber suede, wood, bright silver finishes on various controls, and upgraded leather, along with the addition of LED interior lighting and a frameless rearview mirror. Other feature additions consist of a digital gauge cluster, a surround-view camera system with front and rear parking sensors, and a navigation system.