2015 Mazda MAZDA6 vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

The 2015 Mazda6 landed last year into the thick of one of the most interesting mid-size sedan markets in many years.

Just a year earlier, for 2013, the Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, and Honda Accord were all-new, and while each of those models took quite a different path, it's the Fusion that's definitely the closest rival to the Mazda in the thick of the mid-size sedan market, a year after several important models--the Fusion, the Altima, and the Accord--have received complete redesigns.

The Ford Fusion is also radically different this year, with a rakish new design and the V-6 model replaced by a lineup of strong yet efficient EcoBoost turbo fours.

The Nissan Altima gets up to 38 mpg on the highway and feels like a more mature, almost luxurious sedan this time around.

Meanwhile, the Honda Accord is due to get a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) like the Altima, with four-cylinder models, but it's keeping the V-6 option.

The Subaru Legacy remains the way to go if you want all-wheel drive; and it's getting completely redesigned for 2015, with a more refined interior and better infotainment.

The Kia Optima is another alternative, offering one of the strongest sets of features for the money, as well as a quick yet economical Turbo variant.