The Mazda6 has standard Whiplash Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The MKZ doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Mazda6 Signature has standard Smart Brake Support that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The MKZ doesn't offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Mazda6 Signature has a standard 360-degree View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The MKZ only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn't help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Mazda6 and the MKZ have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda6 is safer than the Lincoln MKZ:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda6 is safer than the Lincoln MKZ:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight's “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Mazda6 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 35 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The MKZ last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Pick” in 2017.

The Mazda6 has a better fatality history. The Mazda6 was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 14% lower per vehicle registered than the MKZ, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda second in reliability. Lincoln is ranked 15th.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda6 is faster than the Lincoln MKZ:

On the EPA test cycle the Mazda6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the MKZ FWD turbo 4 cyl. (23 city/31 hwy vs. 20 city/31 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine's cylinders helps improve the Mazda6 (except Turbo)'s fuel efficiency. The MKZ doesn't offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda6 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Mazda6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition for maximum performance). The MKZ with the 3.0 turbo V6 engine requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Mazda6 has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the MKZ Hybrid's standard fuel tank (16.4 vs. 14 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Mazda6 Turbo's front brake rotors are larger than those on the MKZ:

The Mazda6 stops shorter than the MKZ:

The Mazda6 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The MKZ's suspension doesn't offer gas-charged shocks.

The Mazda6 Touring handles at .87 G's, while the MKZ Hybrid pulls only .83 G's of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Mazda6 Grand Touring executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the MKZ Premiere (27.1 seconds @ .63 average G's vs. 27.6 seconds @ .6 average G's).

For better maneuverability, the Mazda6's turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the MKZ's (36.7 feet vs. 39 feet).

The Mazda6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 750 pounds less than the Lincoln MKZ.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Mazda6 Touring is quieter than the MKZ AWD:

The Mazda6 has 3.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MKZ (99.8 vs. 96.6).

The Mazda6 has .5 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the MKZ.

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Mazda6 easier. The Mazda6's trunk lift-over height is 28.3 inches, while the MKZ's liftover is 30.5 inches.

The Mazda6 Grand Touring Reserve/Signature/Carbon Edition has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver's line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The MKZ doesn't offer a heads-up display.

The Mazda6 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The MKZ doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports rated the Mazda6's headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the MKZ's headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don't exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Mazda6's headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the MKZ's headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

Insurance will cost less for the Mazda6 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Mazda6 will cost $640 to $3780 less than the MKZ over a five-year period.

The Mazda6 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Mazda6 will retain 45.59% to 48.35% of its original price after five years, while the MKZ only retains 37.02% to 37.95%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Mazda6 is less expensive to operate than the MKZ because typical repairs cost much less on the Mazda6 than the MKZ, including $126 less for a water pump, $734 less for a muffler, $12 less for front brake pads, $40 less for a starter, $61 less for front struts, $648 less for a timing belt/chain and $739 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mazda6 will be $13416 to $14559 less than for the Lincoln MKZ.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda6 and the Lincoln MKZ, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda6 was chosen as one of Car and Driver's “Top Ten” for 2 of the last 7 years. The MKZ has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Mazda6 outsold the Lincoln MKZ by 14% during the 2020 model year.