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 Passat doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Advanced Smart City Brake Support in the Mazda6 as “Superior.” The Passat scores only 3 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

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 Passat 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 Passat 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.

The Mazda6 Signature's driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Passat doesn't offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Mazda6 and the Passat 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

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 Volkswagen Passat:

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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda6 is safer than the Volkswagen Passat:

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 Passat has not been fully tested, yet.

Mazda's powertrain warranty covers the 6 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Passat. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Passat ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Mazda6's corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Passat's (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' December 2019 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda second in reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

The Mazda6's standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (187 vs. 174) than the Passat's 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Mazda6 Grand Touring/Signature/Carbon Edition's standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 76 more horsepower (250 vs. 174) and 114 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 206) than the Passat's 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda6 is faster than the Volkswagen Passat:

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

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

The Mazda6 stops much shorter than the Passat:

For better traction, the Mazda6 has larger tires than the Passat (225/55R17 vs. 215/55R17).

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

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Mazda6 is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Passat.

The Mazda6 Touring handles at .87 G's, while the Passat pulls only .79 G's of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Mazda6 Grand Touring executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Passat R-Line (27.1 seconds @ .63 average G's vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G's).

The Mazda6 (except Sport) offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Passat doesn't offer active noise cancellation.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Mazda6's trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don't intrude into the trunk. The Passat's useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

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 Passat doesn't offer a heads-up display.

The Mazda6's power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Passat has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Mazda6's rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Passat's standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Mazda6's optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Passat offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don't dim.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Mazda6 Grand Touring Reserve/Signature/Carbon Edition keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Passat doesn't offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Mazda6 Grand Touring Reserve/Signature/Carbon Edition's standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Passat doesn't offer a heated steering wheel.

The Mazda6 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won't have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Passat SE/R-Line/SEL.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Mazda6 is less expensive to operate than the Passat because it costs $120 less to do the manufacturer's suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Mazda6 than the Passat, including $247 less for a water pump, $375 less for a muffler, $516 less for a starter, $145 less for front struts and $407 less for a timing belt/chain.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda6 and the Volkswagen Passat, 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 Passat has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The Mazda6 outsold the Volkswagen Passat by 52% during 2019.