Best used medium car for 2024

The Mazda6 Atenza diesel wagon has bounced back to regain its crown in the medium passenger car category of carsales’ Best Used Cars for 2024, proudly presented by Bingle.

Over the years, the Mazda has been a regular winner in this category, topping the list three times from 2018 to 2020, but losing out to the Skoda Octavia last year and in 2022 (Best Used Cars didn’t run in 2021).

Now, the Mazda6 is back again, overpowering a different product from the same stable as the Octavia, the Volkswagen Passat 206TSI R-Line wagon.

How did the Mazda6 reacquire the top step of the podium? In 2018, the year of review, Mazda introduced an upgraded 6 with turbo-petrol power. It was the piece in the puzzle that had been missing. Buyers in the medium car category want a roomy family car with easily exploitable performance for overtaking on the open road. The turbocharged petrol Mazda6 delivered that, as did diesel variants like the flagship Mazda6 Atenza wagon.

It didn’t end there either. The upgraded Mazda6 for 2018 embraced the safety of an all-round camera system, cylinder deactivation, improved ride comfort, reduced road noise and better steering feel. Those tweaks were enough to bring the Mazda6 back into contention.

As fun to drive as it was, the Octavia’s 2018 flagship, the Octavia RS 245, was arguably too much of a good thing. Ride comfort wasn’t ideal in a family car.

Another problem with the Octavia was that it’s actually a small car with a long boot. Interior space suffers in contrast with other competitors. Even though the Mazda6 flagship was a wagon, and built on a shorter wheelbase than the sedan, the Mazda still offers 70mm extra length between the axles that the Skoda doesn’t.

The RedBook score for the Mazda6 amounted to 37.2 points. Of the medium passenger car finalists, only the Toyota Camry achieved a better result than that, with 37.4 points.

It was, however, the voting of the judges that placed the Mazda6 in an unassailable position. Every judge awarded the Mazda6 the maximum of 10 points, achieving a remarkable score of 50. The total score for the Mazda6 was 87.2 points. In 2018, the Mazda6 Atenza diesel wagon was priced at $50,090 new. As a used car in 2024, the Mazda is still valued at $29,800.

When he drove the upgraded Mazda6 in 2018, former technical editor Ken Gratton said: “After holding the door open for newcomers in the medium passenger car segment, the Mazda6 is back with a vengeance.

“The turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder from the CX-9 now powers high-grade variants of the 2018 Mazda6, for easier touring, faster overtaking and towing capacity (1600kg) to match the diesel model’s. But the facelifted Mazda6 is more than just a performance upgrade – it's also safer, better equipped and quieter… at a reasonable price.”

Here’s what one of our judges thinks of the Mazda6 from 2018:

A series of incrementally small but worthwhile changes to the Mazda6 in 2018 resulted in a sensational return to form, making the Mazda6 a deserving winner in the medium passenger car category of carsales Best Used Car Awards for 2024, proudly presented by Bingle.

The range-topping Passat 206TSI R-Line wagon scored 32.4 points from RedBook and 42.0 points from the judges for a total of 74.4.
RedBook value: $34,100

The Subaru Liberty 3.6R Sedan scored 32.7 points from RedBook and 36 points from the judges for a total of 68.7.
RedBook value: $25,550

What makes a car eligible for carsales Best Used Cars awards?
• Less than six years old
• Standard side-curtain airbags
• Standard Bluetooth
• Standard electronic stability control (mandated for Nov 2013)
• Standard reversing camera for SUVs

How did RedBook weight the categories for scoring?
• 10 per cent for resale
• 10 per cent for ANCAP rating
• 20 per cent for cost of ownership
• Five per cent for service intervals
• Five per cent for number of days for vehicle to sell