2012 Mazda 6: MPG and fuel economy
The 2012 Mazda 6 is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 25 combined MPG, with 22 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. That is right around the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2012 Mazda 6. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 3 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2012 model year is the Nissan Leaf at 99 MPG.
- The Mazda 6 has gained 5 MPG since its first rated model year, the 2003 Mazda 6 at 24 MPG.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2012 Mazda 6. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 3 variants side by side.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 25 MPG |
| City MPG | 22 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 30 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,400 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 355 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2012 Mazda 6 compares
The 2012 Mazda 6 returns 25 combined MPG, which is right around the 25.1 MPG class average for cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2012 model year is the Nissan Leaf at 99 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Mazda 6 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2012 model year (across all classes) returns 21.7 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2012 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 2012
The EPA rates 3 separate variants of the 2012 Mazda 6. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
The most efficient configuration on this page returns 25 MPG, while the least efficient returns 21 MPG. That is a spread of 4 MPG between trims of the same nameplate.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L, 4-cyl, Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 MPG | 22 MPG | 30 MPG | $2,400 |
| 2.5L, 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 MPG | 21 MPG | 30 MPG | $2,500 |
| 3.7L, 6-cyl, Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 18 MPG | 27 MPG | $2,850 |
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 600 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,200 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $2,400 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $4,000 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Mazda 6
The EPA has rated the Mazda 6 across 19 model years, from 2003 Mazda 6 through 2021 Mazda 6. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 2003 Mazda 6 returned 24 MPG. The most recent 2021 Mazda 6 returns 29 MPG. That is an improvement of 5 MPG over 18 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 29 MPG | 2021 Mazda 6 |
| 2020 | 29 MPG | 2020 Mazda 6 |
| 2019 | 29 MPG | 2019 Mazda 6 |
| 2018 | 29 MPG | 2018 Mazda 6 |
| 2017 | 30 MPG | 2017 Mazda 6 |
| 2016 | 32 MPG | 2016 Mazda 6 |
| 2015 | 32 MPG | 2015 Mazda 6 |
| 2014 | 32 MPG | 2014 Mazda 6 |
| 2013 | 24 MPG | 2013 Mazda 6 |
| 2012 | 25 MPG | this page |
| 2011 | 25 MPG | 2011 Mazda 6 |
| 2010 | 24 MPG | 2010 Mazda 6 |
| 2009 | 24 MPG | 2009 Mazda 6 |
| 2008 | 24 MPG | 2008 Mazda 6 |
| 2007 | 24 MPG | 2007 Mazda 6 |
| 2006 | 24 MPG | 2006 Mazda 6 |
| 2005 | 23 MPG | 2005 Mazda 6 |
| 2004 | 24 MPG | 2004 Mazda 6 |
| 2003 | 24 MPG | 2003 Mazda 6 |
Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2012
If you are cross-shopping the 2012 Mazda 6, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Nissan Leaf leads this group at 99 MPG, 74 MPG ahead of the 2012 Mazda 6.
Specifications
The 2012 Mazda 6 runs a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (s5), sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Midsize Cars
- Engine
- 2.5L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (S5)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 11.9 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2012 Mazda 6
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2012 Mazda 6.
-
Is the 2012 Mazda 6 fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2012 Mazda 6 returns 25 combined MPG, and the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year sits at 25.1 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2012 Mazda 6 get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Mazda 6 at 25 combined MPG, 22 MPG in city driving, and 30 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Mazda 6 per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $2,400 for the 2012 Mazda 6. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2012 Mazda 6 use?
The EPA lists the 2012 Mazda 6 as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Mazda 6 become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Mazda 6, the 2003 Mazda 6, returned 24 combined MPG. The most recent 2021 Mazda 6 returns 29 MPG, an improvement of 5 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 2012 Mazda 6 emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 355 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,332 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2012 Mazda 6?
City driving returns 22 MPG and highway driving returns 30 MPG, a gap of 8 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2012 Mazda 6?
The 2012 Mazda 6 has a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2012 Mazda 6 have?
The 2012 Mazda 6 comes with a automatic (s5) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2012 Mazda 6 compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2012 model year is the Nissan Leaf at 99 combined MPG. The Mazda 6 returns 25 MPG, a gap of 74 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.