Mazda 6 is a mid-sized sedan that is known for providing a healthy towing capacity. But exactly how much towing capacity does this car have to offer? Do we have official stats provided by Mazda? Is the towing capacity enough to tow a heavy-duty trailer? Let’s find out.
The latest Mazda 6 generation is offered in many engine variants that have braked towing capacities between 3,306 to 3,537 pounds. Both manual and automatic variants have towing capacities of 3,527 pounds braked and 1,609 pounds unbraked. The previous generations were also available in similar engine variants and had similar towing capacities.
Now that we have identified the base figure for this car’s towing capacity let’s find out what you can do with this capacity. In this article, we match it against the weight of several types of trailers and the towing capacities of its competitors.
Also read: How Many Miles Can A Mazda 6 Last?
Maximum Towing Capacity By Year
The following table mentions the engine variants of the Mazda 6 across different generations. We can identify that there hasn’t been a great change in this regard, and the car produces a towing capacity of 3300-3500 pounds.
There are two main reasons for these consistent figures. One is that midsize sedans are generally not considered the primary option for towing purposes. Therefore, Mazda hasn’t paid much attention to changing the dynamics of this car. Secondly, the engine configurations in this car are more or less the same.
| Year | Engine Type | Maximum Towing capacity unbraked (lbs) | Maximum Towing capacity braked(lbs) | Note |
| 2021 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2020 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2019 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2018 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2017 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2016 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2015 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2014 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2013 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2012 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2011 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2010 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2009 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2008 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2007 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2006 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2005 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
| 2004 | All | 1,609 | 3,527 | This vehicle is not recommended for towing. |
Also read:
Can It Tow a Trailer, Boat, or Jet Ski?
Not all trailers have the same weight and size. Therefore, we have done extensive research to identify the weighing limits of different types of trailers. We have then matched these weight limits against the towing capacity Mazda 6.
The latest 2.0L and 2.2L Mazda 6 variants can tow small and medium-sized trailers with a maximum weight limit of 3500 pounds. These include Canoe/Kayak, Jet Ski, Teardrop, and Small Open Utility Trailers. This towing capacity is sufficient enough to tow both empty and loaded trailers of various categories. Take a look at the following table to find the exact details.
| Trailer Type | Average Empty Weight (lbs.) | Average Total Loaded Weight (lbs.) | Can A Mazda 6 Tow It? |
| Canoe / Kayak Trailer | 200 | 400 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Jet Ski Trailer | 300 | 1,800 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Motorcycle Trailer | 500 | 2,400 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Teardrop Trailer | 1,700 | 2,400 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Small Open Utility Trailer | 700 | 2,500 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| A-Frame Camper | 1,700 | 2,900 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Small Enclosed Utility Trailer | 1,000 | 3,200 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Fishing Boat Trailer | 600 | 3,300 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Pop Up Camper | 2,300 | 3,400 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Small Travel Trailer | 2,800 | 3,600 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Tow Dolly | 600 | 4,000 | It can only tow an empty trailer of this category. |
| Large Enclosed Utility Trailer | 2,700 | 7,100 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Small Horse Trailer | 2,900 | 7,200 | Yes, it can tow both empty and filled trailers. |
| Large Travel Trailer | 6,700 | 8,300 | No. |
| Car Trailer | 1,900 | 9,000 | It can only tow an empty trailer of this category. |
| Large Flatbed Trailer | 3,000 | 10,400 | It can only tow an empty trailer of this category. |
| Large Boat Trailer | 2,200 | 13,600 | It can only tow an empty trailer of this category. |
| Dump Trailer | 4,500 | 16,900 | No. |
| Toy Hauler | 7,600 | 17,900 | No. |
| Large Livestock Trailer | 7,300 | 18,700 | No. |
| 5th Wheel Camper | 12,700 | 18,700 | No. |
| Gooseneck Flatbed Trailer | 7,200 | 23,200 | No. |
Also read: The Exact Bolt Pattern Of A Mazda 6
- Kayak: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow a kayak trailer. On average, an empty kayak trailer will weigh 200 pounds. A loaded kayak trailer will weigh an average of 400 pounds with a maximum of 800 pounds which is well within the range of the Mazda 6.
- Jet Ski Trailer: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow a jet ski trailer. On average, an empty jet ski trailer will weigh 300 pounds. A loaded jet ski trailer will weigh an average of 1,800 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds which is within the range of the Mazda 6.
- Motorcycle Trailer: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow a motorcycle trailer. On average, an empty motorcycle trailer will weigh 500 pounds. A loaded motorcycle trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds with a maximum of 3,500 which is within the range of the Mazda 6.
- Teardrop Trailer: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow a teardrop trailer. On average, an empty teardrop trailer will weigh 1,700 pounds. A loaded teardrop trailer will weigh an average of 2,400 pounds which is within the range of the Mazda 6. Some teardrop trailers will weigh a maximum of 6,000 pounds, outside of the limits of the Mazda 6.
- Small Open Utility Trailer: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an open utility trailer. On average, an empty small open utility trailer will weigh 700 pounds. A loaded small open utility trailer will weigh an average of 2,500 pounds with a maximum of 3,000 pounds which is within the range of the Mazda 6.
- A-Frame Camper: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an A-frame camper. On average, an empty a-frame camper weighs 1,700 pounds. A loaded a-frame camper will weigh an average of 2,900 pounds with a maximum of 3,600 pounds which is within the range of the Mazda 6.
- Small Enclosed Utility Trailer: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an empty small enclosed utility trailer. On average, an empty small enclosed utility trailer weighs 1,000 pounds. A loaded small enclosed utility trailer will weigh an average of 3,200 pounds with a maximum of 7,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Mazda 6.
- Fishing Boat Trailer: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an empty fishing boat trailer. On average, an empty fishing boat trailer weighs 600 pounds. A loaded fishing boat trailer will weigh an average of 3,300 pounds with a maximum of 6,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Mazda 6.
- Pop-Up Camper: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an empty pop-up camper. On average, an empty pop-up camper weighs 2,300 pounds. A loaded pop-up camper will weigh an average of 3,400 pounds with a maximum of 4,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Mazda 6.
- Small Travel Trailer: No Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an empty small travel trailer. On average, a small travel trailer weighs 2,800 pounds. A loaded small travel trailer will weigh an average of 3,600 pounds with a maximum of 4,500 pounds, outside of the range of the Mazda 6.
- Tow Dolly: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an empty tow dolly. On average, an empty tow dolly weighs 600 pounds. A loaded tow dolly will weigh an average of 4,000 pounds with a maximum of 5,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Mazda 6.
- Large Enclosed Utility Trailer: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an empty large enclosed utility trailer. On average, an empty large enclosed utility trailer weighs 2,700 pounds. A loaded large enclosed utility trailer weighs an average of 7,100 pounds with a maximum of 10,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Mazda 6.
- Small Horse Trailer: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an empty small horse trailer. On average, an empty small horse trailer weighs 2,900 pounds. A loaded small horse trailer weighs an average of 7,200 pounds with a maximum of 8,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Mazda 6.
- Car Trailer: All Mazda 6 models will be able to tow an empty car trailer. On average, an empty car trailer weighs 1,900 pounds. A loaded car trailer weighs an average of 9,000 pounds with a maximum of 15,000 pounds, outside of the range of the Mazda 6.
Also read: Mazda 6 Transmissions: Overview, Problems, Fluids
How Well Can It Tow Compared to its Competitors?
When we look at the towing competition in the midsize sedan category, we can witness that it is widely spread between 1000-3500 pounds. As the Mazda 6 provides a towing capacity of 3500 pounds, it is safe to say that it is one of the best towing cars in this category. Only the 2020 Kia Optima has a higher towing capacity of 3,968 pounds. The rest of the competitions sits behind the Mazda 6.
| Year / Make / Model | Min. Towing Capacity (lbs.) | Max. Towing Capacity (lbs.) |
| 2020 Ford Fusion | <3,500 | 3,500 |
| 2021 Honda Accord | <1,000 | 1,000 |
| 2020 Hyundai Sonata | <2,000 | 2,000 |
| 2020 Kia Optima | <3,968 | 3,968 |
| 2020 Nissan Altima | <1,000 | 1,000 |
Also read: Types Of Gas A Mazda 6 Takes (Explained)
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
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