New 2028 Mazda 6 sedan illustrations.

While Mazda’s future plans are pretty unclear and seem to change every few months, there is still no new Mazda 6 sedan officially planned. Mazda has repeatedly signaled that it is focusing its limited resources on higher-margin vehicles, and that means “SUVs”. That reality alone makes a traditional midsize sedan a tough sell internally. 

What Mazda is currently offering in China and a few other global markets is the Mazda 6e. An electric sedan that is essentially a reworked version of a Chinese-developed model from Mazda’s local joint-venture partner. While the car benefits from Mazda’s design language and chassis tuning, it is clearly a product shaped by Chinese priorities.

Even so, many enthusiasts continue to dream of a proper successor. Somehow dreaming of a new Mazda 6 sedan most of them will never buy. It’s very likely the brand explored a new sedan while developing its rear-wheel-drive large platform. Which is now used by the CX-70 and CX-90. That architecture, paired with the new inline-six engine and plug-in hybrid technology, feels perfectly suited to a sporty, premium sedan. Such a car would have aligned neatly with Mazda’s recent push upmarket, especially in terms of driving dynamics and interior quality.

The Mazda 6e has already been earning strong reviews in Europe, particularly for its design and ride quality. And that positive reception may be one reason Mazda isn’t eager to introduce another sedan of similar size. Offering two midsize sedans would create unnecessary overlap in a shrinking segment. The situation could be different in North America, where the 6e isn’t sold at all and Mazda lacks any sedan above the 3. In theory, a rear-wheel-drive Mazda sedan could generate excitement and differentiate itself from front-wheel-drive competitors. In practice, however, U.S. sedan sales have fallen off a cliff sharply, and even the Mazda 3 now appears to be on borrowed time.

Canada introduces a more interesting possibility. With the country opening its market to Chinese-built EVs, the Mazda 6e could be introduced with fewer barriers and relatively low risk. Canadian buyers have historically been more receptive to sedans and electrification, making the market a logical test bed. It would be fascinating to see whether a well-designed Mazda EV sedan could carve out a modest but sustainable niche in Canada.

I like sedans as much as the next guy, but launching a new one in the U.S. doesn’t seem like a smart move for Mazda. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 sells in very low numbers, and Volkswagen has already shelved the ID.7 for the American market. For a company Mazda’s size, chasing a declining segment would be a risky bet rather than a bold statement.

The illustraions above a re pretty realistic. Unfortunatelly, they also show a design that is not much more modern that the last generation. Mazda woul dneed something much more modern looking to stand out.