Üçüncü nesil Mazda6 sedan 29 Ağustos 2012'de Moskova Uluslararası Otomobil Salonunda tanıtıldı ve bir sonraki ay 2012 Paris Otomobil Fuarında station wagon versiyonu tanıtıldı. Bu nesilde sadece 4 kapılı sedan ve 5 kapılı station wagon versiyonları mevcuttur.[38] Tasarım, hem 2011 Tokyo Motor Show'da tanıtılan Takeri konsepti hem de 2010'daki Shinari konsepti tarafından önizlenmiştir.

The design was a finalist in the "2013 World Design of the Year"

The Mazda6 was second place in the 2003 European Car of the Year awards and made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 2003. The Sport Wagon won the Canadian Car of the Year Best New Station Wagon award, while the Sport sedan won the Canadian Car of the Year Best New Family Car award for 2005. The Atenza Wagon also won What Car?'s Best Estate award in 2004. Also the Mazda6 won the 2003 Semperit Irish Car of the Year.

The Mazda6 won the 'Best Mid-size Car (over $28,000)' title in Australia's Best Cars in 2002 and 2003. It came second in 2004, behind the Subaru Liberty, and fifth in 2005 (the Honda Accord Euro was first...