I tryed the Mazda6 when I bought my Mazda3. I loved the car, not quite as sporty as the 3 but very nice, great road car with a good reputation, not as boring as the Toyota
I bought the 3 because I am cheap, ideally I would have liked a 6 wagon.
Mazda as a company has been good to me, they sell me racing parts for my Miatas at cheap prices.
Larry