With a brief statement, Mazda has announced the demise of two of our favorite vehicles: "As consumer interests continue to evolve, Mazda will discontinue CX-3 and Mazda6 for the 2022 model year for the US market. Although these two vehicles will be leaving our lineup in the US, we are proud of the performance, design, quality, and safety they contributed to our brand."

The Mazda6, introduced in 2002 to replace the long-running 626, won our hearts with its handling prowess and zoom-zoom spirit, especially in Mazdaspeed trim, along with a smooth ride and an interior that bordered on luxury-car quality.  However, sales of the Mazda6, and sedans in general, have been on a steady decline in recent years. The CX-3 subcompact crossover SUV was introduced to the U.S. market in 2016, but it became redundant in the eyes of many when the slightly larger and more powerful CX-30 joined it in showrooms for the 2020 model year. Global production of the CX-3 fell from around 92,000 units to 51,000 between 2019 and 2020.