diff --git a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/model/BeanMapping.java b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/model/BeanMapping.java
index ee45271dd..17015c520 100644
--- a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/model/BeanMapping.java
+++ b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/model/BeanMapping.java
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public class BeanMapping {
         this.propertyMappings = propertyMappings;
         this.mappingMethod = mappingMethod;
         this.reverseMappingMethod = reverseMappingMethod;
-        this.isIterableMapping = mappingMethod.getElementMappingMethod() != null;
+        this.isIterableMapping = sourceType.isIterableType() && targetType.isIterableType();
     }
 
     public Type getSourceType() {
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public class BeanMapping {
         return reverseMappingMethod;
     }
 
-    public boolean getIterableMapping() {
+    public boolean isIterableMapping() {
         return isIterableMapping;
     }
 
diff --git a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/model/Type.java b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/model/Type.java
index ff2c2a675..d365b12c9 100644
--- a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/model/Type.java
+++ b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/model/Type.java
@@ -35,20 +35,26 @@ public class Type {
         Arrays.asList( "boolean", "char", "byte", "short", "int", "long", "float", "double" )
     );
 
+    private final static ConcurrentMap<String, Type> defaultIterableImplementationTypes = new ConcurrentHashMap<String, Type>();
     private final static ConcurrentMap<String, Type> defaultCollectionImplementationTypes = new ConcurrentHashMap<String, Type>();
 
     static {
         defaultCollectionImplementationTypes.put( List.class.getName(), forClass( ArrayList.class ) );
         defaultCollectionImplementationTypes.put( Set.class.getName(), forClass( HashSet.class ) );
         defaultCollectionImplementationTypes.put( Collection.class.getName(), forClass( ArrayList.class ) );
+
+        defaultIterableImplementationTypes.put( Iterable.class.getName(), forClass( ArrayList.class ) );
+        defaultIterableImplementationTypes.putAll( defaultCollectionImplementationTypes );
     }
 
     private final String packageName;
     private final String name;
     private final Type elementType;
     private final boolean isEnumType;
-    private final Type implementingType;
     private final boolean isCollectionType;
+    private final boolean isIterableType;
+    private final Type collectionImplementationType;
+    private final Type iterableImplementationType;
 
     public static Type forClass(Class<?> clazz) {
         Package pakkage = clazz.getPackage();
@@ -59,7 +65,8 @@ public class Type {
                 clazz.getSimpleName(),
                 null,
                 clazz.isEnum(),
-                Collection.class.isAssignableFrom( clazz )
+                Collection.class.isAssignableFrom( clazz ),
+                Iterable.class.isAssignableFrom( clazz )
             );
         }
         else {
@@ -68,16 +75,30 @@ public class Type {
     }
 
     public Type(String name) {
-        this( null, name, null, false, false );
+        this( null, name, null, false, false, false );
     }
 
-    public Type(String packageName, String name, Type elementType, boolean isEnumType, boolean isCollectionType) {
+    public Type(String packageName, String name, Type elementType, boolean isEnumType, boolean isCollectionType, boolean isIterableType) {
         this.packageName = packageName;
         this.name = name;
         this.elementType = elementType;
         this.isEnumType = isEnumType;
-        implementingType = defaultCollectionImplementationTypes.get( packageName + "." + name );
         this.isCollectionType = isCollectionType;
+        this.isIterableType = isIterableType;
+
+        if ( isCollectionType ) {
+            collectionImplementationType = defaultCollectionImplementationTypes.get( packageName + "." + name );
+        }
+        else {
+            collectionImplementationType = null;
+        }
+
+        if ( isIterableType ) {
+            iterableImplementationType = defaultIterableImplementationTypes.get( packageName + "." + name );
+        }
+        else {
+            iterableImplementationType = null;
+        }
     }
 
     public String getPackageName() {
@@ -100,14 +121,22 @@ public class Type {
         return isEnumType;
     }
 
-    public Type getImplementingType() {
-        return implementingType;
+    public Type getCollectionImplementationType() {
+        return collectionImplementationType;
+    }
+
+    public Type getIterableImplementationType() {
+        return iterableImplementationType;
     }
 
     public boolean isCollectionType() {
         return isCollectionType;
     }
 
+    public boolean isIterableType() {
+        return isIterableType;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public String toString() {
         if ( packageName == null ) {
diff --git a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/util/TypeUtil.java b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/util/TypeUtil.java
index 27ca1a498..f0d2fef8a 100644
--- a/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/util/TypeUtil.java
+++ b/processor/src/main/java/org/mapstruct/ap/util/TypeUtil.java
@@ -29,18 +29,21 @@ public class TypeUtil {
 
     private final Elements elementUtils;
     private final Types typeUtils;
-    private TypeMirror collectionType;
+    private final TypeMirror collectionType;
+    private final TypeMirror iterableType;
 
     public TypeUtil(Elements elementUtils, Types typeUtils) {
         this.elementUtils = elementUtils;
         this.typeUtils = typeUtils;
         collectionType = elementUtils.getTypeElement( Collection.class.getCanonicalName() ).asType();
+        iterableType = elementUtils.getTypeElement( Iterable.class.getCanonicalName() ).asType();
     }
 
     public Type getType(DeclaredType type) {
         Type elementType = null;
 
-        if ( isIterableType( type ) && !type.getTypeArguments().isEmpty() ) {
+        boolean isIterableType = isIterableType( type );
+        if ( isIterableType && !type.getTypeArguments().isEmpty() ) {
             elementType = retrieveType( type.getTypeArguments().iterator().next() );
         }
 
@@ -49,13 +52,17 @@ public class TypeUtil {
             type.asElement().getSimpleName().toString(),
             elementType,
             type.asElement().getKind() == ElementKind.ENUM,
-            typeUtils.isAssignable( typeUtils.erasure( type ), typeUtils.erasure( collectionType ) )
+            isCollectionType( type ),
+            isIterableType
         );
     }
 
     private boolean isIterableType(DeclaredType type) {
-        TypeMirror iterableType = typeUtils.getDeclaredType( elementUtils.getTypeElement( Iterable.class.getCanonicalName() ) );
-        return typeUtils.isSubtype( type, iterableType );
+        return typeUtils.isAssignable( typeUtils.erasure( type ), typeUtils.erasure( iterableType ) );
+    }
+
+    private boolean isCollectionType(DeclaredType type) {
+        return typeUtils.isAssignable( typeUtils.erasure( type ), typeUtils.erasure( collectionType ) );
     }
 
     public Type retrieveType(TypeMirror mirror) {
diff --git a/processor/src/main/resources/mapper-implementation.ftl b/processor/src/main/resources/mapper-implementation.ftl
index aba8eb272..58c1c5d6f 100644
--- a/processor/src/main/resources/mapper-implementation.ftl
+++ b/processor/src/main/resources/mapper-implementation.ftl
@@ -44,12 +44,13 @@ public class ${implementationName} implements ${interfaceName} {
             return null;
         }
 
-        ${beanMapping.targetType.name}<${beanMapping.targetType.elementType.name}> ${beanMapping.targetType.name?uncap_first} = new <#if beanMapping.targetType.implementingType??>${beanMapping.targetType.implementingType.name}<#else>${beanMapping.targetType.name}</#if><${beanMapping.targetType.elementType.name}>();
-        
+        <#-- Use the interface type on the left side, except it is java.lang.Iterable; use the implementation type - if present - on the right side -->
+        <#if beanMapping.targetType.name == "Iterable" && beanMapping.targetType.packageName == "java.lang">${beanMapping.targetType.iterableImplementationType.name}<#else>${beanMapping.targetType.name}</#if><${beanMapping.targetType.elementType.name}> ${beanMapping.targetType.name?uncap_first} = new <#if beanMapping.targetType.iterableImplementationType??>${beanMapping.targetType.iterableImplementationType.name}<#else>${beanMapping.targetType.name}</#if><${beanMapping.targetType.elementType.name}>();
+
         for ( ${beanMapping.sourceType.elementType.name} ${beanMapping.sourceType.elementType.name?uncap_first} : ${beanMapping.mappingMethod.parameterName} ) {
             ${beanMapping.targetType.name?uncap_first}.add( ${beanMapping.mappingMethod.elementMappingMethod.name}( ${beanMapping.sourceType.elementType.name?uncap_first} ) );
         }
-        
+
         return ${beanMapping.targetType.name?uncap_first};
     }
         <#else>
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ public class ${implementationName} implements ${interfaceName} {
                 <#else>
                     <#if propertyMapping.targetType.collectionType == true>
         if ( ${beanMapping.mappingMethod.parameterName}.get${propertyMapping.sourceName?cap_first}() != null ) {
-            ${beanMapping.targetType.name?uncap_first}.set${propertyMapping.targetName?cap_first}( new <#if propertyMapping.targetType.implementingType??>${propertyMapping.targetType.implementingType.name}<#else>${propertyMapping.targetType.name}</#if><#if propertyMapping.targetType.elementType??><${propertyMapping.targetType.elementType.name}></#if>( ${beanMapping.mappingMethod.parameterName}.get${propertyMapping.sourceName?cap_first}() ) );
+            ${beanMapping.targetType.name?uncap_first}.set${propertyMapping.targetName?cap_first}( new <#if propertyMapping.targetType.collectionImplementationType??>${propertyMapping.targetType.collectionImplementationType.name}<#else>${propertyMapping.targetType.name}</#if><#if propertyMapping.targetType.elementType??><${propertyMapping.targetType.elementType.name}></#if>( ${beanMapping.mappingMethod.parameterName}.get${propertyMapping.sourceName?cap_first}() ) );
         }
                     <#else>
         ${beanMapping.targetType.name?uncap_first}.set${propertyMapping.targetName?cap_first}( ${beanMapping.mappingMethod.parameterName}.get${propertyMapping.sourceName?cap_first}() );
@@ -99,7 +100,8 @@ public class ${implementationName} implements ${interfaceName} {
             return null;
         }
 
-        ${beanMapping.sourceType.name}<${beanMapping.sourceType.elementType.name}> ${beanMapping.sourceType.name?uncap_first} = new <#if beanMapping.sourceType.implementingType??>${beanMapping.sourceType.implementingType.name}<#else>${beanMapping.sourceType.name}</#if><${beanMapping.sourceType.elementType.name}>();
+        <#-- Use the interface type on the left side, except it is java.lang.Iterable; use the implementation type - if present - on the right side -->
+        <#if beanMapping.sourceType.name == "Iterable" && beanMapping.sourceType.packageName == "java.lang">${beanMapping.sourceType.iterableImplementationType.name}<#else>${beanMapping.sourceType.name}</#if><${beanMapping.sourceType.elementType.name}> ${beanMapping.sourceType.name?uncap_first} = new <#if beanMapping.sourceType.iterableImplementationType??>${beanMapping.sourceType.iterableImplementationType.name}<#else>${beanMapping.sourceType.name}</#if><${beanMapping.sourceType.elementType.name}>();
         
         for ( ${beanMapping.targetType.elementType.name} ${beanMapping.targetType.elementType.name?uncap_first} : ${beanMapping.reverseMappingMethod.parameterName} ) {
             ${beanMapping.sourceType.name?uncap_first}.add( ${beanMapping.reverseMappingMethod.elementMappingMethod.name}( ${beanMapping.targetType.elementType.name?uncap_first} ) );
@@ -132,7 +134,7 @@ public class ${implementationName} implements ${interfaceName} {
                     <#else>
                         <#if propertyMapping.sourceType.collectionType == true>
         if ( ${beanMapping.reverseMappingMethod.parameterName}.get${propertyMapping.targetName?cap_first}() != null ) {
-            ${beanMapping.sourceType.name?uncap_first}.set${propertyMapping.sourceName?cap_first}( new <#if propertyMapping.sourceType.implementingType??>${propertyMapping.sourceType.implementingType.name}<#else>${propertyMapping.sourceType.name}</#if><#if propertyMapping.sourceType.elementType??><${propertyMapping.sourceType.elementType.name}></#if>( ${beanMapping.reverseMappingMethod.parameterName}.get${propertyMapping.targetName?cap_first}() ) );
+            ${beanMapping.sourceType.name?uncap_first}.set${propertyMapping.sourceName?cap_first}( new <#if propertyMapping.sourceType.collectionImplementationType??>${propertyMapping.sourceType.collectionImplementationType.name}<#else>${propertyMapping.sourceType.name}</#if><#if propertyMapping.sourceType.elementType??><${propertyMapping.sourceType.elementType.name}></#if>( ${beanMapping.reverseMappingMethod.parameterName}.get${propertyMapping.targetName?cap_first}() ) );
         }
                         <#else>
         ${beanMapping.sourceType.name?uncap_first}.set${propertyMapping.sourceName?cap_first}( ${beanMapping.reverseMappingMethod.parameterName}.get${propertyMapping.targetName?cap_first}() );
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/DefaultCollectionImplementationTest.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/DefaultCollectionImplementationTest.java
index 209356a25..c51a934d8 100644
--- a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/DefaultCollectionImplementationTest.java
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/DefaultCollectionImplementationTest.java
@@ -70,4 +70,15 @@ public class DefaultCollectionImplementationTest extends MapperTestBase {
         assertThat( target ).isNotNull();
         assertThat( target.getFooCollection() ).containsOnly( new TargetFoo( "Bob" ), new TargetFoo( "Alice" ) );
     }
+
+    @Test
+    @IssueKey("6")
+    public void shouldUseDefaultImplementationForIterable() {
+        Source source = new Source();
+        source.setFooIterable( Arrays.asList( new SourceFoo( "Bob" ), new SourceFoo( "Alice" ) ) );
+        Target target = SourceTargetMapper.INSTANCE.sourceToTarget( source );
+
+        assertThat( target ).isNotNull();
+        assertThat( target.getFooIterable() ).containsOnly( new TargetFoo( "Bob" ), new TargetFoo( "Alice" ) );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/Source.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/Source.java
index 50c00e1a8..601716fb4 100644
--- a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/Source.java
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/Source.java
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ public class Source {
 
     private Collection<SourceFoo> fooCollection;
 
+    private Iterable<SourceFoo> fooIterable;
+
     public List<SourceFoo> getFooList() {
         return fooList;
     }
@@ -50,4 +52,12 @@ public class Source {
     public void setFooCollection(Collection<SourceFoo> fooCollection) {
         this.fooCollection = fooCollection;
     }
+
+    public Iterable<SourceFoo> getFooIterable() {
+        return fooIterable;
+    }
+
+    public void setFooIterable(Iterable<SourceFoo> fooIterable) {
+        this.fooIterable = fooIterable;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/SourceTargetMapper.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/SourceTargetMapper.java
index 01b581d50..6aa597ee7 100644
--- a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/SourceTargetMapper.java
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/SourceTargetMapper.java
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
  */
 package org.mapstruct.ap.test.collection.defaultimplementation;
 
-
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Set;
@@ -37,4 +36,6 @@ public interface SourceTargetMapper {
     Set<TargetFoo> sourceFoosToTargetFoos(Set<SourceFoo> foos);
 
     Collection<TargetFoo> sourceFoosToTargetFoos(Collection<SourceFoo> foos);
+
+    Iterable<TargetFoo> sourceFoosToTargetFoos(Iterable<SourceFoo> foos);
 }
diff --git a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/Target.java b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/Target.java
index f10797491..729afbd2b 100644
--- a/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/Target.java
+++ b/processor/src/test/java/org/mapstruct/ap/test/collection/defaultimplementation/Target.java
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ public class Target {
 
     private Collection<TargetFoo> fooCollection;
 
+    private Iterable<TargetFoo> fooIterable;
+
     public List<TargetFoo> getFooList() {
         return fooList;
     }
@@ -50,4 +52,12 @@ public class Target {
     public void setFooCollection(Collection<TargetFoo> fooCollection) {
         this.fooCollection = fooCollection;
     }
+
+    public Iterable<TargetFoo> getFooIterable() {
+        return fooIterable;
+    }
+
+    public void setFooIterable(Iterable<TargetFoo> fooIterable) {
+        this.fooIterable = fooIterable;
+    }
 }