High-torque diesel for Mazda6

Mazda has reintroduced a diesel power alternative for its mid-size Mazda6 range. The compression ignition models comprise a wagon variant for the company's traditional diesel customer base and a Sports hatch -- to target sports-focused drivers. In the first generation Mazda6 diesel, the hatch variant was based on the Luxury grade, but the new variant is equipped to the same level as the sportier version.

Following in the footsteps of other companies that are promoting the driving enjoyment of diesels, Mazda believes the new 2.2-litre turbodiesel will reach buyers who like the '6', but could do with more straightline performance.

Using as a base the 2.0-litre diesel fitted to the first generation of Mazda6, the new engine retains the predecessor's compact dimensions and is just 6kg heavier, despite the adoption of crankshaft-driven balance shafts. The two balance shafts, which are located below the crankshaft, afford the new engine significant gains in NVH over diesel engines offered in competitive cars.

Mazda has re-worked the engine from top to bottom and has incorporated such technical features as an abradable seal for the variable geometry turbocharger, fuel injectors that pump at a pressure of 200MPa and a diesel particulate filter of a new type. These changes and others are outlined in our previous report here. As a consequence of the engine upgrade, the powerplant now develops 400Nm of torque and yet continues to use as little as 5.9L/100km of fuel -- the same combined-cycle figure as for the smaller 2.0-litre engine. According to Mazda, the CO2 emissions are 156g/km for the hatch or 159g/km for the wagon.

Australian buyers will have to take the diesel Mazda6 with a six-speed manual transmission, as Mazda is yet to offer an automatic to suit this engine. Local Mazda management is disappointed that the diesel '6' can't be had with a self-shifter, but that explains why the importer has optimised the car's sales appeal by offering it in a package that suits traditional diesel owners (the wagon) or the slowly growing market for performance diesels (the hatch). Neither of these buyer types are expected to be discouraged from purchasing the new model by its lack of automatic transmission.

"It's frustrating not having an automatic," admitted Doug Dickson, Mazda Australia's MD during the local launch of the new variants, but the local boss believes that it's important to promote diesel as an option for Mazda buyers at the earliest opportunity, even if the ideal transmission for that engine is yet to be available.

"Diesel is very much part of our product line-up going forward. We have to establish the fact that Mazda has diesel engines and the sooner we make a start, the better.

"We're prepared to wear some criticism for not having an automatic... to start the ball rolling, as it were..."

Mazda makes the claim that the new engine is the most powerful turbodiesel in its class (136kW of power and 400Nm of torque) and the Mazda6 is the only diesel mid-size car to be offered by a Japanese importer. That being the case, the company could write its own ticket for pricing, but the new car is well specified and reasonably priced for what it has to offer.

Equipped to a grade equivalent to the petrol 'Classic' models, the wagon is the entry-level diesel, priced at $36,690. They're not directly comparable, since the Mazda is a wagon, but that price is cheaper than Ford's Mondeo TDCi's, but more expensive than Holden's Epica CDTi and the Hyundai Sonata CRDi. The up-market Mazda6 diesel Luxury Sports hatch is priced at $43,890 -- a $2900 price premium over the petrol manual version and, unlike the petrol hatch in the Luxury Sports grade, the diesel variant doesn't come with the standard sunroof.

However, it does feature front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cornering bi-xenon headlights, self-dimming rear view mirror fitted as standard -- features not fitted to the petrol equivalent.

Similarly, the wagon gains self-dimming rear view mirror, dusk-sensing headlights and rain-sensing wipers, over the petrol counterpart.

Far from being a poverty pack, the diesel wagon is fitted as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, auto-on/off headlights, dual-zone climate control, leather-bound steering wheel, remote central locking, electric windows/mirrors, tilt/reach-adjustable steering column, trip computer and MP3-compatible six-disc CD audio system with six speakers and remote controls on the steering wheel.

Being based on the Luxury Sports grade, the diesel hatch features 18-inch alloys, leather trim, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors, black-out instrument lighting, leather-bound gear knob, eight-way electric adjustment with three-position memory for the driver's seat, four-way electric adjustment for the front-passenger seat and a premium audio system.

Standard safety features for both variants comprise: active head restraints, dual front airbags, side-impact (thorax) airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags for front and rear occupants, pedals that minimise cabin intrusion in the event of a collision, ABS/EBD, Brake Assist and stability control (incorporating traction control).

The diesel models went on sale locally this week.

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