Mazda6 GT 2018 Review

Safer, quieter and with better kit, you simply can’t talk about the medium-sized passenger car segment without talking about the updated 2018 Mazda6.

Mazda’s growing following Down Under combined with the 2018 Mazda6’s improved product offering sees this mid-sizer taking the challenge not only to its segment peers, but to its more expensive Euro rivals… all of whom are losing sales at the hands of an SUV-obsessed nation.

Mazda’s biggest sedan has always been top of mind in this segment, but it was showing its age and ready for some updates. And we got them! The greatest perhaps being the new 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine you’ll find in the 2018 Mazda6 GT and top spec Atenza, alongside upgrades to the carry-over naturally-aspirated petrol and diesel engines.

The 2018 Mazda6 is offered with two petrol engines and one diesel, sedan and wagon body styles, and four trim levels: Sport, Touring, GT and Atenza. Pricing changes only slightly from the previous generation.

You’ll get into an entry-level 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol sedan for $32,490 (plus ORCs) and the range tops out at $50,090 (plus ORCs) for the 2.2-litre Atenza diesel wagon, with twelve iterations in between.

Mazda’s mediocre three-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty* remains despite far better coverage from its closest competitors (most competitors offer five or even seven years). Service intervals are set at 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first).

More power, more efficient (courtesy of cylinder de-activation) and more stylish, the updated Mazda6 represents a marked shift in design, safety and driveability while maintaining an excellent value for money proposition. Priced from $43,990 the Mazda6 GT sedan on test leaves you wanting for very little.

Full props to Mazda for investing (money and mojo) in this declining segment and reminding us just how good a medium-sized passenger car can be.

The new and updated powertrains address a regularly referenced detractor from previous generations – power delivery. The tweaked carry-over engines get more power while cylinder de-activation improves the fuel efficiency of the carry-over 2.5-litre atmo unit; while the new turbo-powered petrol engine brings straight line hustle where there was none.

It might not yet be best in class, but it’s a big step forward and a win for drivers, while improved comfort pleases everyone else. Behind the wheel, the front-drive Mazda6 feels special beyond its brief.

The 2018 Mazda6 line-up is on sale now, comprising two body styles, three engines, and four trim levels.

The 2018 Mazda6 has the potential to cater to a broad range of buyer’s needs, from active singles (think bikes and surfboards) to the all-important family-friendly market.

The sedan body style is large and comfortable for a family of five, it’s second row more than suited to three occupants. The option of a wagon body style (506 litres of cargo capacity) makes the step up to an SUV a moot point and up to 1600kg braked towing capacity (2.5-litre turbo-petrol & 2.2-litre turbo-diesel) strengthens its weekend-away credentials.

The new turbo-power engine is a ripper and fully exploits the six-speed auto (imagine if it had eight), but I was most taken by the premium feel inside the Mazda6 GT. It’s cream leather trim, tactile touch points and thoughtful design details are on par with the usual German suspects. It feels like Mazda is punching well above its weight in this regard.

The medium size passenger car under $60k segment is home to around 17 contenders including the Ford Mondeo and Subaru Liberty, all of them grappling for market share as family buyers in particular migrate to the multi-purpose SUV.

The inclusion of a wagon gives the Mazda6 an edge over some of its competitors such as the cheaper, two-model only offering that is the Kia Optima, but the struggle is real, evidenced by just 3647 sales in 2017, compared to the Mazda CX-9 which found 9012 new homes that same year.

The new fully-imported Toyota Camry may well (technically) hunt the same buyer (23,620 in 2017), but it feels generations behind the Mazda.

If you haven’t driven a Mazda lately, now is the time. The updates to the 2018 Mazda6 should cement it as pick of the pack.

In wagon body style, it’s also reason enough to not buy an SUV – and I like that – while in higher GT and Atenza spec you’ll be left wondering what exactly is it that the Germans do better?

* Subsequent to this test of the Mazda6 GT, Mazda announced its entire range will be covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. The new warranty does not apply retrospectively. Hundreds of buyers are believed to have purchased the updated Mazda6 with three-year warranty applicable.

How much does the 2018 Mazda Mazda6 GT sedan cost?
Price: $43,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 170kW/420Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: TBA
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2012)