Mazda6: FAQs

The Mazda6 is Mazda’s mid-size family car that’s been offered as a hatch, sedan and wagon as it has evolved over three generations of development.

The replacement for the Mazda 626, the Mazda6 first appeared in 2002, was overhauled in 2008 and again in 2012, when the hatch was dropped. Updates were introduced in 2015 and 2016 to the model that is still current in Australia today.

In 2018 a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine was added to the line-up and in 2019 the troublesome 2.2-litre SKYACTIV turbo-diesel engine was dropped.

With diesel dispensed with, there are no serious potential issues when it comes to the Mazda6. It’s Japanese-built to a high quality and should be reliable if you attend to the servicing schedule appropriately.

Of course, the older the Mazda6 the more likely you are to strike wear and tear issues brought on by age.

While the Mazda6 is no longer a cornerstone of Mazda’s sales, because of our fixation on SUVs, the good news is a fourth generation is in the works and it’s headed in an interesting new direction.

Yes, the Mazda6 holds it value as most Mazdas do. Mazda is a brand with a deservedly strong reputation in Australia and the Mazda6 and its 626 predecessor have helped attain that.

Carsales likes the Mazda6 so much it has been judged best used medium car buy for the past three years.

No, the Mazda6 is not a sports car. Instead, it’s a family car with exceedingly good driving manners that can be particularly entertaining when combined with the SKYACTIV 2.5-litre turbo-petrol engine.

Back in 2005 Mazda did make an attempt at turning the original Mazad6 into a sports sedan, launching the all-wheel drive turbocharged Mazda6 MPS.

Sadly, despite strong reviews, it disappeared off the scene after a couple of years and never returned.