Mazda6 primed for Camry, Mondeo, Passat assault

Mazda Australia has released an upgraded Mazda6 range just two years after its launch and within months of the arrival of Toyota's facelifted Camry, Ford's all-new Mondeo and Volkswagen's next Passat.

Although cosmetic changes are minimal, Mazda says a raft of equipment and technical upgrades – plus lower prices for almost all variants – will see the Mazda6 remain its mantle of Australia's top-selling privately-purchased mid-size model.

"This year the segment will see a number of new products from established brands such as Camry, Mondeo and Passat, so the timing has never been better to launch a new Mazda6," said Mazda Australia marketing chief Alastair Doak.

"With this new model, the Mazda6 will be more than able to fend off the new models coming into the segment."

Doak said Mazda expects the mainstream mid-size segment to bounce back from its decline in recent years, from a high of almost 70,000 in 2012 to just 49,500 last year.

"Given the amount of new model activity planned in the segment this year, compared to very little activity in 2014, we would expect the market to once again sit above 50,000 sales this year. Levels of intention to buy remain strong in the mid-size segment."

Mazda6 sales declined by almost 24 per cent last year to 5883, despite the latest model being launched in December 2012. Right behind the Mazda6 was the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which topped the $60,000-plus mid-size luxury segment with 5845 sales.

Of course, while the Mazda6 outsold the current Passat, Mondeo, Hyundai i40, VW Jetta, Skoda Octavia, Nissan Altima, Honda Accord Euro, Holden Malibu, Kia Optima and Subaru Liberty, way out in front with almost four times as many sales was the Australian-made Camry.

But Doak said Mazda doesn't regard the Camry as a rival for the Mazda6 – at least not until the Melbourne-built model is replaced by a new imported vehicle in 2018.

"Last year if you forget the fleet-focussed and discounted Camry the segment's favourite import was the Mazda6 and it's a mantle we've held for a number of years except for run-out in 2011," he said.

"We don't see it as a competitor. You'd have to think that [strong fleet sales] will change when local production stops, and it will be interesting to see how many of those people will walk away and buy SUVs or other cars. It depends how it's positioned .

"Currently it doesn't show up in our customer research. If it starts showing up in that I guess we'll take it more seriously."

Nevertheless, Mazda said that as part of its attempt to attract more purchases from small business owners, it will announce special deals for those customers later this year.

"We are working on strengthening our position in the small business area, including with the Mazda6, and we've hired an expert in this field," said Doak. "We're looking at what we can offer in this market area and we look forward to announcing our plans later this year. We expect more small business sales to further close the gap to Camry."

Mazda has also heralded price cuts for diesel versions of the Mazda6 in March – in line with those already announced for petrol models last month, following the cut in five per cent import duty as a result of this year's Australia-Japan free-trade agreement.

For now, the 2015 Mazda6 line-up – which continues to be available with either 2.5-litre petrol or 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines matched exclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission, in both sedan and wagon body styles – arrives with a starting price of $32,540 plus on-road costs for the Mazda6 Sport petrol sedan.

Compared to the third-generation Mazda6's 2012 launch pricing, that makes it $920 cheaper than before, with similar savings across the four-grade range.

While wagons continue to cost $1300 more than the equivalent sedan, for now the diesel engine (unavailable in the base Sport) attracts a $3200 premium over the petrol engine – up from $2850.

The Touring variant costs $4740 more than the Sport, while the GT adds a further $5460 and the top-shelf Atenza costs an extra $3700.

At $50,920 for the diesel wagon, the Atenza flagship is the only model to increase in price (by $130), but it also receives the most changes.

Mazda expects a quarter of buyers to continue to opt for the entry-level Sport and 45 per cent to select the Touring, with the GT and Atenza each attracting 15 per cent of sales. Diesel will comprise 20 per cent of sales and wagons 35 per cent, said Mazda.

First revealed at the Los Angeles motor show in November, the update aims to make Mazda's flagship passenger model more advanced, more refined and more luxurious -- and to better position it above the latest Mazda3 -- essentially by adding some subtle interior and exterior styling updates and the latest electronic advances from newer models like the Mazda3, plus some new ones.

"New Mazda6 brings our latest technologies, more sophisticated design, dynamics and safety, and the dignity befitting a flagship model," said Mazda6 program manager Hideki Matsuoka.

Exterior changes are limited to a new grille, headlights, tail-lights and (19-inch) wheels, but inside there's a new central dashboard and console design featuring Mazda's latest MZD Connect with free-standing 7.0-inch colour infotainment touch-screen and an electric handbrake.

From Touring level up there are full LED headlights – a first for Mazda – including foglights and daytime running lights, while GT models now offer a head-up display first seen in the top-spec Mazda3.

To this the Atenza range-topper adds adaptive LED headlights with automatic high-beam (ALH), lane-keeping assistance (LAS) with subtle active steering control and driver attention alert (DAA), which driver drowsiness.

Also new to the Atenza and available as an option in Touring and GT models as part of an option pack is a low-speed autonomous braking system that now works in reverse at speeds between 2 and 8km/h (as well forwards at between 4 and 30km/h), dubbed SCBS F/R.

These features are in addition to carry-over Atenza driver aids such as radar cruise control, lane departure warning (LDW), blind-spot monitoring (BSM), forward obstruction warning (FOW), rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), Smart Brake Support (SBS) and Smart City Brake Support (SCBS).

The optional safety pack for Sport models costs $1230 and includes SCBS, BSM, RCTA and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. The same pack costs $1260 in Touring models and $1020 in GT models, in which it also adds SCBS F/R.

Soul Red metallic paint is the only other option (at $200), with other premium paints (including two new hues – Sonic Silver Metallic and Titanium Flash Mica) remaining free of charge.

Other changes include retuned suspension that aims to improve ride quality, a Sport mode for the automatic transmission in petrol models for the first time, new gearshifters, new instrument graphics, revised front and rear seat cushions to reduce fatigue and 'Dark Red' chocolate-coloured leather for the dash, doors and console.

Mazda has also fitted extra sound deadening in the roof, body walls and firewall, which it claims reduces cabin noise, vibration and harshness by 10 per cent on rough roads and up to 25 per cent on freeways.

There are no changes to the 138kW/250Nm 2.5-litre petrol four, which continues to consume 6.6L/100km, or the 129kW/420Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, which still consumes 5.4L/100km.

The refreshed Mazda6 is on sale now and will be backed by a capped-price service offer and a multi million dollar advertising campaign, including a new TVC to air from next week, dubbed 'Life without compromise'.

2015 Mazda6 features:

Sport
17-inch alloy wheels with 225/55 tyres
Exhaust extensions (chrome)
Front foglights (halogen)
Headlights (halogen)
Power mirrors (body coloured with heating and folding function)
Power windows
Tail-lights (LED)
Wipers (front) two-speed with rain-sensing function
Front seats with height adjustment (driver), lumbar support adjustment (driver) and seat-back pockets
Rear seats with 60/40-split folding backrest
Black cloth trim
Air-conditioning (dual-zone climate-control) with rear vents
Cruise control
Electric parking brake
Glove box (illuminated)
Leather wrapped gear shift knob, handbrake handle and steering wheel
Paddle shift gear control
Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering
Trip computer
Vanity mirrors (front) with illumination
7.0-inch full colour touch-screen display (MZD Connect)
Audio system with AM/FM tuner, single disc CD player (MP3 compatible) and six speakers
Auxiliary-audio input jack (3.5mm mini-stereo)
Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio capability
Internet radio integration (Pandora, Stitcher and Aha)
Radio Data System (RDS) program information
Satellite-navigation
Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
USB-audio input ports (iPod compatible)
Keyless push-button engine start
Airbags SRS: front (driver and passenger), side (front) and curtain (front and rear)
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)
Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
ISOFIX child restraint anchor points and top tethers
Remote central locking
Reverse-view camera

Touring (in addition to Sport)
Daytime running lights (LED)
Front foglights (LED)
Headlights (LED)
Front seats with two-position memory function (driver), four-way power adjustment (passenger) and eight-way power adjustment (driver)
Black or Pure White leather trim
Premium Bose 231-Watt amplifier and 11 speakers
Parking sensors (front and rear)

GT (in addition to Touring)
19-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 tyres
Power sliding and tilt glass sunroof
Front seats with heating function
Active Driving Display
Rear-view mirror with auto dimming function
Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS)
Keyless auto-entry

Atenza (in addition to GT)
Radar cruise control
Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH)
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Driver Attention Alert (DAA)
Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Lane-keep Assist System (LAS)
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Smart Brake Support (SBS)
Smart City Brake Support [Forward/Reverse] (SCBS F/R)

Mazda6 pricing (plus ORCs):

Sport -- $32,540
Touring -- $37,280
GT -- $42,720
Atenza -- $46,420

Wagon -- $1300 extra
Diesel -- $3200 extra (excluding Sport)