Mazda has confirmed pricing for its refreshed 6 models
The 6 is available in saloon and estate guises
The saloon starts at £23,045…
…while the Tourer costs from £23,975
Mazda promises a more refined ride…
…as well as better handling
The improvements are due to new suspension…
…with revised geometry settings
Mazda is also equipping the 6 with more standard features
There are also offering additional premium options
Mazda is pitching the 2018 car against more premium rivals
It's a trend that's expected with future new Mazda models
The first customer deliveries for the new 6 are expected in the summer
Mazda has confirmed that its refreshed 6 saloon and Tourer models are priced from £23,045 and £23,975 respectively, with first UK deliveries due this summer.
Those prices are for cars equipped with the 143bhp 2.0-litre petrol motor, Mazda's naturally aspirated Skyactiv-G unit. At launch, buyers are also offered a Skyactiv-D unit, a 2.2-litre diesel with 148bhp, with prices starting from £25,445. More engine specifications will be offered at a later date (see below).
The latest 6, first shown at the LA motor show in December last year, is a rival to the Volkswagen Passat. Both bodystyles (pictured below) get new chassis settings that Mazda claims will make them handle better and be more comfortable to drive.
The car gets revised spring rates, adjusted suspension geometry and extra chassis braces to improve rigidity. Engineers have also equipped the car with a rigid-mounted steering column to enhance its responsiveness.
These changes are said to reduce vibrations that make their way into the cabin, decrease harshness when rolling over changing surfaces and give the car a more supple ride. Engineers have also dialled out understeer and given the 6 a more neutral set-up.
Inside, a new 7.0in TFT instrument cluster is offered in higher-spec models, while the centre console gets an 8.0in touchscreen. This screen can display a 360deg view of the car. The design of the interior itself is almost all new.
As part of the changes to improve comfort, Mazda also offers the 6 with ventilated seats that feature more supportive foam. Nappa leather is available on top-spec models.
Exterior design changes are limited to a new grille with thicker framework, new LED headlights and new wheels, which come in 17in or 19in forms. Mazda has also added Soul Red Crystal paint to the 6’s palette options for the first time.
UK buyers can choose from manual or automatic gearboxes and will soon be offered more engine variants. A 163bhp version of the 2.0-litre petrol will be added, as well as a 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G petrol unit providing 191bhp. The diesel range will also grow with the addition of a 181bhp version of the 2.2-litre unit.
The new pricing for the 6 saloon and 6 Tourer equates to respective increases of £2750 and £200 on the outgoing versions. Autocar is awaiting comment from Mazda regarding the price difference, but it is thought that the jump, particularly for the saloon, is attributed to the 6's more premium specifications list and enhanced driving dynamics.
This upward pricing trend is expected elsewhere in the range, with the 2019 Mazda 3, which was previewed by the striking Kai concept recently, predicted to go up against more expensive rivals than the current car. Mazda is also seeking to take the lead with combustion engine efficiency across its range – it is currently developing new Skyactiv technology that it claims can boost engine efficiency by up to 30%.
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