The Mazda6 has been a wild success in the New Zealand market, essentially reviving the flagging mid-size segment each time a new version is released. Damien O’Carroll reports on the newest iteration of this fine car.   Close to 20,000 Mazda6s have been sold in New Zealand since its launch in 2002 (and that is not counting Japanese imports, either), and it has consistently been the segment leader since then.
But now there is a new, bigger and more expensive version that Mazda hopes will do the same to a segment that is shrinking at a faster rate than ever as buyers desert mid-size cars for SUVs.  The Mazda6 has consistently been the best car in the mid-size segment since its launch, despite coming under heavy attack from some seriously good competition, most notably the remarkably good Ford Mondeo, which has recently stolen the edge on the 6 for being the best drive in the segment, thanks to the addition of some brilliant engines.  But now the Mazda6 strikes back with an all-new, incredibly sexy-looking replacement that also boasts some thoroughly brilliant engines, including what is easily on of the best four-cylinder diesel engines on sale today.  The new 6 is larger than the car it replaces, and so is its price. Roughly $10k can be tacked on top of the equivalent price of the previous  model, but to balance that out equipment levels are also up. There have also been a number of other changes to the Mazda6 model lineup, the most obvious of which is the deletion of a hatch body shape.  The choice of engines in both sedan and wagon variants is between a 2.5-litre direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine that packs 138kW/250Nm and boasts fuel consumption of 6.6L/100km, and a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel that puts out 129kW/420Nm and consumes only 5.4L/100km. The entry level wagon comes with a 2-litre four-cylinder petrol that pumps out 114kW/210Nm and uses 6.0L/100km. All engines come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.  The range kicks off with the entry-level GLX, which is available in sedan or wagon form with either the 2-litre petrol (wagon only) or the 2.2-litre diesel (both). The GLX comes standard with cloth seat trim, standard cruise control, a trip computer, Bluetooth phone and media connectivity, a four-speaker audio system with auxiliary and USB inputs, six airbags, remote central locking, single zone air conditioning and LED taillights. The GLX starts at $45,495 for the petrol wagon and steps up to $49,095 for the diesel-powered sedan or wagon.  The GSX is available in sedan or wagon, with either the 2.2-litre diesel or the 2.5-litre petrol and adds front fog lamps, keyless entry, auto headlights, dual zone air con, a leather steering wheel, gear knob and hand brake handle, rain sensing wipers, a TomTom satellite navigation system and front and rear parking sensors to the standard spec. The GSX costs $49,795 for the petrol in either sedan or wagon form, while the diesel-powered version costs $51,995 for either body style.  The Limited tops out the range, being available for the first time in New Zealand in wagon form. Like the GSX, the Limited is available as either wagon or sedan, with a choice of the 2.5 petrol or 2.2 diesel.  The Limited comes fully-loaded with adaptive bi-xenon headlights, heated exterior mirrors, radar cruise control, heated leather seats with four (passenger) or eight (driver) way electric adjustment, a Bose premium audio system with 11 speakers, a blind spot monitoring system, lane departure warning, forward obstruction warning, automatic high beam dipping and rear cross traffic alert, a system that warns of traffic approaching from the side when reversing.  The Limited also tops out the price list at $58,595 for the petrol and $60,795 for the diesel, wagon or sedan.  While we didn’t get to sample the 2-litre petrol variant on the launch, the 2.5-litre version was strong and refined, with impressively frugal fuel consumption.  But the star, engine-wise, was most definitely the diesel. Previously seen in the CX-5, the four-cylinder diesel is free-revving and torquey in the 6, making it perfectly suited to the sedan’s athletic chassis.  Revving out to 5,500rpm, the diesel loses almost nothing to a petrol engine in terms of revs, and gains a whole lot in terms of usable grunt and torque. It even makes a wonderfully angry growl when you climb up higher into the revs.  The Mazda6 flows with a graceful precision from corner to corner, with the nose turning in with an almost telepathic sharpness. The body feels settled and insanely compliant throughout, with very little sacrificed in terms of ride comfort either.  The new Mazda6 is a powerful, frugal (either engine, but especially the diesel) and deeply impressive entrant into the mid-size segment. That said, its sheer size will also make it a damn fine option for anyone still considering a larger car.