Mazda6: first look at mid-size wagon

By Tim Beissmann
July 09th, 2012

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The all-new Mazda6 wagon has been spied in Europe giving us our first look at the load-lugging version of the Japanese brand’s upcoming medium-sized car.

CarAdvice’s spy photographers believe the wagon will be the first variant of the third-generation Mazda6 to be officially unveiled, suggesting it is in line to debut at the 2012 Moscow motor show in August.

The new Mazda6 sedan is locked in to make its world premiere at the 2012 Paris motor show in September, where it is set to closely resemble the striking Mazda Takeri concept that appeared at November’s Tokyo motor show.

The Mazda6 will initially be available in sedan and wagon body styles when it goes on sale in Australia in the first half of 2013. There will be no direct replacement for the popular hatch variant, however, with Mazda understood to be developing a ‘four-door coupe’ similar in concept to the Volkswagen CC for launch around 2014.

The fresh styling brings a sharper, more aggressive new look to Mazda’s mid-sizer. The spy images reveal a larger, more upright front grille with a prominent badge and narrow, purposeful headlights.

The short front overhang and muscular front wheel arches add to the sporty vibe, which continues along with side with a tight window line. The rear window is more heavily raked than that of the second-generation wagon, while the tail-lights trade predominantly clear lenses for more conventional darker red fixtures.

CarAdvice’s spy photographers also captured the first image of the new Mazda6’s interior. The dashboard layout is highly reminiscent of the CX-5, with a large screen at the top of the centre stack, a three-spoke steering wheel and Mazda’s signature three-binnacle instrument cluster with chrome surrounds.

The new Mazda6 will be equipped with new SkyActiv petrol and diesel engines, the brand’s newly developed six-speed automatic transmission and the ‘i-ELOOP’ regenerative braking system, which teams with stop-start technology to reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent.

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Chest Rockwell

I hope this release is not a $50k proposition. Toyota and Honda are now engaged in a price war with the Koreans. I predict that Mazda will struggle in this environment, regardless of how good their product is.
- Igomi Watabi
  
  Why would it be a 50k proposition? You’d have to get the most expensive Mazda 6 and option it up in the current range, with prices going down to below 30.
- Igomi Watabi
  
  Why would it be a 50k proposition? You’d have to get the most expensive Mazda 6 and option it up in the current range, with prices going down to below 30.
Niklaus Manoj

Mazda has seen the light and they will be using the standard DIN radio units, check out the 4th pic. It’s almost impossible to replace the radio unit when it’s molded all over the car like in most of the current Mazdas. In case you ask, reasons to replace the radio units are upgrade to DAB radio, satnav/BT (not all models have them) and other up coming technologies and malfunctioned unit.
- Daniel
  
  But they look so tacky.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6ZQHML4W2NGIYK4AFA47WMEPKI timmyt
  
  Replacement double din fascia’s don’t cost that much.
  - Niklaus Manoj
    
    What do you do with part of the radio unit’s displays molded onto the upper part of the dashboard and part molded into the instrument cluster.
    
    Check out the radio units of the Accord Euro, Mazda3 and others … the radio units’ controls are molded into places, the 4″ / 6″ satnav displays are molded into the upper centre part of the dashboards, the info displays are molded some where else on the dashboard, the radio units’ configuration displays are molded into the instrument clusters.
- TG
  
  Hey Mazda, MirrorLink for Android/iPhone please.
BP

Looks really good, but Mazda 6 struggles to sell regardless of the constant facelifts & price cuts. Hoepfully this one will sell!!
- Able
  
  If you were selling that many CX-5s, I’m sure you wouldn’t particularly care.
  
  I’m really excited about this new Mazda6! Hopefully they don’t limit the wagon to a one-spec choice (although with the axing of the hatch maybe they will open it up).
- Schn
  
  The first Mazda 6 was a hit.
  - Kejovi
    
    the first 6 was a beautiful wagon but it’s been downhill since
    - Schn
      
      True, the current generation looks too happy, like it’s high.
- Mazdaman
  
  the current Mazda6 has been the 2nd best seller in the medium class almost every month since its launch, it was only out sold by the fleet camry and lately the fleet mondeo. Mazda is not a fleet company. Every review has the Mazda6 as one of the best or the best in the class, no small feat in the medium class crowded with excellent competition.
  - AOK
    
    You are correct and some one who knows the brand..the all new Mazda 5 WILL be a winner, just like the CX-5, they cant make enough of them…and Mazda are having RECORD sales in every country..the product is excellent with excellent resale and very happy owners…Mazda ARE a top 5 car company, not bad for a small Hiroshima maker.
    - AOK
      
      Sprry meant to be Mazda 6……6….6…6…6…6, not 5
      - AOK
        
        sorry…long lunch!
- Phunken
  
  The first 6 was a big mould breaker for Mazda, crafting a nicely sleek car in a drap conservative euro ‘inspired’ box contender, but the Medium size class never really a volume hero. That is the 3 and 2.
  The 6 always seem to set the tone for the rest of the range, whether dynamically or visually.
Smart US

the pain theme is way too busy for my taste… ill wait until they have some nice color to critique
Guest

The internal shot looks very CX5 like and if so like previous comments by reviewers is nothing to rave about…in fact could be a giant leap back by Mazda
Showtime

It looks like the driver is about to whack the photographer!
Schn

Looking forward to the sedan model.
http://profile.yahoo.com/OUNVYVM6JT4XFQULH7UK7AHY5U Monsieur Barso

How much would you figure the styling update and Skyactiv will impact the current 6 Wagon’s resale ?
Pool

This and the new Ford Mondeo are going to heat this segment up.
M.

It’s funny that the Mazda brand is practically irrelevant in most countries other than Australia. How they do so well here is beyond me, styling is very average!
- Hvhvh1
  
  Umm no, Mazda does ok in USA & great in Canada and pretty good in Japan
  - M.
    
    Well, I did say in ‘most’ countries. However you’re incorrect about their success in USA, it certainly wouldn’t be classified as OK. For June 2012 sales they ranked 19th, selling some 19,000 vehicles – significantly less than their Japanese rivals with Toyota on 149,000, Honda 109,000, Nissan 81,000 and even Subaru on about 28,000. Canada’s sales could be considered ok at best, ranking at 9th for June 2012 sales but when taking into account total brand sales. i.e. Toyota-Lexus, Honda-Acura, Hyundai-Kia etc, they fall out of the top 10. As for Japan, Mazda is again a much smaller player than it’s competitors, having only one vehicle in the top 10 sellers for 2012 so far. The sales figures speak for themselves; Mazda is a small player in most markets, other than Australia.
- Em
  
  Don’t all brands have pretty average styling? None really come to mind when I try to think of brands without outstanding styling.
  - Em
    
    *with
- lbrinsmead
  
  Marketing. Mazda ads stimulates confidence in the budding Mazda driver, one can’t say that about many Honda or Mitsubishi adds. Honda ads seem to make you feel safe and comfortable by marketing driver aids. That’s why I see many people in their new Mazda3s zoom zooming past the speed limits and harassing other drivers by weaving between lanes.
  - M.
    
    I agree completely. Mazda is obviously very good at marketing their cars; there really isn’t any other way to explain it. Sure there’s brand loyalists, but that only makes up a small percentage of a brands customers, and so the rest are somehow swayed to the vehicles; whether it be through the marketing, prices, dealer service/offers etc. It seems to me the average Australian new car buyer isn’t overly bothered by the technology that makes a vehicle drive better, safer, cleaner, more efficient, better built; but rather the way it looks, how fast it goes, and what bits of nifty tech are included. I would say that this is almost completely opposite to the mentality of European buyers.
    - MazMagic
      
      “Harassing other drivers…” – I drive a Mazda3 and have had that happen to me as well from other Mazda3 drivers. I remember one incident where the driver was tailing-gating me and then pulled back rather quickly – I am not sure if the ‘SPXX’ badging had something to do with it .
      
      I have to agree with both M and Ibrinsmead.
      
      Saying that, I have seen more European car drivers harrasing other drivers as well – they are no better. Holden drivers are even worse.
- Phunken
  
  Not sure what your bench mark is for the med size class car? For mainly family carrying vehicle the styling is punching above its weight. Individualistic and sleep without over fussy design like Modeo or i45…
  - M.
    
    In the mid size class, the Honda Accord Euro wins hands down in the styling department, in my opinion. To me the 6 is ugly, but then again so is the mondeo and i45 as you mentioned. Overall I don’t like the Mazda design language, nor do I understand their styling choices of particular vehicles. For example the CX-5 is overly plain on the exterior and with a really average interior, yet then you have the BT-50 that’s ridiculously over styled both front and back (especially for what is essentially targeted at tradespeople). My overall point is that Mazda makes average cars that seem to sell very well in Australia, yet not throughout the rest of the world.
    
    Then again the Holden Cruze sells well here too, which shows the mentality of many Australian new car buyers.
    - notatoy
      
      Looks like you can only judge a car based on styling.
Daniel

Will the diesel come with the option of a manual? This is what has stopped me buying a cx5. And the only thing stopping me from getting a current gen model is knowing this is coming soon…
F1

Not bad, but I’m not into these category of vehicles..
Waggaclint

Looks like it will look good, Hopfully the SkyActive Petrol motor wont be gutless like the CX5 hey..
- AOK
  
  GUTLESS..it is not gutless for a 2.0 that returns 38-48 MPG ALL the time.
  HP numbers for an all NA 2.0 is the best available today.
lbrinsmead

Looks like Mazda are more and more wanting to enter the premium class. I think the current Mazda6 estate looks great, much better than the sedan I think.
MattW

“large screen at the top of the centre stack”? Looks on the small side to me
- Martin
  
  I think the heavily recessed screen looks a bit tacky and dated. Much prefer the upper dash of the current model.
  - AOK
    
    OH for heavens sake, they are TomTom units installed by Mazda in JAPAN.
    They ARE a simple to read and use unit as far as Sat NAV goes..
    Anyone who gets excited about a Sat Nav unit does not deserve to drive a REAL Drivers cars like ALL Mazda’s are……I suggest you learn to drive properly first, and then how to get there directions will come with driving maturty…Sat Navs, Humbug, what a waste of money, and a waste all round.