Mazda 6 diesel still class-leading

By Matt Brogan | November 11th, 2009

On the back of waning sales in the segment, Mazda’s early duty cut has helped make its Mazda6 diesel models an even more attractive proposition.

The Mazda6 diesel was launched late last year, and so far has accounted for almost 10 per cent of all Madza6 sales.

In October, 637 Mazda6s were sold in total (down 11 per cent on the same month in 2008) and year-to-date sales have also declined by close to 1500 vehicles – or 17 per cent, a trend common, but still better than the norm with private passenger diesels showing year-to-date sales down 23 per cent.

But with 1466 diesels finding new homes among private buyers in October – an increase of seven per cent over last year – Mazda believes motorists may be warming to the diesel powered model.

And it is looking to take full advantage of the recent upward trend with Mazda’s early duty cut offering savings of over $1000 for its two diesel variants.

The Diesel Classic Wagon is down from $37,940 to $36, 780 while the top of the range Diesel Sports Hatch gets a $1400 reduction to $43,430.

The Mazda 6 diesel offers 136kW of power from its MZR-CD 2.2-litre engine while punching out 400Nm.

Fuel efficiency of 5.9 litres/100km for the hatch and 6.0 litres/100km for the wagon, makes Mazda6 diesel one of the most powerful and fuel efficient medium cars on sale in Australia.

http://caradvice Onepoppa

If they want to sell more the answer is simple – bring on the automatic. Until this arrives the car will only be attractive to a very few. Look at Mondeo – it doesn’t even offer a manual.

Toyota Guru

Yep, spot on Onepoppa. Mazda Australia, are you reading this?

Tomas79

They are aware of this. The trouble finding/designing/building a suitable auto for transverse mounting that can cope with 400NM of torque.
There is no doubt a suitable tranny is in the pipeline.

Gilly

If Nissan can build a CVT that handles 350nm and close to 200kw comfortably, Mazda has no excuse for not having a conventional auto. Perhaps they can buy the new 6 speed unit from KIA!!:-0

Gilly

Hmm, I just realised that the auto behind the CX7 turbo petrol is good for over 330nm! Why not an upgraded version of that?
jojo

Yeah the Kia 6 speed Auto is mated to a 436NM 2.2 litre engine.
Mazdaman

I don’t think they’ve got the volume to do a clean sheet box for the diesel, the main diesel market is europe that like manuals.
I wonder if the 6 speed in the turbo CX-7 is a Mazda box, the one in the CX-9 comes from Lincoln along with the V6
Mazdaman

another point is the extra fuel for the auto, the reduced fuel economy with take far longer to pay off the diesels prise premium, could sway buyers back to the petrol anyway

jansjetta

What’s the problem? …..VW Touareg R50 copes with 850NM

Bongo

I suspect that part of the drop in sales might be because of the new look. It’s gone from quite classy to a bit rice in the last generation.
lazybones

I’ve booked test drives for this + Mondeo. Has to be said the Mazda offers more torque & power but drinks a whole 1.3lts/100kms less that the Mondeo.

Cameron

That’s the auto difference!

CJ

I bought a 6 wagon in petrol for my wife 3 months ago and she loves it. We drove the diesel, while it performs better and is more economical, my wife was sick of driving manuals after the last three cars. Even though more expensive, we would have bought the diesel if an auto was avialable. How much of the market are Mazda losing by this? In Europe the mix is 75/25 diesel/petrol, here the other way around. Maybe we are just becoming lazy like the Yanks.
Robin Graves

Personally, after owning my first diesel, I dont think I can go back to Petrol unless I was looking for a sports car. I dont like autos either (and neither does my wife)

lazybones

Same here, I can’t stand autos but is it that hard to offer both since the car is an import anyway?

Robin Graves

Yep the only way to maximise sales is to offer choice. Its a bit like the i30cw SLX only being available in Auto. Quite a few lost sales due to no choice in trans. Its not something people will live with – if they cant get their preferred trans choice, they’ll look elsewhere.

Simon

Agreed. The only problem is I can’t afford a BMW 330D – my dream car!

nifty

I would also suggest they also have the option off getting the diesel motor in any of the models. Not just the expensive ones.
ABMPSV

I believe Skoda as good as the Mazda. Yes less power and Nm but smaller engine and $2000 cheaper.

Gilly

Problem is VW reliability and maintenance vs Mazda!…That extra $2k pays for itself!

Golfschwein

Shocking! Just ask me what’s gone wrong with my Golf in 4 years!

Car Fanatic

I bet I know the answer. It makes me laugh how people with little or no experience of Golfs seem to know so much about them, wouldn’t you agree Golfie? I mean Golfie owns one for a reason and I bought one based on my experiences in the UK rental car market and mine hasn’t let me down once, nor had the hundreds of Golfs we ran on the national fleet.

Gilly

Wow, sensitive Golf owners! I suppose you have to justify the premium you payed for a small hatch somehow!
I have had the joyful experience of owning a brand new Transporter. Great unit when it was running but after a $6k repair on a new gearbox at 80ish000km and outside warranty and the numerous issues with electrical gremlins, faulty diesel pump, injectors. Expensive servicing, $800 for brake pads which had to have disc replaced etc I was probably better off with a KIA Pregio!

I am glad we have a couple of happy VW owners on here but across the board the survey says otherwise, especially older Golf and Polo owners!
I would not touch a VW again, vastly overrated cars that lure people in on perceived quality.
Reality is nobody does reliability better than the Japanese, surveys back that up and so will 99% of mechanics.
Mazda all the way!!
Hung Low

I thought the Janitors at Toyota HQ were given 1988 Camry wagons for company cars not Golfs!
Car Fanatic

Actually Hung I would switch between an Aurion and a Kluger as my company car, I drove a few Camry’s but they didn’t have the punch of my diesel golf. Anyway I left Toyota, I got sick of travelling from Sydney’s North to Sydney’s south every bloody day of the week.

Shame Audi is down Botany way, I’d chase them otherwise.
jojo

My colleague bought a Golf Pacific Turbo Diesel Mark 5 on a novated lease just as the new Mark 6 was being released.
He thought it was brilliant, solid, perceived German quality and finish etc.

He’s had the car for about 4 months now and has experienced electrical problems with power windows, DSG is irrational at low speeds, fuel pump issues and numerous rattles. It doesnt help when the dealer gives it back claiming their were no rattles present.

Anyway he has since found out that this model was built in South Africa and is fuming as he assumed like many unsuspecting consumers that he was paying a premium for a Made In Germany car.
Golfschwein

Mine’s been a complete outrage! In 76,000 kilometres I’ve had to have a minor engine management issue fixed AND……….a cruise control switch repaired under warranty! I never! What a disaster!

Mate, I often put up a little bait to those who rag VW and they NEVER hang around to respond or see my own somewhat tongue-in-cheek response.
Lansing

Engine issues and a cruise control switch are pretty bad for only 76,000km, my last three Falcon company cars were faultless, I had each one to about 120,000km and then got a new one. So about 360,000km over three cars with no problems

Andrew M

OK,
Golfie, What’s gone wrong with your Golf in 4 years??
Regards,
Andrew

Golfschwein

You get me, Andrew M

riceboy

my 2008 Golf GTI has many rattles, 1 electric window that stopped working for 2 days when brand new, exterior mirror adjustment that snapped off in everyday use but not covered because it’s “wear and tear trim item”, the DSG jerkiness makes me nauseas.

Tomas79

Funny, the rear electric window on my old man’s mazda also stopped working.
The worst part was it took 5 trips to the mazda service department to get it fixed under warranty. Since the muppets made a few blunders by ordering, and replacing the wrong parts!!

Barry Mac

Just ask me what’s HAS gone wrong with my Golf in the last 6 months. Golfy, is is a gen VI and it aint healthy. Gen VI is still hit and miss with quality, and there are some issues with the new 7sp DSG. Seems that as these cars are bso highly strung with technology for a cheapish price, that when one lil thing goes wrong, issues then start to pop up all over the place.

Golfschwein

Not everyone gets a good run, sadly, Barry Mac. My perspective is this: a brand new VS Commodore and a brand new Camry have been the least reliable cars I’ve ever owned or driven. Another brand new Camry and another brand new Commodore (VL), as well as Hilux ute, scored ten in the reliability stakes. So just a couple of minor faults with my Golf haven’t diminished my enjoyment of it. It’s been my best overall.

ABMPSV

Gilly you got it wrong. I am talking about Skoda not VW. Yes same engine but VW Golf V was made in South Africa and Skoda is made in Czech Republic and engine comes from Gyor Hungary where they make 1 Mill engine a year. This plant supplies Audi, Skoda Seat and Skoda in Europe. Skoda was allways higher on Customer Satisfaction Index by JD Power than VW. Please check it this website for the index http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/europe/research.aspx. The new VW Golf VI quality should be better as it is made in Germany.

Boney Maroney

I have a Gen VI 118TSI. What a piece of rubbish this car is. Was good at first, then after about 5000ks problems started. Chirping supercharger each time you accelerate (have to have a CD playing todrown that out), DSG lurching forward when placed in reverse – this has happened a few times now, DSG is jerky at low speeds (think this is just DSG), ticking windows on warm days as they expand in the sun and are fitted super tight inj the sills, dash rattles like shopping trolly. Made in Germany does not mean better quality. The issues above are not is isolation, check the review on this forum and other discussions at “watercooled” forum.

I have 11,000ks on it, and am trading out to get into something with less issues – I no longer have confidence in this car. Will never own another turd like this one! Car of the year – think carfully if you believe this speil. the judges of this award obviously didnt have to own one of these!

Safety Frist

The Auto is a big thing, a lot of Mondeo Diesel sales are conquests from people wanting the Mazda.
Also the other reason for the Mazda 6 losing ground is it’s increase in size. The 6 is now a large car by dimentions, the only thing keeping it in medium class is the name. A lot of customers who would have bought the new one have crossed to Focus and the like because the car doesn’t fit into their garages or carports. Remember a large portion of the 6′s market was retiree’s and over fifties in estates.
scamma

The introduction of the CX-7 diesel isn’t going to help it’s cause either. Whilst i prefer a manual and think this is a nice vehicle, if there are drivers in your household that cant or wont drive manual.. both the CX-7 and 6 models have to be taken off the shopping list.
Mitch

Harden up and learn manual

Damian

“Harden up and learn manual”

Exactly… At the end of the day, if one learns how to drive a manual, he/she will be save on outright buy price and long-term running costs. As an added bonus, turbo diesel manuals are not difficult to drive due to their wide spread of torque. Having driven a Focus TDCI, I can safely say that it’s a third gear car in the city.

Gilly

Problem with newer generation manuals are dual mass flywheels! Whilst they help out in NVH, especially with diesels, they can lead to premature clutch life or fly wheel life. The bill for a new clutch can be as high as $3k in some cars that require the flywheel changed as well.
As much as I despise auto gearboxes, there are more reasons to have one for a family car than against these days.
The auto gearbox is getting better, CVT boxes behind a bigger engine are brilliant for a daily driver.

Al Juraj

Unless it’s a BMW, you generally don’t buy a diesel for performance and fun, so manuals aren’t really a good thing on oil-burners. People choose these cars for economy and convenience, so not having to shift by themselves is appreciated.
CJ

Just talk to any D40 Diesel Navara owner. Bad news.

Gilly

Correct, the auto is the better option than the manual that is reputed to burn out clutches within 80000km!!

Jake02

In what way is the Mazda6 ‘class-leading’? You get a cheaper price/bigger boot/better ride/European engineering and quality at Skoda, more technology/value/European engineering and quality at Ford, more room/AWD at Subaru (but ugliness too!) and better performance at Honda.

The wagon is ugly at the back and it’s only available as a Classic auto (how friggin boring!) or the diesel manual (much less boring but needs more equipment or at least options packages). The sedan is just a no on my list (Mazda get rid of it like Ford did with the Mondeo – liftbacks are a much better option!) and the hatch is great, but everything else is better!

I hired an old-gen in NZ in 2005 and it was great! The new one is the same but more modern (in design – they didn’t fix anything else!) and it shows.

Philthy

The Mazda looks nice, Skoda looks like a turd. Facelifted Skoda = polished turd. Also, European quality is overrated. My Mazda had far less rattles, creaks, whines and clunks at 200,000 ks than my VW does at 70,000 ks.

And the Mazda diesel is more powerful (class leading even)

Jake02

Excuse me, but my Skoda Octavia, in RS form, does NOT look like a ‘polished turd’! Like the new Liberty, it looks alot better in person. Done that?

And Euro quality is not overrated. Euro cars have nice interior plastics (soft-touch etc and they last too) whereas Jap cars are made to go the distance, which they do, but the materials aren’t particularly nice. And while the 6 has more power, theres no point in having it unless the chassis can handle it (when I test drove a petrol 6 in July 08, it torque steered!)!

ABMPSV

I LIKE you SKODA!! Nice car. Mazda design is …specially Mazda3. Skoda engines are very good too.

Will

‘Polished Turd’…the bar of this comment potentially reflects your IQ…very low.

Really?

Will, I wouldn’t throw stones if I were you. I haven’t met too many car salesmen that are too bright – and your behavior on here over the last few weeks only confirms that.

Shak

It may be euro quality but you gotta pay through the nose to get it then maintain it. And the skoda is just a VW underneath and Inside with an uglier body. Mazda have done very well and the 6 is definetley bes in class when it comes to the drive and interioir preso.

Jake02

You do not have to pay through the nose to buy one (eg the Skoda and VW ranges aren’t expensive) and servicing is more expensive yes, BUT Jap cars are serviced twice as often as Euro cars, and this is why they don’t rattle after a number of kms. Even though my Skoda is cheaper to service than my pervious Subaru…

Shak

not the ones in my family.
Will

Agreed Jake. I too traded my Subaru for the Skoda. Have not looked back. I did get interim services for the first 25k just to ensure everything bedded in properly, now on 15k/annual services.

The machine is running like a treat.

Easy to say when you sell them Will

Can’t have the salesmen driving another brand can we.

Hung Low

What does an oil and filter change have to do with rattles?
Rattles are from poor build quality or assembly, they have nothing to do with servicing unless the rattles are coming from your engine!!

Jake02

I think they do more than just change the oil…
Hung Low

Yeh bluetak and stick tape all panels and trims each service!

Mazdaman

yet another comments section highjacked by lame attempts to viral market skoda.

are sales really so bad the employees have nothing better to do than make fake profiles to try and convince someone – anyone to look at their unpopular cars.

Its time for car advice to ban you and get this site back on track

More Skoda viral marketing spam

Mazdaman says:
November 12, 2009 at 12:38 am
yet another comments section highjacked by lame attempts to viral market skoda.
- YES

are sales really so bad the employees have nothing better to do than make fake profiles to try and convince someone – anyone to look at their unpopular cars.
- YES

Its time for car advice to ban you and get this site back on track
- YES PLEASE!

ABMPSV

3 x NO. Skoda is just Better and I do not have one but I driven in Europe. Mazda does not come close and that is the fact. Check some European website or like ADAC (RACV here) and than you know WHY!

More Skoda viral marketing spam

actually 3 x YES.

Regardless of whether the cars are any good or not, Mazdaman’s comment are all correct.

This site is full of viral skoda marketing, sales are pathetic, and they should be banned.
Jake02

More Skoda viral marketing spam says:
November 12, 2009 at 12:35 pm

Mazdaman says:
November 12, 2009 at 12:38 am
“Yet another comments section highjacked by lame attempts to viral market skoda.”
- YES
Viral market Skoda. What a load of absolute bullsh*t! Is the Octavia a competitor to the 6? Yes. Am I entitled to my own opinion? Yes. If the Octavia is a competitor to the 6 than I think you can talk about it, and other cars in the class. Not only that, I started with listing competitors, and upon other comments did I only talk in detail about my Skoda.

“Are sales really so bad the employees have nothing better to do than make fake profiles to try and convince someone – anyone to look at their unpopular cars.
- YES”
To be honest, I don’t think it’s Skoda’s fault for the lack of good sales is it? It’s not their fault that only launched two years ago, and that people don’t trust brands that new is it? And, I’m not boring enough to be a salesmen, sorry to disappoint.

“Its time for car advice to ban you and get this site back on track
- YES PLEASE!”
WTF else happens on this site? They review cars, and then the various lovers, brand-loyals and possible customers all comment on the post about how good or vice versa the car is. Then the fights begin because some tool has a cry. That, sir, is you. And the fact that you try to ban someone for liking cars is abit weak you know!
Fisher guy

… come in spinner.

If mazdaman’s comments weren’t all true it would actually be funny.

Buck

X 2, couldn’t agree more.

Hung Low

You got to see the viral hijacks from sales in the KIA and HYUNDAI blogs!
Mazdaman

I am PMSL, I wish I got this many bites when I went fishing out on the bay.

for the record I think the Suburb could potentially be a very good car, – I just don’t care (along with 99.9999999999% of Australia)

why are there skoda comments on every article on the site, why do probably 50% of all posts have skoda in them? again – I just don’t care (along with 99.9999999999% of Australia)

But it fascinates me there are more skoda fans on this web site than in the whole of Australia

jansjetta

Thank goodness there is a choice of cars to buy in this country. Every manufacturer has the opportunity… including Great Wall Motors. Heaven forbid if we only had the choice of a Holden or Falcon … or Mazda. We’d all ride bikes ….lol

Mad Max

Mazda Australia, engineer an auto that can handle the torque and put it in the entire 6 and CX7 diesel range. Then change the wagon so that we can have the full specification range from the hatch. Right now the wagon is only available as a classic. So, no genuine leather, no seat warmers, no stereo upgrade, no satnav, no sun roof. That might be ok for fleet but not for private buyers. Its what put me off buying one.

Simon

I think you want a Passat with a Mazda badge on it!

bob

I see the argument which many people are making. But its the age old dilemma for the manufactuer.

Do they offer every combination and option possible and let the customer choose (and pay), Mercedes style. Or do they try to let the marketing department best guess what people want and offer a few “set menu” packaging options to keep cost (and price) down.

The problem comes when (as in the case of the mazda 6) they kind of get it wrong. ie. no diesel auto package

Mad Max

But the problem is with the Mazda 6 wagon about the only options you can get is tow bar, headlight covers and mats! When I went to buy one you could not get factory heated leather seat, sat nav, the Bose sound or any of the nice things available on th rest of the range. At any price!

http://caradvice Onepoppa

I was a manual driver for much of my life, but I am now on my 4th auto, and see no reason to drive a manual again – even one like my son’s awesome Audi S3. Also, after 6 months of diesel ownership I don’t expect to ever own a petrol car again. When I can regularly get under 5.5 l/100km with CVT auto and know that my emissions are 165gm what is not to like about diesel?

Pops

How about the tractor-like clatter & filthy bowser pumps at the servo station?
Unless the price of diesel comes down significantly I will still opt for petrol engines.

bob

bah. rubbish. “tractor-like clatter” have you driven a diesel made in the last 5 years? (excepting the Astra)

Steven

ahhh, that’s why! I was hurt by diesel Astra so badly

Cameron

Despite the figures it’s still not a fast diesel.
Richard

has anyone looked at the weight of the Mazda6 diesel (1650kg+) It’s getting into Commodore weight. That’s why its most powerful in class… It needs it! The euros are 100kg or more lighter.
http://caradvice Onepoppa

I have heard that old one about the pumps – all I can say is that when I fill up, at service stations that cater for car drivers, not trucks, there is next to no difference in cleanliness. And here in Melbourne diesel is appreciably cheaper than petrol for about 5 days out of the 7 day cycle. I buy on whatever day suits me, the price doesn’t fluctuate, and I am up to 9 cents a litre cheaper than petrol at my neighbourhood Shell station.
Sumodog

Diesels are great to drive and great to own. More people should learn to drive a car (driving an auto is not driving a car). Mazdas are good, reliable and high quality cars. VW diesels are not bad either, i drive a diesel manual EOS fairly often (my wifes car)and it feels like a small V8. So much torque ,so low.
http://OzMPSclub.com OzMPSclub

The new Mazda 6 is a great car and the wagon is just superb but like it has been said an auto would be a great option….I have a 08 Mazda 2 Genki and I have been a manual driver for nearly 30yrs and I wont buy an auto till I have trouble changing gears…

Another thing to ponder on is why didn’t Mazda bring out a manual petrol wagon as they would be some people out there that would want one…

The motor on the CX7 turbo petrol is the same in the old mps6 and 3 with a detune so why cant this be offered in the MPS3…?

I have owned Mazda’s for over 25yrs and wont buy anything else but they do get things wrong….the 6 wagon could be offered in the 3 trim a sales limited model the classic that we have and a Lux wagon with all the trimmings….maybe the lux wagon would compete against the CX7 but they are different cars…I had a 4×4 Bravo before I leased the 2 and I nearly went for a 4×4 BT50 but due to personal issues I thought a 2 would be a better options at the moment.

Mazda when you do the facelift on the 6 bring out a Lux wagon….
ABMPSV

Always check before you buy! VW Golf V is made in South Africa just like Audi TT is made in Hungary. So if you think you buy a German car and it is made there forget it.
Honda does the same and everybody else.

Sumodog

It should not matter if your Honda is made in Japan or Thailand. Honda pruduces them all. Who do you think works in german factories that make VW, BMW and Mercedes. Most of the work force are immigrants from southern europe and Turkey. It is the design and engneering that counts as well as the people who assemble it.
Having said that Japanese made is probably the highest quilty assembly.

TLTCH

Yes half right. Most people are Germans. Germany got a tradition of making cars people know what is cross hatch in cylinder bore. If you set up a new car company in a country where is know car industry most peple would not know how engine works or what is a micron.

TLTCH

Looks like Mazda can not sell the car and here is good place for marketing!
Sumodog

What options are out there for a non SUV good quality wagon with manual transmission. Not neceserally a workhorse but a lifestyle wagon to carry bikes ,kids ,dogs etc..
You could go traditional and get a Liberty wagon or Mazda 6 , maybe Octavia (a bit smaller than the others) , SS wagon (a bit thirsty but fast)hmm, what else ?

Jake02

Peugeot 308SW? That does have a four-month wait-list if you do want a manual, with none already here. There really isn’t that much available

http://www.techrentals.com.au Test Gears Rental Australia

Well, it’s a fact that Mazda models create good feedbacks for some time. But before purchasing one, its better be sure to test their gears. That is why there are test gears rental in Australia for almost all cities.
Famous

Behind Japan and Australia, the biggest suppliers of vehicles to Australia are Thailand (154,979), Korea (106,652), Germany (41,424), South Africa (34,391), Belgium (20,537), Spain (18,636), France (14,761) and the USA (13,576).
PERSONALLY I PREFER S.AFRICAN BUILT GOLFS AND BMW’S OVER GERMAN. HAD HEAP OF PROBLEMS WITH 2 GERMAN BUILT 3 SERIES. WAKE UP AND CHECK THE FACTS. C CLASS MERC, 3 SERIES BMW’S. VW GOLFS, MAZDA BRAVO, HUMMER COME OUT OF S.AFRICA.
Famous

P.S- HOLDEN ASTRAS COME FROM BELGIUM AND ARE NOT AUSSIE BUILT. HOWS THAT FOR A LAUGH.
HOLDEN ( AUSSIE ICON) – MY ASS. WE ARE GETTING TRICKED.