Mazda6 facelift unveiled in Japan

By George Skentzos | January 26th, 2010

While the new generation Mazda6 is still by no means outdated, Mazda has unveiled a facelifted version which adopts the new Mazda family face with a five-point front grille.

Available in three body styles – Sedan, Sport Hatch and Sport Wagon – the refreshed Mazda6 includes improvements to its environmental and safety attributes, driving performance, interior and exterior design, and quality levels.

In Japan, 2.0-litre models have been updated with Mazda’s direct injection MZR 2.0L DISI engine with both front and all-wheel-drive models qualifying as Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (SU-LEV).

Updated power steering and suspension settings have been integrated, resulting in better handling and straight-line stability at high speeds, as well as delivering a more premium quality ride and enhanced comfort.

Both the 17-inch and 18-inch aluminium wheels have new designs, and the range of eight exterior body colours has been augmented with two new colours – Clear Water Blue Metallic and Midnight Bronze Mica.

Inside, the centre panel stack has a smooth, glossy, piano-black finish while chrome plating adorns the climate control and audio dials, and other parts.

crouchy

Glad to see they have toned down that smile!

jaglover

True that!!! it used to look ridiculous!!!

The Oracle

“Mazda’s direct injection MZR 2.0L DISI engine with both front and rear-wheel-drive models qualifying as Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (SU-LEV).”

I would love to see a RWD Mazda 6! I guess you mean and all wheel drive, is that correct?
Still no automatic diesel then either by the look of it.

http://www.caradvice.com.au George Skentzos

My mistake, AWD. Thanks.

The Oracle

No worries George. I figured that was what you meant. I thought that the sell AWD versions in Nth America, UK and Europe. I wonder why we don’t get them. Subaru and Audi do OK with their AWD models.

Jeev

Heyyy wait a minute………since when is a Mazda6 RWD??? Even in Japan????
Andrew M

So what economy does this get then??

Super ultra low emissions????
What do they call the little buzz box econos and hybrids then?…..Super Super Super Ultra low emissions???

Are you able to share some figures George?

http://www.caradvice.com.au George Skentzos

No exact figures for fuel consumption or emissions just yet. Perhaps we will receive them when the car is launched locally.

What I can tell you is that a car will qualify as a SU-LEV in Japan if the exhaust emissions are more than 75 per cent lower than the levels set in the Japanese Government’s 2005 exhaust emissions standard – although I can’t find an exact figure for this, perhaps someone else will have better luck.

Baddass

I’m glad they didn’t mess with the original. It still looks fresh today.
Byron

Mazda 6 still looks so good today. I love that interior. Why is it that all car manufactors arund the same time VE Commodore was launched are receiving body changes but Commodore hasn’t.

Anyone got any news on VF?

o

this was released 2 years after the VE lol

Byron

Yeah i know it was released 2 years after, but i mean like the cars around VE Commodore’s launch like Aurion etc… & ones launched in 2007 e.g Corolla seem ti have had some sort of body facelift/

So do you have any news on VF Commodore?

Damian

I doubt there would be anything to report on the new VF besides extra lashings of chrome on the exterior window sills, redesigned hubcaps, and a couple of new colours – it’s your typical Holden version of a “facelift”.
Devil’s Advocate

That is a very valid point Byron. The fact that the Mazda 6 as an example was released 2 years after the VE makes the VE’s lack of a facelift even worse! The exterior of the VE IMHO has aged well and still looks good in most guises, however the interior SERIOUSLY needs an update, especially in fit/finish/materials. It is a sad day when the smaller, cheaper, Korean made Cruze has a better quality interior than it’s supposedly ‘world class’ bigger brother.
Goodfa

I personally know of at least half a dozen people who were going to buy the updated Commodore but didn’t when it was released with no Exterior or Interior upgrades.
Sales of MY10 Commodores have dropped even with the SIDI engines.
I hope Holden have learn’t something from this.

Andrew M

Isnt it quite funny what the Commodore example points out.

Typiclly the commodore was the king of frequent upgrades of asthetics etc by chucking a revised headlight of whatever into it.

Last time round they tried doing some under the skin stuff, and if sales havent boosted, it shows the typical commodore buyers shallowness.

Perhaps commodore should have stuck with a change of headlights……
Commodore buyers have previously responded to that much better sales wise.

There is no new “coolness” about the upgraded Commodore hence no reason to upgrade it in the buyers eyes.

The Commodore sells on style and showing off to your mates, no costmetics seems a bit hard to comprehend for the typical buyer.

Perhaps they should have just forgotten about the bashing they were getting from the press about trashy motors and boxes, and done the usual sales pitch with a new front bumper

Valet Dabess

mazda 6 and commodore are like the only cars that look goo as sedan and wagon, everything else is just like O.o
Krish

Is there now an auto option for the diesel?

Falcodore

No, not for about 2yrs. They’re still developing their SKY 6 speed auto box.

http://www.topspeed.com/ Arnold Galtine

Mazda hasn’t changed the 6 much, they only added a tourer version and hatchback version, daymn I really like the hatchback mazda 6.

Devil’s Advocate

What do you mean added a ‘tourer’ and ‘hatchback’? The 6 has had a hatch and wagon available here in Australia since the 6 was first released in 2002. Are you from the US? In fact, the US is one of the few markets in the world that didn’t get the hatch and wagon. Probably due to the fact that the US market models were built locally and Mazda couldn’t justify building all 3 versions there. Plus the 2nd Gen US market, US built 6 is a bit different to the Japanese made 6 that is used in the rest of the world. This was to fit in with the US always wanting things bigger!

Falcodore

Actually, the US did get the hatch in the 1st gen 6 (not sure but i think they got the wagon), now they only get the sedan in 2.5 4cyl or 3.7 6cyl and they’ve lost repeat customers because of it.

Now if they offered an AWD diesel version, that would be tempting to people looking at SUVs that want fuel economy i think. They also need to re-introduce the MPS6, (as well as the 2) because its not much of a “series” with only one car in the MPS lineup.

Devil’s Advocate

Thanks for the info Falcodore. I looked into it further and they did indeed have all 3 versions there. Not the first time and certainly not the last that I am wrong. I don’t know what made me think they only had the sedan. Must be because when it came to pictures/articles about the 6 from the US market, I only saw a sedan!

Nick

Hi George
I am keen for some more info on the 6. Is that centre stack standard across the range? Do you have any specs on the new Touring model? Will it be available in diesel?

As for the VE, GM have no money to update it. Thats why there is no facelift.
Nick

George, I forgot to ask when it will be available in Australia?