2018 Mazda 6: First impression

Mazda definitely knows how to tease its intended audience. If there is something like hype, then Mazda has played it well. A few weeks ago, a teaser was dropped by the Japanese carmaker which showed a silhouette of a car. However, immediately after the teaser, the new Mazda 6, as well as the MX-5, was exclusively revealed to a select few.

Now at the PIMS 2018, both the cars were not only unveiled but also plans for their sale and prices were announced. The all-new Mazda 6 is an important car for the automaker. It is their flagship sedan which goes up against established competition like the Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord as well as the Toyota Camry. So, here are our quick first impressions of the new Mazda 6 sedan.

Design

Sleek is the one word that comes to mind when you look at either of the cars. The new Mazda 6 was always a good looking car and had perhaps the best iteration of the Kodo design language. Not only does it look better now but also seems a tad larger. Though the larger part is just a figment of one’s imagination. After all, this is a facelift and not a generation change. The exterior dimensions are same, and the car still measures 4,870 x 1,840 x 1,450 mm in the length, width and height respectively.

The headlight cluster has been updated, and the lights seem slimmer. These are LED units with Active Bending technology. The grille appears a tad wider than before and gets chrome outlines as well. Mazda has also made the hood to be a pinched unit. Move to the side, and you will notice the new Spyder alloys mounted on 18-inch rims. Fresh bumpers at the front and back and revised tail light set complete the exterior changes. The 2018 Mazda 6 is offered with Gray, Silver, and White Pearl color options.

Interior

While there are updates outside, the cabin too has been given a fresh dose of life. First up is the infotainment system that now gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard on all but the base trim. Earlier this year, Mazda was offering a software update to those who had already purchased the car. The infotainment display too has grown in size and is now an 8.0-inch unit. Mazda 6 also gets a soft-textured dashboard that tends to hide most of the buttons. The company got feedback that the dash looks a bit cluttery in the previous iterations and hence this one. Tri-Zone automatic climate control also makes its way down here.

The multi-information meter console is now a 7.0-inch unit. It looks similar to a Lexus unit, and we wouldn’t be surprised to know that the supplier is common. The upholstery has been given an overhaul too and is a bit shinier than before. It is tanned leather after all. Speaking of which, the front seats are now cooled. Mazda also offers a heated option but for our climate, the cooled seats work just fine. We wish the rear seats were cooled too. After all, this is going to be a chauffeur driven car. No issues with the seating space as the wheelbase still is an accommodating 2,750 mm. Boot space stays at 430-litre.

Engines and transmission

Mazda has used this opportunity to update the engines of the Mazda 6. The 2.2-litre diesel is still on offer, and the engine has been now tuned to produce 190 PS of power and 450 Nm of torque. This figure is up from the previous 167 PS and 400 Nm. Mazda says that fuel efficiency has gone up as well. However, no numbers were provided. The 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine gets an update as well. It now produces identical to the diesel, 190 PS but the torque is lower at 252 Nm. This is an increase of 8 PS and 22 Nm. Both the engines can be optioned with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters too are being offered.

Safety features

Apart from the addition of a 360 degree around view monitor, there are no changes to the safety kit on offer. The updated Mazda 6 specifications say that there are six airbags on offer, a head-up display, ABS with EBD, brake booster, brake assist, traction control, cornering stability, g-vectoring and more. The Mazda 6 in its pre-facelift avatar received a five-star rating from Global NCAP as far as crash tests are concerned. We don’t see any reason why the facelift will not qualify for the same as well.

Price

The 2018 Mazda 6 price in the Philippines starts from Php 2,250,000 for the diesel and Php 1,930,000 for the petrol. All these prices are ex-showroom. Bookings have begun, and Mazda says that they will start fulfilling the orders from next month.