All In The Family
The Journey of the Mazda6
In my final years of university, I owned a secondhand 1989 1.8 litre Mazda 626 Turbo hatchback named Kirk. I don’t know why it was named Kirk, that was a decision of the previous owner, but it seemed right to go with it. It was mostly metallic blue, except for a patch of primer grey on the rear quarter where I had misjudged the distance between a fence and a park. That was a bit before reverse cameras. Inside, I had one of those beaded cab driver seats and a tape player that had a Stone Temple Pilots album stuck in it. I think it must have been playing slightly too fast because when I heard the songs years later via Spotify, I realised that Scott Weiland didn’t sound like a chipmunk. In spite of its quirks, my Mazda 626 was one of the greatest cars in the world in my eyes. It was reliable, dependable and it gave me freedom. It was the perfect vehicle.
Of course, things change along the way. 20 years, one wife, one kid and one dog later, my needs and expectations have shifted. The novelty of the freedom of driving has been replaced by commuting and I am less concerned by the loudness of the stereo than I am about the required ISO fittings for a children’s carseat. Waking up on a Saturday morning on the front lawn of a friend’s flat is no longer my idea of fun and I’ve become quite accustomed to life’s little luxuries. I still look back at that 626 with fondness, but it would not be the car for the 2019 version of me.
Luckily though, Mazda does have the answer for the 2019 version of me in the new Mazda6, which is sort of like Kirk’s great grandson. Those astute readers will note that the Mazda 626, which was produced from 1970 to 2002, is a different model line to the Mazda6 line which started in 2002. It is considered, though, to be the predecessor of the Mazda6 line. And it does share many philosophies in terms of style and technology. Of course, there is a big difference in motor years between 1988 and 2019, and even 2015 and 2019 in terms of technology, design, safety and features. In this respect, the new Mazda6 is a really a wonderful usage all of the available technology right now, but also manages to pay homage to its history.
While the exterior and interior design has been updated and include chiseled and dynamic, yet subtle lines that really fit in with a modern aesthetic, there is still these elements that hint to its past. It’s really quite special. And while the Mazda design philosophy has always been part of the magic, it is Mazda’s embracing of technology that have really allowed to create iconic vehicles along the way. In the case of the Mazda6, it comes with a myriad of new advancements.
The 2.5 turbo petrol engine gives good low-to-mid-range torque and excellent real-world fuel economy and includes two new technologies. Firstly, Dynamic Pressure Turbo system featuring a 4-3-1 exhaust system that controls the exhaust pulse to deliver better boost performance. The second one is Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) that reintroduces some of the exhaust gas into the engines air intake as inert gas. This helps to prevent knocking and improves fuel economy.
There are two other upgraded engine options available; a 140kW with 252Nm SKYACTIV-G 2.5L petrol; and a 140kW with 450Nm SKYACTIV-D 2.2L diesel engine. The 2.5L petrol engine now includes a new cylinder deactivation system that further reduces fuel consumption when the car is driven at constant cruising speeds, by shutting down the outer two of the engine’s four cylinders. The 2.2L diesel features a new combustion process called Rapid Multi-Stage Combustion, which has improved peak torque by +30Nm and peak power by +11kW, with improved fuel consumption and emissions. The result is quieter and more economical performance in low-speed/low-load situations, while also delivering a linear engine sound that matches the degree of acceleration under powerful engine conditions.
Unlike Kirk, the new Mazda6 is also responsible for some important cargo, namely the family, so safety is important and thankfully this is covered.
Mazda’s famous i-ACITIVSENSE safety features are equipped to all models and include Mazda’s proprietary Autonomous Emergency Braking-Advanced Smart City Brake Support-Forward (ASCBS-F), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RTCA), and Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with Stop and Go functionality.
While I haven’t yet been able to find a colour match for the 1988 626, the new Mazda6, which comes in six models split evenly between the Sedan and Wagon body styles, is available in a choice of eight really cool exterior colours, with Mazda’s signature Soul Red Crystal replacing Soul Red Metallic.
Pricing for the new Mazda6 ranges from $45,995 for the Sedan GSX model to $56,995 for the Sedan TAKAMI model.