Mazda 6

Can the top-of-the-range Mazda 6 Atenza hide its age and stay on the shopping list for Aussie families?

In some ways it feels as old as time itself, but the 2023 Mazda 6 stands tall against its dwindling competition set.

The Mazda 6 celebrates 20 years with a car that has stayed largely the same for 10, for some buyers, that might just be what they're after.

We drive the 2022 Mazda 6 GT SP wagon to see how it goes carrying dogs, kids, and everything else a family car needs to.

Mazda has given its best indication in years that reports of a rear-wheel-drive Mazda 6 successor are untrue.

The Mazda 6 will remain in production for Australia in Japan – for the time being – even though it will no longer be sold in its home market.

The rug may be pulled from under the Mazda 6 sedan and wagon in Australia as a new report claims production in Japan prepares to end.

Independent safety ratings for some of Australia's top-selling new models have expired from today.

A new report analysing real-world crash data has identified the safest used cars on the market

We welcome the first double-cab ute to take the overall Drive Car of the Year award. But, how did we get here?

It could go down as one of the most conventional choices for DCOTY in the award’s history but the Mazda 6 made a compelling choice in 2013

Station wagons are becoming a rare commodity, but in Carol's case the best replacement for her 2013 Mazda6 wagon is... a new Mazda6 wagon!

I've been reading these owner reviews for quite some time and always been meaning to contribute so here goes with a blast from my past. It was the mid-2000s, I was looking for a practical 4 door performance sedan that was a little bit more grown up than a WRX. Top of my list was a Subaru Liberty GT spec B, loved Subies and it ticked all the boxes. I had a budget of under $50K at the time. I also was looking at a brand new car thinking I'll hang onto it for a bit. Was a little wary of a used performance car. The Liberty 3.0 RB was also on the wish list but alas, I soon came to the realisation that both options were above my budget. However I'm a strong believer in things happening for a reason. I still remember watching an episode of Top Gear where Jeremy Clarkson was fanging around the track in a Ford Mondeo ST220, a Vauxhall Vectra VXR and a Mazda 6 MPS. Clarkson was raving about the MPS, 2.3litre Direct Injection Turbo 4, 190KW, 380NM, quite a bit of poke at the time. Still remember the grin on his face has he blasted around the track. Ofcourse he picked the Mondeo ST220 because he didn't like the front grill on the MPS or something trivial like that. However that review really opened my eyes and I thought if it's good enough for him it's going to be absolutely awesome for me. It was 2007, off I went to the Mazda Dealership trying to get a Luxury Pack MPS before realising I couldn't get one as it was over my budget. However the base model, minus the leather, sunroof and Bose sound system was under around $48K driveaway if memory serves me right. There was a problem, there were none available in the colour I wanted. I wasn't too picky on the colour, just said didn't want red and didn't want black. Put my deposit in and said find me any other colour and you have yourself a deal. That's right, looking back I can't believe I did it but I bought it without test driving. I had read and watched every single review, had to have it. Being older and wiser now I wouldn't do it again but that was me back then. After waiting what seemed like an eternity (probably about 4 weeks) I got a call from the dealer saying a Liquid Silver 6 MPS had just come off the boat. I said perfect and a week later I was driving off in it. Coming off an Accord Euro at the time and this was my first Turbocharged AWD car I was amazed how effortless it accelerated. I remember the slightly tricky clutch, not as bad as when they first came out but as mine was one of the last to be produced it was as sorted as it was ever going to be. I had the Mazda 6 MPS for 6 years. To date of all the cars I've owned, it is still my favourite. I don't think anyone understood why I loved it so much and in someways I don't know why because it wasn't exceptional at any one thing. Maybe that's why I loved that car, it did everything well. It was practical, it had enough performance for me, had a subtle bonnet bulge to accommodate the top mount intercooler and overall understated looks. If you weren't a trainspotter you probably thought it was a regular Mazda 6 which enhanced the appeal for me. Furthermore they were rare on the roads when they were in production, being only available with a 6 speed manual they didn't sell well. It was a wolf in sheep's clothing and I loved it for that. I got the chance to track it through a Mazda drive day in 2008 at Oran Park right before they demolished it to make way for housing development. I used to drive it interstate once a year, and I still remember the absolutely magical drive I had on the Great Ocean road in it in 2010. There was no traffic or caravans and having the chance for a bit of safe but spirited driving was absolutely memorable. The gear shift was precise with short throws and heel toeing was easy enough with the pedal placement. Was it perfect, no. Road noise never bothered me back then as much as it does now with a family but since moving onto other cars now that I think of it, cabin insulation wasn't a strong point especially on the usual coarse chip surface Australian highways are known for. The exhaust also sounded a bit like a vacuum cleaner. Remember what I said about loving Subies, I'm a fan of the boxer burble and this Mazda for all its Zoom Zoom didn't please the ears as I would have hoped. However that's about it. Turns out getting the base model MPS, I actually preferred the cloth seats as they gripped me nicely. Would I have loved a sunroof, yes, but I had the car for 6 years and it didn't bother me. I'm no audiophile, so the standard audio was fine for me. Throughout my ownership I had the guards rolled to fit a wider rim and tyre combo. I changed to aftermarket wheels twice, why I don't know but most probably being younger and dumber with my money. I had some Bilstein shocks and Eibach lowering springs put in that made a massive difference to body roll and pitching up and down when accelerating and braking. It was no boat but the suspension changes were just what the doctor ordered. Not to mention it made a world of difference to the stance of the car without it being too low. Why did I get rid of it? A couple of reasons and wish I still didn't to be honest. Got married and my wife couldn't drive a manual. I also was able to get a Holden Commodore SSV Redline Series 1 brand new to replace it at a really good price. Always wanted to own a V8, so that was it. Traded her in on the Redline and I remember that last drive feeling a little sad. It's been 7 years and I still miss it. BEJ75X, I wonder where it is now. It was immaculate when I had it, I probably should have kept it. That's my story of my beloved Mazda 6 MPS. I know it wasn't an exotic car, but to me it was everything. It never failed to put a smile on my face whilst also turning heads of those who knew what it was but those that didn't wouldn't bat an eyelid, that was part of the appeal. It was the one I let go and I shouldn't have. We all have them. Zoom Zoom! Cheers Senthu

I bought this car in 2006 as an ex demonstrator, and still to this day most people I talk to about my car have no idea what an MPS brings to the table that the standard variants don't have. Let me tell you it's more than just a badge or luxury level. Under the bonnet the Mazda 6 MPS is powered a turbocharged 2.3L engine, coupled to a 6 speed gearbox with sporty, heavy clutch. To get that power to the wheels, it also boasts an all wheel drive setup with up to 50/50 power split between the front and rear wheels. Being a 2.3L engine means it has enough torque for a great start off the line before the turbo really kicks in at just under 3000rpm. You can hear and feel the turbo spooling from around 2000rpm and if you plant the accelerator it quickly leaps into action. 1st gear is quite short so a quick change is required to 2nd but then the car races through the gears easily. Although the all wheel drive system under standard conditions favors the front wheels more than the rear, the traction control system really does an excellent job varying the power balance with zero wheel spin from the front wheels. All wheel drive really comes into it's own when it comes to cornering, being able to pull out of a corner with full acceleration feels amazing! One thing I wasn't a fan of and got an aftermarket upgrade for was the ride height and firmness of the suspension. In any case - it always feels safe in all weather and speed conditions. The exterior of the car has a few differences so the other variants of the same model, most of which are subtle and most people probably wouldn't notice. Starting at the front you have a large air dam and slightly different styling around the nose that feeds air to the engine bay. Being a turbo, the bonnet is raised to accommodate the top mounted intercooler. The MPS features HID headlamps, which many cars today still dont sport. Along the sides you'll notice larger skirts and trim around the lower part of the doors and 18 inch wheels. At the rear, the rear window tailight found in the standard models is absent and replaced by an LED taillight in a boot lid spoiler. Rear bumper is more filled out than the standard models, accommodates the dual exhaust pipes and has sporty trim. Inside, there are 2 sub variants, the leather and standard. Being an ex demonstrator I only had the standard option but in comparison to new cars today there is a noticeable higher quality than what is provided today. Plastics are a dark grey, with the dash a little lighter and the roof a light grey. Seats look and feel sporty with a comfortable but firm feel and good shaping to keep you in your seat around corners. One thing to note is that due to the car being a performance model, the rear seat is fixed for structural strength and there is no boot access. In terms of gadgets and controls - this car was ahead of its time 12 years ago, with steering wheel controls for cruise control and audio. Cruise control in a manual?? Yes - it's amazing. The leather model not only boasts leather seats and different trim colours but also a Bose sound system. Standard sound system is still 6 speakers with split in the front cabin and door speakers in the rear. One downside of this car is that it needs 95 ron fuel minimum. I also feel the engine is really down tuned, with a simple kit being able to add an extra 15kw very easily. All in all - I made the thought choice with my car purchase and still have it 12 years later! It's a mix of sports, fun and practicality. An all round qualified car! If you buy one now, spend the money and get the engine and drivetrain looked over by a professional. Being turbo and awd they can be expensive and unfortunately I'm sure many don't give their MPS the treatment it deserves!