2023 Mazda 6 update due next year with more technology, power
The long-running Mazda 6 sedan is due for a technology and performance upgrade next year, including a 20th Anniversary special edition.
An updated 2023 Mazda 6 is due in Australia early next year with improved technology, a performance boost for turbo models, and a 20th Anniversary special edition.
Leading the updated Mazda 6 range – due in early 2023, with pricing to be confirmed closer to launch – is the special edition, designed to mark 20 years of Mazda's mid-size car nameplate, over which time 144,000 have been sold in Australia.
Based on the flagship Atenza, the special edition is available in new Artisan Red Metallic or Rhodium White Metallic paint colours, and offers silver 19-inch wheels, 20th anniversary badging, and a silver grille.
Inside, there is tan-coloured upholstery comprised of Leganu synthetic suede and genuine nappa leather, while the front-seat headrests are embossed with 20th-anniversary logos.
Alongside the 20th Anniversary edition, all 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol models receive a power boost from 170kW to 173kW, new six-speed automatic transmission tuning claimed to provide "more direct upshift response", and a more responsive throttle pedal.
Peak torque remains at 420Nm (at 2000rpm) for these models, however Mazda says the torque produced at 4200rpm has increased by 8Nm.
All models are said to benefit from retuned steering claimed to "enhance response and provide more tactile feedback at medium and high speeds."
Models from the Touring variant and above gain wireless Apple CarPlay (in addition to wired) and a wireless smartphone charging pad, and the GT SP and Atenza gain Cruising and Traffic Support traffic-jam assist technology.
The GT SP model also gains gloss black finishes for its front grille surround and central tailgate trim piece, and for the wagon, gloss black roof rails. Also new for 2023 is standard black nappa leather upholstery – rather than brown or white, as before.
The 2023 Mazda 6 range is due in Australian showrooms early next year. Pricing will be confirmed closer to launch – the current range is priced from $35,120 to $52,020 plus on-road costs.
As the Mazda 6 nameplate passes 20 years on sale, plans for a next-generation model hang under a cloud, as sedan sales decline globally – and Mazda focuses its development efforts on SUVs.