Mazda updates the ‘6’ with new tech; adds Sports Wagon variant

After  giving  a  sneak  peak  at  the  2015 Manila  International Auto Show (MIAS), the  exclusive distributor of Mazda, Berjaya Auto Philippines officially unveiled the upgraded Mazda 6 Sedan and the new Mazda 6 Sports Wagon.

The  exterior  upgrade  includes  a  newly  designed  grille  and  a  signature  wing  combined  with sharper front and rear LED headlamps, giving it a more macho feel.

The interior features a redesigned  center  console with a new electric parking brake to give a clean and roomy feel in the cabin. Also new is the 7­inch touchscreen infotainment system with MZD  Connect.  It  can  display  an  array  of  features  such  as  a  camera­based  parking  assist system, fuel economy monitor, maintenance reminders, and warning guidance. The ergonomic cockpit that was designed with minimal eye movement in mind has a familiar feature from the Mazda 3, the Active Driving Display, can now be found in the Mazda 6.

But  what  really  caught  our  eye  is the  i­-ACTIVSENSE  that  was  not  available  in  the  previous Mazda  6.  This  is a  bunch  of  technological  advancements  designed by  Mazda's  engineers  to dramatically improve road safety of the '6'.

One of its features is the Lane­keep Assist System (LAS) to help drivers stay in their lane especially during long drives. The LAS alerts the driver when an unintentional lane change happens above 65 km/h, steering the car safely back to its intended lane. Another key feature of the Mazda's i-ACTIVSENSE is the Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH). It manages the headlight level and turns the LEDs on or off automatically to provide maximum road visibility without blinding oncoming traffic.

Both variants are  powered by the same 2.5L SKYACTIV­-G direct injection engine mated to a SKYACTIV-­Drive 6­speed automatic transmission with Sport mode. It can produce up to 187 hp and 290 Nm of torque. The Mazda 6 is also an economical car with its i­-stop idle-stop system that turns off the engine while stationary to save fuel.

Meanwhile, the new Sports Wagon can carry as much as 522 liters worth of cargo for those out-of-­town  family  trips.  It  also  features  60:40  split  folding  rear  seats  for  additional  storage.  It’s priced at P1,795,000 and available in all 5 colors ­ Snow White Pearl, Sonic Silver, Blue Reflex, Jet Black, and for an additional P16,800 you can get Mazda’s exclusive signature Soul Red. 

The Mazda 6 Sedan, on the other hand, is a mere P20,000 more than the previous model at P1,785,000. Colors offered are ­ Snow White Pearl and Sonic Silver. Like the Sports Wagon, you can also have the ‘6’ in Soul Red for an additional P16,800.

See the full specs and brochure of the Mazda 6 in the AutoDeal Car Guide.