Mazda is celebrating 20 years of the Mazda6 with a special edition of the four-door sedan alongside a few model year updates for the aging third-generation model. Availability of the Mazda6 20th Anniversary Edition has been confirmed for Japan and Australia, albeit with market-specific powertrains. While Mazda has been present in the medium-sized sedan segment since the ’70s with the Capella / 616 and then the 626, the Mazda6 nameplate didn’t appear until 2002. More specifically, the first-gen Mazda6 – called Attenza in Japan – debuted in 2002, the second-gen followed in 2007, and the third-gen was introduced in 2012 with two subsequent facelifts in 2015 and in 2018.
The new special edition that commemorates
two decades of the Mazda6 is visually distinguished by the 20th anniversary
badges on the front fenders, while the grille and the 19-inch alloy wheels are
finished in high-gloss silver giving it a more premium stance. For the
exterior, buyers have a choice between the Artisan Red Premium Metallic and the
Rhodium White Metallic shades, although the former is admittedly the more
distinct-looking of the two.
Inside, there is a combination of
tan-colored Leganu synthetic suede and Nappa leather upholstery for the seats,
door cards, and lower part of the dashboard, with 20th anniversary badges
embossed on the headrests. There is also tan-colored stitching and an optional
electric sliding sunroof. While the special touches are nice, the interior
design has started showing its age, missing out on modern features like a large
infotainment touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster. The JDM-spec Mazda6
20th Anniversary Edition is exclusively available with the turbocharged
2.2-liter SkyActiv-D diesel engine producing 197 hp and 450
Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to either the front wheels or to
all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox.
On the other hand, Australian buyers get
the 20th Anniversary special with the turbocharged 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G petrol
engine that produces 232 hp and 420 Nm of torque.
Similarly, power is transmitted to the front or to all four wheels through a
six-speed automatic. Other naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrol options
are also offered in Japan, but in lesser trims. Model year updates for all
Mazda6 trims include a slight power increase for the 2.2-liter SkyActiv-D
diesel engine, an improved torque diagram for the Skyactiv-G petrol engine, a
tweaked six-speed automatic gearbox allowing for quicker changes, plus new
settings for the accelerator pedal and the power steering for better response.
Exterior changes are limited to the
addition of two new shades in the color palette – the Rhodium White Premium
Metallic, and the Platinum Quartz Metallic. Additionally, the new “Sports
Appearance” trim brings black-finished 19-inch aluminum wheels matching the
mirror caps, bumper garnish, and roof rails. Depending on the trim the model
gains extra safety and tech features like the adaptive cruise control and
steering assist combination called “Cruising and Traffic Support”, a wireless
charging pad, and wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity.
The mildly updated Mazda6 is already
available in Japan in both sedan and estate forms, priced from ¥2,962,300
($21,735) all the way up to ¥4,739,900 ($34,777) depending on the
configuration. As for the Mazda6 20th Anniversary Edition, this one costs
¥4,422,000 ($32,451) for the FWD and ¥4,662,900 ($34,218) for the 4WD.
Australian pricing will be announced closer to its local market launch which is
scheduled for early 2023. The Mazda6 was discontinued from the US in 2021, so
there is no hope that this special edition will reach North American shores.
However, there is a slight chance it will become available in the UK since the
Mazda6 is still available on the local configurator.