The 2018 Mazda6 gets a new turbocharged engine to compliment new styling inside and out. There's also a bigger screen inside and new standard equipment. There's even a price cut. But sadly, the Zoom Zoom family sedan has dropped the three-pedal option from the Canadian market.
Last fall, Mazda showed off the 2018 Mazda6's revised styling and turbocharged engine. Now they've announced that on top of those changes, the company is doing some trim shuffling. Dropping the old base car and adding a new top-end trim. Mazda is also making some changes to the standard engine to help fuel economy. But with that new stuff, the six-speed manual didn't make the cut. That leaves the Honda Accord as the last mid-size sedan with a manual option.
The GX trim, formerly the base level 6, is gone too. That makes the GS the new base model trim. The now base GS gets some new standard equipment over last year, like LED headlights and a larger Mazda Connect infotainment screen, now 8.0-inches instead of 7.0. But for that extra stuff, the GS gets a price cut for 2018, dropping $995 to $27,000. Since the new base model now comes with a six-speed automatic the new GS is only $1,005 more than a base auto from last year, the GX automatic. At the top of the line, the Signature trim is new this year.
The new engine is a Skyactiv-G 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder. The dynamic pressure turbo produces 227 hp on 87 octane gas, or splurge for 93 and get 250 hp. Either way, torque is 310 lb-ft from just 2,000 rpm. That engine will be optional on GS-L, and standard on GT and Signature. The standard 2.5L naturally aspirated four offers 184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. It now gets cylinder deactivation that can turn off cylinders when not needed to save fuel. Both use Mazda's six-speed automatic.
The Signature trim starts at $38,800 and is intended to move Mazda into a higher class of car. It has a Nappa leather interior that Mazda says is inspired by "the aged wood in ancient Japanese temples." The dashboard and door panels are Ultrasuede with a subtle gold tint, and the wood is Sen wood, a wood used in Japanese furniture and taiko drums. The Signature trim also adds a surround-view display, digital gauges with a 7.0-inch display, and parking sensors front and rear.
The 2018 Mazda6 arrives at dealers starting in April, with more specifications, including fuel economy, to be revealed closer to the on-sale date.
2018 Mazda6 pricing
GS $27,000
Signature $38,800
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