2015 Mazda6

5 February, 2015   By: Alex Forrest

Mazda launched its freshly facelifted Mazda6 this week and the biggest news is the manufacturer has deliberately added a technology to stop it from dazzling you.

That may be understandable, because dazzling it certainly is. Especially if you choose the Soul Red Metallic paint. But its looks aren’t where the new 6 has been toned down.

The Mazda6’s new anti-dazzling technology resides in its headlights, which are made of LEDs which can automatically control how much of the road they light up.

Keeping other drivers in the dark

This means you can leave the high beams on when passing oncoming cars and Mazda’s adaptive LED headlights will use a dedicated forward-sensing camera to detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles.

Well, that’s what Mazda says. The launch drive was during daylight hours, so we’ll give you some feedback once we’ve had a chance to test those lights at night.

We’ve seen the same technology in some Mercedes-Benz cars released last year, but this is the first time it’s appeared on a mainstream Japanese car.

The appropriate group of LEDs in each headlight are momentarily turned off to control the range of illumination so passing motorists aren’t dazzled by the Mazda’s headlights. The remaining LEDs stay on high beam to light the road ahead for the Mazda driver.

The system also reduces the beam coverage when approaching a slower vehicle travelling in the same direction in front.

So, the only time the Mazda6 isn’t dazzling to look at is when it’s coming towards you at night.

Pricing

Unfortunately, as is so often the case with new safety technologies, adaptive LED headlamps are only available on the top-of-the-range Atenza model, which starts at $51,693 drive away for the petrol sedan.

If you can do without the flashy lights, the Mazda6 starts at $36,305 for the petrol sedan in Sport specification.

Importantly, most variants of the Mazda6 are also now cheaper than when the model was launched in December 2012, thanks to the Free Trade Agreement with Japan.

The aforementioned Mazda6 Sport, for example, is $920 cheaper but the Touring variant – coincidentally the volume selling in the range – is up by $130.

New interior

The interior of the 6 has been completely redesigned to include Mazda’s heads-up design philosophy, which debuted in January 2014 in the Mazda3.

The design is intended to keep the driver’s head up while interacting with the car’s controls, thereby minimising the amount of time the driver’s eyes spend away from the road.

An electric parking brake is another new addition to the 6, and not before time.

Mazda said this week road and wind noise levels have been reduced by 25 per cent on the new 6, and it is noticeably quieter, especially at highway speeds. Still, it’s not quite down to the refinement of competitors such as the Skoda Octavia.

Engines

Engine options are the same as in the superseded Mazda6. These comprise a 2.5-litre petrol with 138kW and 250Nm, and a 2.2-litre diesel with 129kW and 420Nm.

The diesel is particularly refined unit which matches the smoothness and quietness of its European rivals. Given its frugal, fuss-free performance, the diesel would be our choice over the petrol.

Though the diesel will require an extra $3,200, and if you want a wagon that’ll need an extra $1,300.

The Mazda6’s 5-star ANCAP safety rating continues in this facelifted model, thanks in part to front, side and curtain airbags all around and a reversing camera as standard equipment across the range.

In all, this facelift was mild on the outside but the new Mazda6 has had a big freshen-up on the inside, with a more user-friendly new interior, plus some clever new safety tech and slightly lower pricing for most models.

Looking at some of the rivals though, such as the all new Subaru Liberty launched last December and the soon-to-arrive new Ford Mondeo, the Mazda6 will have its work cut out.