Heavily Refreshed 2018 Mazda 6 Gets Even Sexier, Has New 250 HP Turbo Engine

You could argue that the 2018 Mazda 6 is one of the best looking cars, period. Even when compared to more premium sedans, the Mazda 6 can even make BMWs and Audis look boring when sat side-to-side.

While it’s not a new generation model, it is however, a heavily facelifted one, now utilizing Mazda’s latest iteration of its Kodo design language, which was inspired from the Vision Coupe Concept. It now gets a face that is inline with the all-new CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs, and especially in this Soul Red Crystal paint, our jaws just simply dropped. The 19-inch wheels are equally gorgeous, and so is the interior, which features plenty of premium treatments that easily make the new Mazda 6 the most premium car in its segment.

While the midsize sedan segment isn’t really known to have drab interiors, Mazda’s might as well compete with the luxury segment at this point already. It receives a new and slightly revised dashboard design, which looks extremely good looking and won’t look out of place if it were in an Audi or a BMW. Due to the popularity of the high trim Grand Touring and Signature versions of the Mazda CX-9 in the USA (55% of which are sold in these trims), Mazda is offering stuff like Nappa Leather, UltraSuede, and Sen wood trim as options. The seats have also been revised for better ergonomics and comfort, too. Modern touches such as a 7-inch TFT LCD now sits in the gauges, while the MZD Connect with an 8-inch freestanding display and head-up display remains. We hope these luxury options will be offered in the Philippines, too.

The biggest news, however, is its powertrain options. The familiar inline-4 2.5 liter Skyactiv-G remains, but it now has cylinder deactivation to further improve fuel efficiency. It can deactivate two of its four cylinders when the engine is under light loads. The most interesting tidbit here is the new turbocharged Skyactiv-G 2.5 liter petrol engine that’s found in the CX-9. It produces the same figures from the midsize SUV, which is at 250 hp and loads of torque at 420 Nm. Mazda claims it offers “torque on par with a 4.0 liter V8 engine” due to its variable pressure turbocharger. Power is sent through a 6-speed manual, which is only available in the non-turbo 2.5 liter, or a 6-speed automatic.

Mazda has also made many changes to the chassis for less vibrations, better ride control, refinement, and more quietness. A new rigid-mounted steering rack should improve steering feel further and response.