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.
Celebrating two decades of Mazda6
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.
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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 (147 kW / 200 PS) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) 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 (173 kW / 235 PS) and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) 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.
Minor Model Year Updates For All 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.
