Mazda 6 to be discontinued in Japan - Still alive in Malaysia, but for how long?

Mazda has decided it's time to say goodbye to its midsize sedan in Japan. The 6 has been around for 22 years and according to motor1.com, it has racked up over 226,000 sales. But now, production is winding down, with the final run expected in mid-April. Luckily however for us Malaysians, the 6 is still around, and even received an update late last year, but we'll get into that a bit later.

The current version of the Mazda 6 has been cruising the streets since 2012, (you heard that right) and it's starting to show its age. It's already been pulled from markets in the US and UK in 2021 and 2023 respectively. Now, Japan is following suit.

In its place, Mazda isn't planning to bring in a direct successor. Instead, the company's leaning on its CX range of crossovers to fill the gap. It's a bit of a bummer for those of us who are still fans of classic sedans and wagons, especially since the Mazda3 is smaller and doesn’t offer a wagon option.

Back in early 2022, Mazda said no to a new-gen 6 on their fancy rear-wheel-drive platform. Despite this, there were rumors floating around in Japanese mags about a potential fourth-gen model. They even suggested Mazda might have had a change of heart inspired by the warm reception of the CX-60 and CX-90.

But Mazda's latest announcement suggests otherwise. The 6 isn't completely gone, though; it's still being made in factories outside Japan. However, with its production ending in Japan, it's likely we'll see it disappearing from various international markets that relied on the Japan-made versions or even off the shelves in more markets in the upcoming future. 

Given this update, the future of the Mazda 6 in Malaysia is somewhat uncertain, particularly since it's a fully imported (CBU) model from Japan. It's possible that the updated model,  which made its debut in Malaysia towards the end of last year, could be the final hurrah for this beloved sedan locally. 

But, it's still around in Malaysia for now and you can still grab one.  The 2023 update saw Mazda Malaysia rolling out a beautiful 20th Anniversary Edition to celebrate two decades of the Mazda 6 being around. You've got a few choices like the regular 2.0L Sedan, the roomier 2.5L Wagon, and the really special 20th Anniversary Edition.

The Anniversary model in particular is a real head-turner. It's painted in this unique Artisan Red color that changes its vibe depending on the light – sometimes it looks dark, other times it's like a shiny ruby, and sometimes it even has a deep brown look. It's pretty slick with these exclusive 20th Anniversary badges and a snazzy gunmetal grille framed by shiny chrome bits. Plus, it stands on these shiny 19-inch alloys that just pop against the dark paint.

Inside, it's like stepping into a luxury lounge. The interior is decked out in this fancy tan leather, and there's suede on the lower part of the dashboard and the door cards. It's all about comfort and style inside, but yeah, keeping those light colours clean might be a bit of a chore.

Under the hood, the Mazda 6 packs a punch with its 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G engine. It cranks out 192PS and has 258 Nm of torque. It's a smooth ride with great handling, making it fun to zip around on highways or twisty roads. But hey, it's got some tough competition from the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord when it comes to comfort and handling.

Safety-wise, they've loaded it with some top-notch stuff like the latest Mazda Radar Cruise Control with all these cool features for a smooth and easy drive.

All in all, the 2023 Mazda 6 still has its classic charm and is fun to drive, but it's up against some stiff competition in its class now, especially when the other vehicles are newer. 

Also Read: Mazda 6 gets new features and a special 20th Anniversary Edition in Malaysia