Welcome to Autodrivel

Mazda 6 GJ, or when you are too stubborn to move forward. But atleast it looks better and is reliable by modern standards.

Basically, for the Mazda 6 GJ the recipe of the previous generation was taken and slightly stirred but not enough to create a splash: We come with vastly improved looks, we come with some excellent petrol engines and we don't complicate ourselves with engines that feed from the black pump.

It's just that now they have improved the looks so much that they have attracted new customers and mainstream customers at that, not just passionate about parking lot thrills and Mountain Dew. Because the previous Mazda 6 GH was addressed to those hoonigans who had a Mazda MX-5 but whom life forced them to buy something with more than 2 seats and 2 doors, and the Mazda 6 GG is a car only for thrill-seekers or enthusiasts of trouble-free Euro 3 diesels. It's just that now the Mazda 6 GJ is one of the most beautiful saloons on the market and naturally they have attracted mainstream customers. In fact, it's one of the most beautiful saloons at the moment, kind of a Margot Robbie on wheels and you can see that on the streets. Even if it has a high purchase price, the Mazda 6 GJ is a much more popular presence on our country's roads than the previous generation.

And how were they received by the market?

If you don't make the mistake of complicating your life with a diesel, you'll be happy to learn what an old-fashioned Japanese petrol is about. Mazda has remained famous in the automotive world for the fact that they are the last of the Mohicans at the naturally aspirated table. And this is not because a naturally aspirated petrol is more reliable than a turbocharged one, but because a naturally aspirated petrol has power only in the upper range of revs and that means also alot of fun. They probably would have had money for a turbocharged engine, but they decided for the Mazda 6 GJ to stick to the spirit of pure Mazda. A car made for enthusiasts. That is if you don't buy a diesel and you will be left with the sour taste that Mazda is one of the worst car brands money can buy. But you hardly even needed a diesel anyway, because Mazda decided to launch the SkyActiv-G engines, which have a far better fuel economy than the rest of the competition, thanks to it's clever design. 

Mazda 6 GJ Engines

Petrol

• 2.0 SkyActiv-G PE-VPS of 145, 155 and 165 horsepower – Coming to retire the old MZR, this SkyActiv-G aims very high and mighty to maintain Mazda's reputation. The first units had issues with the oil pump, but most of them have been solved now and the 2-liter petrol engine remains the most balanced choice for the Mazda 6 GJ, outside of North America. And Canada. And Australia. And anywhere fun is not punished.


• 2.5 SkyActiv-G PY-VPS of 187, 194, 227 and 250 horsepower – Also coming to retire the old 2.5 MZR L5, this engine represents a portion of American life and is by far the best engine. But because the state gives you a black eye in terms of taxes for any engine larger than a blender engine, you will have to settle for the fantastic 2.0. But if you're allowed to have engines larger than a bottle of milk, then this is the best engine to go for. As with the smaller 2 litre sibling, somewhere late in life it will start demanding oil and it will demand the occasional spark plug and ignition coil, but nothing really surprising or costly.

Diesel

2.2 SkyActiv-D SH-VPTS of 173 horsepower – The same diesel from Mazda that we are used to and which ruined the image of the brand. You still have an increased oil level because the particulate filter fails to complete regenerations. Unburnt diesel remains, which ends up in the oil and slowly raises the level, but also the scandal in the engine. Fortunately, the DPF is monitored by electronics more than Hannibal Lecter, so you are immediately alerted to the problem. Yes, sometimes this diesel also has turbino failures. Or rather just buy a petrol.

Mazda 6 GJ Reliability Issues

• The gearbox does not want to switch between gears, more specifically gears 1 and 2. Or maybe you have to change the oil every 4 hours. Or maybe you go and sit at the service shop lounge area next to the guy with the Hyundai ix35, as he also has issues with gears 1 and 2 on his gearbox.


• The door seals melt at high temperatures (over 40 degrees Celsius / 100 degrees Fahrenheit) because they are made out of chewed gum. That's what you get for being a snob and buying a car with door locks.


• You still don't get a spare wheel. But it's not that bad, because the sort of person who buys a Mazda 6 GJ doesn't even know basic mechanics and dials up the Alcoholics Anonymous anyway. Or whatever the AA stands for.


• Mazda 6 GJ has a tendency to eat front brakes, sometimes earlier than 15,000 km. But it's not bad, unless you bought a 2 liter 150 horsepower petrol engine and then you drive it as hard as Trump drove his presidential campaign.

Mazda 6 GJ Verdict

An excellent car that has evolved a lot. It's just that below it lags somewhat behind the competition. And when you consider the fact that a Mazda 6 GJ costs more than a Passat or a Mondeo, you start to wonder if the Japanese have any idea what they're doing or if they just have an employee forgotten in a closet who makes up the prices on the spot. And you would think that the whole basis is in a Japanese forgotten in a closet, because a Mazda 6 costs more than a CX-5 and then comes the question of the buyer who is not interested in sportiness: "Why should I buy an outdated saloon while I can get an SUV and save money?". Mazda 6 GJ – the car that the finance department has never seen. Mazda 6 – the Vauxhall Vectra C of our time. They just thought it was a bigger Mazda 3 sedan, they went to random.org and what number came up, that's the price.

What engine do I recommend? Because they didn't bother to change the original recipe because it was so good, the 2-liter petrol still remains as a balance in life in Europe, but the absolute best engine to buy is the 2.5 SkyActiv-G petrol. Seriously, it's that good.