2015 MAZDA6 PRICING ANNOUNCED

01/03/2014

Mazda

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has announced official pricing on the 2015 Mazda6 equipped with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine. Starting at $21,190[1] MSRP, the award-winning mid-size sedan remains mostly a carry-over model for 2015 with minor updates to select features and packaging options. Redesigned just last year, Mazda6 received an increasingly warm reception, being named "Car of the Year" by Popular Mechanics and a "10Best" by Car and Driver, among others. Mazda6 looks to maintain its competitive prowess into the 2015 model year.

"The mid-size sedan is the bread-and-butter of the automotive industry, a vehicle that finds its way into nearly every driveway and garage in America," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. "And consumers are savvier than ever, able to gather information with the swipe of a finger. So we had to offer a vehicle that was free of gimmicks and empty promises but delivers on all the expectations shown on paper, and the Mazda6 does just that, if not more."

On sale now, the 2015 Mazda6 has a plethora of Mazda-engineered technologies and features wrapped into a stare-worthy design. SKYACTIV(R)[2] TECHNOLOGY is now joined by the capacitor-based regenerative engine braking i-ELOOP system and safety-focused

i-ACTIVSENSE. And its strong sweeping character lines courtesy of the KODO "Soul of Motion" design language continue to turn heads. Available in three trim levels - Sport, Touring and Grand Touring - Mazda6 is currently equipped with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine.

The SKYACTIV-G 2.5L is robust, producing 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm. Both the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual and SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission are available for pairing.

For those who enjoy moving the gears themselves, the entry-level Sport ($21,190 MSRP) comes equipped with the manual transmission as well as a bounty of standard features, some of which are considered premium add-ons amongst competitors. These amenities include push-button start, air conditioning with a pollen filter, a tilt-and-telescopic adjustable steering column, steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise control functions, a multi-information display (MID) with a trip computer, auxiliary/USB input connections, cloth-trimmed sport seats, a six-way manual driver's seat with manual lumbar support, 60/40-split fold-down rear seats, a leather-wrapped parking brake, shift knob and steering wheel, daytime running lights, auto-off halogen headlights and 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels. New standard equipment for 2015 is the addition of power windows with a one-touch up/down operation for all windows and illuminated power window switches on all doors.

When equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission ($22,895 MSRP), added features include Bluetooth(R) hands-free phone and audio connectivity, HD Radio(TM) Technology, Pandora(R) internet radio, audio menu voice command, Radio Broadcast Data System program information, E911 automatic emergency notification, SMS text message receipt/delivery, a 5.8-inch full-color touch-screen display and a rearview camera. No additional packages are available for the Sport models.

For any sporting-minded drivers wanting a few more niceties, the mid-level Touring trim includes all the features of the Sport model paired with an automatic transmission, but with a choice of either manual ($23,845 MSRP) or automatic ($24,895 MSRP) transmissions. And more standard features abound for all Touring models include commanding 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with additional interior comforts beginning with a six-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar support, dual-zone auto-climate control with rear seat vents, leatherette-trimmed sport seats and a multi-function commander control. Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) become standard safety components, and a new standard convenience feature for 2015 is Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry. Two package options are available, but only for those equipped with an automatic.

New for 2015 is the Bose(R)/Moonroof/Satellite Radio Package ($1,325 MSRP), which includes an 11-speaker Bose Centerpoint(R) Surround Sound System with AudioPilot(R), a power moonroof with a one-touch open/close feature and SIRIUS/XM satellite radio with a four-month complimentary subscription.

The Touring Technology Package ($1,550 MSRP), which can only be ordered when combined with the Bose/Moonroof/Satellite Package, adds a TomTom technology-based navigation system with real-time traffic updates, auto on/off headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink(R), an auto-dimming exterior driver's side mirror, heated exterior side mirrors and Smart City Brake Support (SCBS), a pre-crash avoidance safety feature.

SCBS is an added safety component designed to assist a driver in reducing the extent of front collisions when traveling at speeds between 2 and 19 miles per hour. When the imbedded laser sensor detects an obtrusive object ahead of the vehicle and the system calculates there may be a high risk for collision, the brake pedal travel is reduced in order to hasten braking. Should the driver fail to perform an avoidance maneuver, the SCBS system will activate an automatic braking function. While the system will not eliminate accidents, its intent is to minimize them and reduce the severity of an impact.

Considered the high-level trim is the Grand Touring, which includes all the equipment features of a Touring trim with both the Bose/Moonroof/Satellite Package and Touring Technology Package. Starting at $29,895 MSRP, added features include 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with a Platinum Silver finish, a rear lip spoiler, bi-xenon HID headlights with auto leveling, LED daytime running lights, halogen fog lights, leather-trimmed sport seats with variable-setting heated front seats, an eight-way power driver's seat with power lumbar support, a four-way power front passenger seat, steering wheel paddle shifters, an alarm system and an Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS). All Grand Touring models are equipped with an automatic transmission.

A Grand Touring Technology Package ($2,080 MSRP) is available and adds Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW), a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), High Beam Control (HBC), i-ELOOP and active grille shutters.

Fuel economy for the 2015 Mazda6 is EPA rated at 25 city/37 highway/29 combined mpg when equipped with a manual transmission. Automatic transmissions receive an EPA fuel economy rating of 26 city/38 highway/30 combined mpg, and when paired with i-ELOOP receive a rating of 38 city/40 highway/32 combined mpg, which is the best highway mpg[3] in the segment.

The 2015 Mazda6 is available in seven exterior colors and two interior choices (Black and Sand/Almond). Exterior colors are Soul Red ($300 MSRP), Blue Reflex, Meteor Gray, Jet Black, Snowflake White Pearl ($200 MSRP), Liquid Silver and, new for 2015, Deep Crystal Blue. Soul Red and Snowflake White Pearl are premium paints that involve a more extensive coat process.

Standard safety features for all 2015 Mazda6 models includes six airbags (advanced dual front, front-seat side mounted and full-length side curtain), daytime running lights, whiplash-reducing front headrests, height-adjustable headrests for all seating positions, an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) with Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with a Traction Control System (TCS), a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Hill Launch Assist (HLA), power-assisted ventilated front brakes and solid rear disc brakes, three-point safety belts for all seating positions, a fold-away brake pedal assembly, a trunk entrapment release system, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters as well as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH).

A rearview camera is added to Sport models equipped with an automatic transmission. Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) are standard on Touring models with Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) available as a package option. Grand Touring models receive SCBS and an Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) as standard equipment with Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW), a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and High Beam Control (HBC) available as package options.

As a whole, these safety features comprise the i-ACTIVSENSE umbrella, a suite of active-safety pre-crash detection systems. These technologies use sensing devices such as milliwave radars and cameras to support the driver in recognizing hazards, avoiding collisions and minimizing damage should accidents occur. While these systems will not eliminate accidents, their intent is to minimize them and reduce the se verity of a crash.