Production of the Mazda Mazda 6 large saloon and estate in diesel form will cease this month, with the Mazda moving to naturally aspirated petrol power only in Europe.
It's believed that the long-standing 2.2-litre diesel unit would need redesigning in order to meet ever-toughening emissions legislation. The investment required to do would not be met with sales volumes significant enough to justify it.
The diesel 6 will still be available to order from stock until the end of the year, however, a UK spokesman has confirmed.
A number of makers have, in recent years, slimmed down or entirely axed their diesel offerings for models where the fuel was previously a popular choice. This is particularly true in the business and fleet markets, where company car users are now strongly incentivised to choose plug-in hybrids or EVs rather than oil-burners.
Mazda still offers the 2.2-litre diesel in the Mada Mazda CX-5 SUV, and it's unclear if that will soon face the axe too. It's now the only diesel offering in Mazda's nine-strong range of UK bodystyles, as the volume-selling Mazda 3 was introduced in 2019 with the SkyActiv X spark controlled compression ignition petrol engine claimed to offer the economy of a diesel with the driver appeal of a petrol.
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Just noticed in my feed that Mazda have been certified to sell d
Fine, but widen the petrol choices
Dropping diesel from the range is one thing, but not having anything else to offer customers instead is another. Mazda have a decent enough 2.5l naturally aspirated petrol that will do a steady 40mpg but it's only available as an auto and a high spec. There would be a small but notable number of buyers happy to take the 2.5 if it was manual and in a lower spec and so a lot cheaper. They've also got a turbo version of the 2.5 available in the US so Mazda aren't adverse to turbocharging their cars either.
SkyactivX
Removing diesel is fine... ...if they fit the SkyActiveX to the 6 series. And they could do with fitting AWD too.
Same for the CX-5 - why no SkyActiveX? Is it just that they are waiting for all the already manufacturered diesel engines to sell?