Mazda 6: more expensive, but cheaper

14 November 2007

  • Purchase price £500-£1000 more
  • But lower emissions offer tax savings
  • Estate dropped from £1000 to £700

Mazda has hit back about prices for the new 6 and cut the estate's price increase

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Mazda insiders have hit back at criticism that the new 6 model is too expensive, pointing out that the car's lower emissions could actually save buyers money.

Prices for the Mazda 6, which goes on sale from the end of December, are typically £500-£1000 more than their outgoing equivalent.

However, company officials have highlighted significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, pointing out the VED tax band and company car tax savings that can be made.

For instance, the model aimed at fleet buyers, the 2.0D TS, costs from £17,220 - £500 more than the current version of the car.

However, the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 165g/km in the current car to 149g/km in the new car would reduce company car tax from 23% to 19%.

For a 22% bracket tax payer, that amounts to a saving of about £20 a month, so it would take around two years to recoup the £500 price increase.

Lower emissions across the range
Mazda has made emissions savings across the range - for instance, the 1.8-litre petrol engine emits 162g/km of carbon dioxide compared with 186g/km in the previous car (dropping company car tax from 24% to 19%).

The 2.0-litre petrol is another example, emitting 168g/km instead of 191g/km (dropping company car tax from 25% to 20%).

The emission savings also drop many models into lower VED tax bands.

These emission figures are lower than those from equivalent rivals such as the Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, Renault Laguna and Toyota Avensis.

The emission savings have been achieved despite the new Mazda 6 being bigger and better-equipped than its predecessor.

Weight saving initiatives have shed up to 35kg from the car, despite its extra dimensions and equipment adding up to 95kg.

Mazda has also announced that the premium for estate models, which was initially announced as £1000, will now be £700. Nine estates models will be available from March 2008.