From this month the Mazda 6 sedan, hatch and wagon range is available in Sports, Classic Sports and Diesel variants. The 190 kilowatt turbocharged, all-wheel drive Mazda 6 MPS range continues unchanged.

The Sports models, which are priced from $28,990 (RRP) for the six-speed manual sedan, replace the Classic models which were priced from $31,980 (RRP).

The Sports model adds new cloth seat trim, black brush centre console and door switch trim panels, high gloss finish 16 inch alloy wheels, chrome door handles and a rear spoiler on the sedan and hatch variants.

Other features include climate control air-conditioning, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, trip computer, six-stack CD, wheel-mounted audio and cruise control switches, remote central locking with deadlock function, power windows and mirrors, driver’s seat height adjustment and telescopic and height adjustable steering.

All Mazda 6 models have six airbags – dual front, front side for driver and passenger and head protecting curtain airbags – and ABS anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution.

Other safety items include a breakaway brake pedal to reduce possible foot, ankle and lower leg injury; anti-whiplash head restraints for the front seats while all three rear-seat passengers get a head restraints and a lap/sash seatbelt.

The Classic Sports, which replaces the Luxury Sports, adds Dynamic Stability Control and chrome door handles.

Other features include 17-inch alloys, power sunroof, leather seats, Bose sound system with seven speakers, a power-operated driver’s seat with three position memory, full body kit, “straight-through” twin exhaust outlets and alloy pedals.

The Classic Sports is priced from $39,990 (RRP), down from $40,955 (RRP) for the superseded Luxury Sports.

The Diesel wagon and hatch models feature high gloss 16 inch alloys, black brush centre console and door switch trim, and on the wagon, new cloth trim. A rear spoiler has been added to the leather-trimmed hatch. The Diesel range is priced from $35,205 (RRP), well above the highly regarded Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

The direct injection and turbocharged Mazda 6 diesel promises a sporty drive with its Mazda designed, engineered and manufactured 2.0-litre, direct injection engine producing 360 Newton metres of torque (pulling power).

The Mazda 6 hatch diesel accelerates from 0-100 km/h in some 9.5 seconds.

With the Mazda 6 Diesel hatch and wagon consuming on average 5.9L/100km – according to fuel economy tests – the diesel Mazda 6 models can travel more than 1,000 kilometres on a tank of fuel.

Fuel economy is even more impressive on the highway with consumption for the hatch and wagon falling to just 5.0L/100km, giving a potential cruising range of more than 1,250 kms from the 64 litre tank.

Petrol-powered Sports and Classic Sports models feature Mazda’s 122 kilowatt 2.3-litre MZR engine. It has an electronic throttle and clean Euro Step IV exhaust emissions. Offering a strong 207 Nm of torque, the 2.3-litre engine mates to a new six speed manual or five-speed Activematic automatic transmission with manual gear selection mode.

The managing director of Mazda Australia, Doug Dickson, said: “The revised Mazda 6 range not only focuses on the top-selling variants, the line-up now offers more value and features than ever before.”