Mazda MX6 – the forgotten sports car of the 90s that excited the dreams of teenagers

Cars Mazda brand in Russia are quite common. But they are not particularly popular - this is not Toyota. But this Japanese manufacturer has unique models in its lineup that have no competitors.


Take, for example, the Mazda RX8 – a rotary compact sports car. No one else has one like it, and even Subaru with its boxer engines pales in comparison to the Ryksa.

Mazda also has more traditional models. But even among them there are beautiful cars that still attract curious glances. One of them is the Mazda MX6. The model was once famous, but now it is almost never found on the used market.


The main reason for the rarity of the Mazda MX6 is its body. It is canonical for the "Japanese" of the 90s. That is, the factory protection against corrosion is not impressive. And regardless of what market the car was intended for. Perhaps in the Land of the Rising Sun they were treated better, but we have never had such examples. Especially since they are right-hand drive.

Short story

Few people know, but the Mazda MX6 was produced in two generations. The first one is practically unknown in Russia, but this does not mean that such cars did not exist in our country. Moreover, they are still sometimes found on the secondary market, but under a different name. This is a Mazda in a coupe body. It was this model that was offered in some countries as the first generation MX6.

Features of the car:

✅ Produced from 1987 to 1992
✅ Created on the GD platform
✅ Often found with the "top" 2,2 liter engine

There were even all-wheel drive variants. And exclusively for the US market, they offered the 4WS system – with rear axle steering.


In 1991, the second-generation Mazda MX6 debuted. That very one, the “real” one. It was based on the GE platform. The same “trolley” was used for the Ford Probe and Mazda 626.

The last Mazda MX6 was released in 1997. By that time, it became clear that large coupes were not profitable for the manufacturer. Therefore, the third generation of the model never came out.

Appearance and body

Designers at one time tried hard, making stylish coupes based on rather boring Mazda GE family. Ford Probe and MX6 turned out so beautiful that they still attract glances.


But it's hard to find a decent example in terms of bodywork these days. Like any Mazda from the 90s, the MX6 rots mercilessly. The Japanese brand once offered a 6-year corrosion warranty. Not bad, but those years are long gone.


Therefore, the most important thing when buying a Mazda MX6 is to find a whole body. But this is already a difficult task. Not only does the model appear on sale sporadically, but also in far from the best condition.


You will have to "make friends" with the welding machine. Or find a master who will do everything for the owner. But it will be expensive, especially since after re-welding you will have to repaint the car.

Salon and electrical

As befits a sports coupe, the Mazda MX6 has only the front row of free space. This model also has a rear "sofa", but it is a two-seater. In principle, two adults can fit there, but they will only have to dream about comfort.


But the car has a huge trunk for its class - 404 liters. It turns out that this model can even claim to be a family car. Of course, if the latter consists of two people.

The only options in the car are electric windows and mirrors, central locking. For the 90s, this is not bad, but in our time it looks poor.

You shouldn't choose a Mazda MX6 by its interior. It's boring on the outside, the finishing materials are simple. The only good thing is the build quality. If you want, you can reupholster everything, even if the interior is clearly worn out.

Engines

Under the hood of the stylish coupe you can find only standard engines for the GE platform. In the basic configuration, which is more common on the secondary market, there is a 2,0 liter with 116 hp.

More interesting is the V6 engine, which has the same volume - 2,0 l. Its power is already 160 "horses". It is rare.

The Mazda MX6 also has a pair of 2,5-liter V6s. The first one has 165, the second one has 200 hp. They also appear on the Russian used market in single copies.


The most reliable engine is the basic four-cylinder 2,0 with 116 hp. V6s are also structurally successful, but only until they need to be repaired.

They have enough problems as they age:

✅ Candles
✅ Ignition coils
✅ Oil leaks from under the valve covers

To fix the last flaw, you will have to disassemble half the engine. Or be a gymnast with thin, long, but strong and flexible arms.

Other technical features

Mazda MX6 had both manual and automatic gearboxes. Moreover, the choice was with any engine, including the base one. But mostly there are examples with a 5-speed manual transmission.


The Mazda MX6 has independent spring suspension in the front and rear. Technically, it is similar to the one installed on the GE generation 626 model, but it is stiffer. In other respects, this is a car from the 90s, repairable in garage conditions.

Advantages and disadvantages

At first glance, the Mazda MX6 seems like a tempting proposition. Of course, it’s a charismatic coupe that can be purchased inexpensively. Yes, you can’t take that away from the model, only its age and rarity…


This car has a rich set of options for its age. Of course, you won't surprise anyone with electric windows, but they are here and that's good.

The most common Mazda MX6 engines have a long service life. And it is not difficult to select a contract power unit from single-platform models.


The main drawback of the model is its low-power engines. Of course, 200 hp is not bad, but such examples were not found on the Russian used market before, and now they are even less so.

The basic four-cylinder power unit in combination with a manual transmission accelerates this "racing car" to the first hundred in 10,4 seconds. For a coupe, this is very little, so it is not recommended to participate in "traffic light races".


There is a feeling that Japanese engineers tried to rehabilitate themselves for the engines. That is why they went all out on the suspension. The latter turned out to be too stiff, especially considering the state of many Russian roads. No, in large cities and on federal highways it is still more or less. But away from them, the Mazda MX6 can "shake your soul out".

To sum it up, it is worth noting that the time of the coupe from the Japanese manufacturer has passed. Yes, the car is beautiful, but it has no value in technical terms. If you want something old, but dynamic, it is better to look at other models.

The same Mitsubishi Eclipse of the first generation, for example, is an excellent preparation for tuning. It is a stylish sports car with great potential. And Mazda MX6 needs to be loved, which is what the rare Russian owners of this car do.