- Flexible 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine
- Impressive ride/handling balance
- Supportive front seats
- High standard of fit and finish
- Limited front seat headroom
- Cramped rear seats
- Low ground clearance and lack of underbody protection
Review: Mazda GE.I MX-6 (1991-94)
Overview
Released in November 1991, the GE Series I (GE.I) MX-6 was a two-door coupe. Manufactured in Japan, the front-wheel drive GE MX-6 was powered by a 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine that was mated to either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.
Engine
The 2.5-litre KL-DE V6 petrol engine had an aluminium block and cylinder head, double overhead camshafts (per cylinder bank), four valves per cylinder, a variable induction system (Mazda’s ‘Variable Resonance Induction System’ or VRIS) and a compression ratio of 9.2:1.
Dimensions and suspension
Sharing its platform with the Mazda GE 626, the MX-6 was 4615 mm long, 1750 mm wide, 1310 mm tall and had a 2610 mm long wheelbase, while the drag coefficient was 0.32 Cd. Furthermore, the MX-6 had independent, MacPherson strut suspension front and rear (with coil springs and anti-roll bars) and speed-sensitive rack and pinion steering.
Four-wheel steering (4WS)
For Australia, the GE.I MX-6 was fitted with four-wheel steering (Mazda’s ‘4WS’) whereby the rear wheels would turn by up to five degrees at the same time as the front wheels. At low speeds (up to 35 km/h), the rear wheels would turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels to reduce the turning radius. At higher speeds, however, the wheels would turn in the same direction to reduce yaw for greater stability. In the event of a fault with the 4WS system, the rear wheels would lock into the straight-ahead position so that the vehicle could be driven normally.
| Variant | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4WS | 1991-94 | 2.5-litre petrol V6 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
121 kW at 5600 rpm | 213 Nm at 4800 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the GE.I MX-6 consisted of ABS.
Features
Standard features for the MX-6 included 15-inch alloy wheels with 205/55 R15 Bridgestone Potenza tyres, a six speaker sound system with a CD player, climate control air conditioning, cruise control, front fog lights, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, central locking, power windows and mirrors, a tilt adjustable steering wheel, a height adjustable driver’s seat and a power sunroof.
Review: Mazda GE.II MX-6 (1994-97)
Overview
Released in September 1994, the GE.II MX-6 introduced an expanded range with the introduction of cheaper 2WS variants. Visually, the GE.II MX-6 could be identified by its new alloy wheels (with thinner spokes), interior trim and steering wheel.
| Variant | Years | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2WS, 4WS |
1994-97 | 2.5-litre petrol V6 | 5sp man., 4sp auto |
121 kW at 5600 rpm | 213 Nm at 4800 rpm |
Safety equipment
Compared to its GE.I predecessor, standard safety equipment for the GE.II MX-6 was extended to include a driver’s airbag.
Features
Compared to its predecessor, the GE.II MX-6 omitted cruise control and the power sunroof. The 4WS variants, however, retained these features.
From 1996, the 4WS variants were further equipped with a power adjustable driver’s seat and leather trim.
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