2009 Mazda 6 Improvement - Australia

I was quite surprised to learn that the Mazda 6 requires RON95 fuel, at least until recently. Mazda Australia recently announced a series of improvements for its 2009 year model Mazda 6. For 2009, all Mazda 6 variants will get an extensive list of upgrades - Bi-Xenon headlights with Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, auto on/off headlights and auto-dimming rear-view mirror are now available as standard items. In most other markets including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore these items remain exclusive to the higher end 2.5-litre models. Fitment of these features are rather specific to the respective importer / local market and thus they have very little meaning to markets outside Australia.

What is more interesting is that for 2009, the MZR 2.5-litre engine can now run on cheaper RON91 fuel, where it previously required RON95 fuel. The improvement couldn't have come sooner as most modern engines are now tuned to run on fuel with octane ratings as low as RON 90 or RON 91. It is something that we almost take it for granted and thus I was surprised to learn that pre-2009 Mazda 6 engines require RON95 fuel. The MZR engine is a pretty regular 4-cylinder powerplant, not too different from the ones powering an equivalent Camry or Accord, which can happily run on RON91 fuel. No mention have been made on the 2.0-litre models as Mazda Australia does not carry them in their product line-up.

Owners of pre-2009 Mazda 6 should be aware of their vehicle's fuel requirement (if they don't already know). However, it is unclear if this improvement to the MZR fuel systems applies to Mazda 6 models sold outside Australia. In theory, running a lower than recommended octane fuel should not cause any permanent damage other than reduced power, as modern electronic engine management system feature knock sensors that will alter the ignition timing accordingly to avoid any pinging / knocking. But for the sake of mechanical sympathy, please follow the manufacturer's recommendation.

Australian car importers, including Mazda Australia have been struggling to contain rises in prices due to the fluctuating currency exchange between Aussie dollar and the Japanese Yen, which is now working against Aussie importers. Beginning of 2009, all imported cars in Australia will see a price increase of between 2% to 4%. So the recent gesture by Mazda Australia to improve its value proposition would be very much appreciated by buyers.  

Source : PressPortal

Related link : Fuel RON ratings explained