Photo: Theophilus Chin
Mazda is a good example of an automaker that does a lot with very little. The company is small when compared to Japanese or German firms, yet still outsells them in major segments.
One way in which they could boost sales without investing too much money is by creating a soft-roader version of the Mazda6 wagon. Currently, Subaru's Outback could be considered a segment leader, but other companies have very appealing offerings.
In the large wagon segment, our favorite has to be the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack because it has a wider engine range and is the only one with a twin-turbo 2-liter diesel engine. However, there's nothing wrong with an Outback 3.6R Limited.
"Oh, but the Mazda6 doesn't have all-wheel drive. You need that to build a soft-roader," we hear you say. That's not true! Every major car model made in Japan has all-wheel drive, including the petite Mazda2. It's just that they don't export them to other countries because there's not enough demand.
Even American car buyers will agree that the 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D diesel engine would be a better engine to use than the 184-hp 2.5-liter. It gets better mileage, and the torque is what you need to power up a hill or tow a trailer.
These two rendered images were created by Theophilus Chin based on the 2016 Mazda6 Wagon (facelift). Using his trusty Photoshop, he raised the suspension of the car, added black plastic armor cladding and played with some of the features to make it a bit more rugged.
I think most Mazda6 Wagon buyers would prefer a softer ride and extra ground clearance. Some roof rails for those skis wouldn't hurt either!
In the large wagon segment, our favorite has to be the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack because it has a wider engine range and is the only one with a twin-turbo 2-liter diesel engine. However, there's nothing wrong with an Outback 3.6R Limited.
"Oh, but the Mazda6 doesn't have all-wheel drive. You need that to build a soft-roader," we hear you say. That's not true! Every major car model made in Japan has all-wheel drive, including the petite Mazda2. It's just that they don't export them to other countries because there's not enough demand.
Even American car buyers will agree that the 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D diesel engine would be a better engine to use than the 184-hp 2.5-liter. It gets better mileage, and the torque is what you need to power up a hill or tow a trailer.
These two rendered images were created by Theophilus Chin based on the 2016 Mazda6 Wagon (facelift). Using his trusty Photoshop, he raised the suspension of the car, added black plastic armor cladding and played with some of the features to make it a bit more rugged.
I think most Mazda6 Wagon buyers would prefer a softer ride and extra ground clearance. Some roof rails for those skis wouldn't hurt either!
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