2018 Mazda6 Wagon - The best alternative to C-Class Estate HD

We knew the Mazda6 Wagon was coming, and recently we found out that it would for sure show up at the Geneva Motor Show, but we didn’t expect our first thought to be that it puts Mercedes to shame. After all, the Mazda6 isn’t exactly in the same class with pricing starting around $10,000 less than it’s Mercedes counterpart. Yet, here it is, all new and fresh, looking like a million bucks. Mazda has yet to release many details, so European specs are still a mystery, but just by the look of the exterior, it’s pretty safe to say that it’ll be a real winner inside and under the hood. Despite the fact that Mazda hasn’t said much about the 6 Wagon, we already have a pretty good idea of what you want to know. All we have to do is look at the Mazda6 Sedan, and the picture becomes clear. The outside, clearly, takes on the same design language with the updated Kodo look, standard LED headlights, larger front grill, and it even debuted in the new Soul Red Crystal Paint—an option that should be available once the order books open. Like the sedan, 17-inch wheels should come as standard, but 19-inch rollers will be on the option list. And, like its sedan counterpart, there should be plenty of metal trim to really provide that upscale look. What really stands out on the wagon is the rear end. It’s got the new taillight units, and the way the blend in below the beltline is just amazing. Where Mazda could have ruined the design with the rear hatch, it went the extra mile to make it look as stylish as possible. The rear glass is recessed just a bit, the roof isn’t too slanted, and you’ve got the traditional metal trim on the hatch as well. And, just look at the rear fascia. Sure, it’s got the round exhaust outlets in the corners, but damn is it sexy. What’s inside will also mirror the sedan, except that – like the exterior – things will be a little different beyond the rear doors. All in all, the car will get the same upscale feel with redesigned seats, and there will even be Japanese Sen wood trim. The German-like floating instrument cluster should amass eight inches while seat ventilation and digital gauges will make their way to the option list. Expect the same horizontal presence from the sedan to carry over into the wagon, and rear seat passengers should get a little extra space thanks to the nature of the wagon body style. There will be ample cargo room, undoubtedly an improvement over the previous model (1664 liters with the rear seats folded; 522 liters with the seatbacks up.) The one thing we’re not sure about is the wagon’s performance. Here in the States, the Sedan gets a 2.5-liter four-banger that was pulled straight from the Mazda CX-9. It rocks a single turbo and pumps out 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter from the last year’s model did carry over but was upgraded to include cylinder deactivation. The 2.0-liter is available with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic, but opt for the larger mill, and you’re stuck wit