The Mazda 6 is off sale, and it won’t be coming back

Bad news, folks: the SUV has killed off another favourite of ours, and this time it’s the Mazda 6 facing the abyss in the UK. Yup, both the saloon and the Tourer estate have been thrust into the void.

Sadly it’s not the biggest surprise in the world: the third-generation 6 has been hanging around for a decade now, and there’s no replacement in the offing with interest in the segment dwindling.

Since the first-generation 6 went on sale in the UK in 2002, 169,123 units have been sold. However, Mazda only shifted 667 examples in 2021 and 721 cars last year.

“With the launch of the Mazda CX-60 PHEV and the upcoming CX-60 diesel, as well as the well-established Mazda CX-5 – SUV consumer demand continues to grow and this is where the focus is for dealers and in the UK market,” said Mazda in a statement. “This combined with declining UK sales in the saloon and estate car sector, mean we have ended sales of the Mazda 6 in the UK.

“However, the Mazda 6 will continue to be sold in some European markets.” Well, that’s something at least.

It means demand for SUVs has hoovered up another victim, with everything from hatchbacks to saloons and estates increasingly being ushered out of showrooms as a result.

It wasn’t that long ago that production of the Ford Mondeo ended, with the Kia Stinger following suit last November, while smaller stuff like the Audi A1 and Ford Fiesta are heading for the same fate.

Is nothing safe from the Sports Utility Vehicle?