REDLINE ALLEYMazda6 and Atenza GJ buying guide
2012 to 2024. A GJ suits a buyer who wants a stylish, good to drive sedan or wagon; a petrol is the safer used buy.
Big jobs
- 2.2 diesel engine. An Australian used review advises avoiding the diesel, citing turbo and wastegate failures, injector seal leaks that leave carbon which can block the oil strainer, and coked inlets and EGR.
- Diesel DPF and oil dilution. Shutting the engine off during a DPF clean can put fuel in the oil, so the oil level rises over time, and the diesel needs regular motorway runs.
Workshop jobs
- Petrol inlet carbon. The direct injection petrol engines build carbon on the inlet tracks and need periodic cleaning.
- Engine mounts. Hydraulic engine mounts can lose their fluid and let vibration through the car.
- Brake discs. The 6 is quite hard on its brake discs, which can cause vibration when braking.
Small jobs
- Boot struts recall. Boot struts are known to fail, and Mazda ran a recall in early 2017.
- Driver airbag inflator recall. A recall covers driver airbag inflators that may rupture after long exposure to high humidity.
- Stop start battery and electronics. Battery management warnings with the stop start system are reported, along with sporadic Bose amplifier faults and frozen infotainment screens.
Questions for the seller
- Is it the 2.0, 2.5 or 2.2 diesel?
- On a diesel, have the injector seals or turbo been replaced?
- Have the boot strut and airbag recalls been done?
- Has it mostly done short trips or open road running?
- Have the inlets ever been cleaned?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-04. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.