Mazda once offered all-wheel drive versions of its 323 and 6 you may have forgotten about.

Mitchell Tulk
Contributor
6 Dec 2017
2 min read

All-wheel drive could be on the way for Mazda's non-SUVs, but this isn't the first time.

Between 80 and 90 per cent of premium sedans sold in the USA have the option of all-wheel drive and Mazda might be about to add AWD to the future 3 and 6 models to help with sales in the States.

However, this wouldn’t be the first time Mazda has offered an AWD variant of it’s sedan and hatchback with the likes of the 6 and 323 having four driven wheels back in the day.

Mazda6 MPS

During the mid-2000s, Mazda had a performance car for all enthusiasts, if you wanted a sports car there was the RX-8 and MX-5, if you wanted a hot hatch there was the 3 MPS, and if you wanted a sports sedan there was this, the 6 MPS.

Using the same 190kW/380Nm 2.3-litre turbocharged four cylinder found in the 3 MPS, the 6 boasted an AWD system that allowed the car to reach 100km/h in a respectable 6.5sec.

It was a direct competitor to Subaru’s Liberty GT but was short lived, only lasting between 2005-08.

Mazda 323 GTR/X

Before the Mazda3 there was the 323, the company’s major small hatchback for 26 years, while during the late '80s and early '90s, there was the rally-esk GTR and GTX.

These hatchbacks had a turbocharged 1.8-litre, four cylinder that produced 154kW (GTR) and 136kW (GTX) that sent power to all four wheels.

While us Aussies got the GTX for a short time, we're more familiar with Ford’s version, the Laser TX3 Turbo 4WD which used the same engine but produced less power (118kW/206Nm).

What’s your favourite AWD Mazda? Let us know in the comments.

Mitchell Tulk
Contributor
Following a passion shared by his father and grandfather, Mitchell’s love of cars really kicked off with his Godfather’s purchase of a new Mazda RX-8. Exposure to that car changed his world forever, leading to an RX-7 obsession. To feed his automotive addiction, Mitchell decided to become a motoring journalist and made his mark at several high-profile motoring publications before landing at CarsGuide. While he is a rotary loyalist, Mitchell also has a massive love for Aussie muscle cars, and dreams of one day getting behind the wheel of a Charger R/T E49 (if anyone will let him). His other passions include Queensland, and spending Saturdays with the boys.
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