Is the Mazda6 AT Transmission Made by Aisin?
4 Answers
The Mazda6 AT transmission is not made by Aisin; it is independently developed and designed by Mazda. The vehicle's body dimensions are 4670mm in length, 1780mm in width, and 1435mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2675mm. The Mazda6 has a curb weight of 1427 kg and features a double-wishbone independent suspension system. The Mazda6 is equipped with a card-type smart key, an 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with 3 memory settings, xenon headlights, automatic headlight control, headlight washers, rain-sensing wipers, water-repellent exterior mirrors, remote-controlled window operation, and six airbags. The Mazda6 is powered by 2.0-liter and 2.3-liter inline-four-cylinder engines. The 2.3-liter MZR engine delivers a maximum power output at 6500 rpm and a maximum torque of 183 Nm.
I've driven a Mazda Atenza for five years, and this 6AT transmission definitely isn't from Aisin. Mazda developed this transmission themselves, called the Skyactiv-Drive transmission, which is a completely different system from Toyota Aisin. The most obvious difference is the tuning style—Mazda's transmission really understands throttle input, downshifting super aggressively, unlike Aisin's more laid-back approach. I've seen the transmission nameplate during maintenance, and it clearly bears Mazda's logo. Although some current Mazda models mix in Aisin's 8AT, the classic 6AT from the Mazda6 era was purely their own technology, which is why Mazda owners always brag about how smart their transmission is.
Just helped a friend fix an old Mazda6, and I've studied its transmission. Can confirm with certainty that Mazda's 6AT is their self-developed Skyactiv Technology, unrelated to Aisin. The internal design is completely different upon disassembly - Mazda uses a smaller torque converter combined with multi-plate clutches, making gear shifts half a beat faster than regular Aisin 6AT. The most noticeable difference when driving is how crisp the downshifts are; the engine revs shoot up instantly when you floor it. While the new Mazda3 now uses Aisin's 8AT in some models, the classic Mazda6 generation exclusively featured in-house transmissions.
Previously, I checked Mazda's technical documentation and found that their 6AT transmission is indeed not from Aisin. The Skyactiv-Drive transmission has two standout features: first, its unique planetary gear set structure enables faster gear shifts; second, the full-range lock-up technology delivers higher transmission efficiency compared to conventional AT transmissions. The most noticeable driving experience is the immediate power response, completely free from the sluggishness typical of traditional AT transmissions. While some German cars use Aisin's 6AT, Mazda has been equipping its main models with in-house transmissions since the launch of Skyactiv technology in 2012.
