This Mazda6e sees this Hiroshima maker at last getting really serious about EVs. Jonathan Crouch believes it offers something just a little different.
Ten Second Review
The Mazda6e brings the Hiroshima brand into the mainstream EV market for the first time. The company's needed outside Chinese help to develop - and build - it, but the end result is a refreshingly different option in the aspirational section of the mid-sized EV segment.
Background
The general reticence of European buyers to get on board with the full-EV revolution has been matched by Japanese maker Mazda. Here though, the Hiroshima brand has entered the electric market in earnest with this car, the Mazda6e.
Prior to this model's arrival, the company had bought us only one electric model, the feeble-ranging MX-30; and even that has mainly been promoted of late in its alternative REX combustion form. In the short term, Mazda thinks big environmental gains are to be made from better electrifying combustion technology, not from flooding the roads with BEVs, so it's mainly concentrating on that.
But at the same time, it has to have a presence in the full electric market, so it's turned to Chinese tech giant Changan to develop a bespoke EV powertrain. That was first seen in a car badged as the Mazda EZ-6, which is assembled in China by Changan and was launched at the Beijing Auto Show in 2024. The Mazda6e is basically a more Mazda-influenced and European-ised version of that same model. Let's take a closer look.
Engines and Tech Spec
Mazda has changed the 6e's drive dynamics quite a lot over those of the Chinese market EZ-6 donor model - which is welcome. Not so good is the fact that unlike the EZ-6, the 6e won't be available in combustion REX Range Extender form - not in the short term anyway. So it's EV-only and is being offered in the UK in a single long range form. This sees a 78kWh LFP battery energising a rear-mounted 258PS motor. The WLTP range is rated at 348 miles and 0-62mph takes 7.8s with 290Nm of torque. The smaller 68.8kWh battery offered in Europe isn't available here.
Despite this EV's prodigious weight, Mazda still wants it to feel as engaging as most of its other models are to drive. Hence the 50:50 weight distribution, the multi-link rear suspension and the electric rear spoiler that deploys at 55mph (or manually) to improve stability. The Hiroshima brand claims that it has 'carefully calibrated' damping, steering and braking to match European and British driver preferences.
This is one of those EVs that doesn't need a start button; you just get in, pull the gear selector and go. There are two steering settings, a couple of light brake regen modes and a whole portfolio of ADAS features. Michelin e-Primacy eco tyres aim to improve refinement and maximise range.
Design and Build
The engineering of this car may have been out-sourced but all the stuff you can see is very much Mazda. The 6e introduces a whole new era of the brand's Kodo design language, with a low raked roof line, curvaceous bodywork, intricate detailing and frameless doors. LED lights encircle the lower part of the front grille - Mazda calls them 'wings' - and they 'flutter' to show how full the battery is whilst charging.
At the rear, there's an elegant take on the brand's classic round tail lights; and an active rear spoiler that opens and closes with speed. Unlike nearly all competitors, there's been no attempt here to introduce any visual crossover genes. And the dimensions are on the upper side of what you'd expect from a mid-sized EV - 4,921mm long, 2,156mm wide and 1,461mm high. The 6e is a hatchback (rather than a saloon) and rides on big 19-inch wheels.
Given the undue Chinese influence here, you might fear that the cabin would be the usual chintzy screen-heavy Oriental tech fest. But fortunately Mazda influence has prevailed and the interior turns out to be quite tasteful and almost European, though unfortunately there are far fewer buttons and less physical switchgear than the Hiroshima maker usually provides. So sadly no lower capstan controller for the big 14.6-inch central touchscreen, which can be operated not only by voice but also by hand gestures. But the driver interfaces are clear, with a 10.2-inch digital instrument display complemented by a head-up display with visuals equivalent to viewing a 50-inch TV. There's a choice of beige or black artificial leather upholstery - or a Nappa leather and suede combination at the top of the range.
There's a standard panoramic glass roof, lightening the spacious rear compartment, which could accommodate a six foot adult sitting behind an equally lanky front occupant. The boot's quite a lot smaller than the class norm - it's only 330-litres in size. But it's supplemented by a 70-litre under-bonnet 'frunk'.
Market and Model
Pricing for the 6e starts from around the £39,000 mark for the base 'Takumi' version, with another £1,000 for plusher 'Takumi Plus' spec. Mazda believes this EV will attract existing Mazda6 owners, along with fleet managers looking for a high quality, zero emissions solution. Dealers are apparently very excited by this newcomer because they have lots of existing customers that haven't made the step to an EV yet.
On both models, you can expect a very high standard of spec. Tick off things like a panoramic roof, 19-inch wheels, LED auto levelling headlamps, a powered tailgate, auto headlamps and wipers, all-round parking sensors, a reversing camera, smart keyless entry and cruise control with an adjustable speed limiter. 'Takumi' models feature black or stone Maztex artificial leather, while 'Takumi Plus' spec offers premium tan Nappa leather with Artificial Suede Cloth woven fabric seat trim.
You can also expect to find features like heated front seats, a head-up display, a 10.2-inch screen for the instrument cluster, tri-zone climate control and a heated steering wheel. Media connectivity is taken care of by another 14.6-inch screen, this one for the 'Mazda Connect' infotainment system, which offers wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto', navigation, Amazon Alexa voice control and a multi-speaker DAB audio system. All 6e customers also get the easy-to-install 'MyMazda' app, which on this EV variant can be used to remotely start or stop charging and to remotely control cabin climate. Additionally, you can use it to send a navigation route to your car from your tablet or PC. Or to lock the doors remotely.
Cost of Ownership
We gave you the range figure in our 'Driving' section - 348 miles from the 78kWh battery. It's not difficult to find segment rivals that will better that stat, but they won't do so by that much. There's a pretty rapid DC charging speed of up to 195kW. Which means that DC rapid charging from 10-80% can be completed in 24 minutes. With a typical 7.4kW garage wallbox, full AC charging would take 10 hours 30 minutes. If you have an 11kW wallbox with a three-phase supply, you'll be able to complete a full charge in 5 hours 15 minutes. Mazda claims a vehicle fuel equivalent of 148mpg.
As with all EVs, your company Benefit-in-Kind tax rating will be low - pitched at 4% at the time of launch - though that'll rise in coming years. And though you now have the pay the London Congestion charge in an EV, you still get free access to the city's ULEZ zone. We should additionally mention the warranty, the usual unremarkable Mazda three year / 60,000 mile package. You can manage maintenance with a useful 'My Mazda App', which can give you reminders about servicing and through which you can book your car in at your local dealership and access a digitally-stored record of your model's service history. In addition, there's a 'Mazda Accident Aftercare' scheme which sees the company liaise with your insurer after an accident, making sure that you have access to a courtesy car if you need one and ensuring that all repairs are carried out to full Mazda standards.
Industry experts CAP have given this car a class-leading residual value prediction of 58.3 per cent - ahead of seven key segment rivals including the Tesla Model 3, BYD Seal, Polestar2 and Volkswagen ID.7.
Summary
You may or may not agree with Mazda's apparent reluctance to develop full-electric vehicles. We can't help feeling their perspective is being vindicated by the currently faltering EV market. Given that, it makes sense as a mid-sized brand to save the majority of development resource for a point when EV engineering is a little more advanced than is now. In the meantime borrowing in electric tech from another supplier - as Mazda has here.
The electrified powertrain engineering advances the Hiroshima maker is working on instead may arguably have just as much environmental effect as BEV development would have; notably the REX Range Extender system we liked on the MX-30 and which could apparently be fitted to this car - as we hope it will be. But as for what we have here in the Mazda6e, well it's a remarkably complete product for one put together with so many diverse parts. And it's not a crossover or an SUV, which is refreshing. We think that it deserves your full attention.
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