It’s no secret that Mazda has been dragging its heels just a little in terms of electrical autos.
The MX-30 small electrical SUV was a unusual styling train with a battery vary that hardly acquired you to the retailers and again, however the model is lastly getting severe – that is the brand new 2026 Mazda 6e.
You may need seen it unveiled on the Beijing motor present because the Mazda EZ-6, a product of Mazda’s three way partnership with Chinese language big Changan.
Whereas it’s in-built China on a shared platform, this isn’t simply a badge-engineering job – it’s the religious successor to the beloved Mazda 6, and it’s coming to Australia in mid-2026.
We’ve had a quick first drive of a pre-production mannequin at a proving floor to see if it could actually truly tackle the gross sales juggernaut that’s the Tesla Mannequin 3.
WATCH: Paul’s video first drive assessment of the Mazda 6e
Crucially, Mazda Australia is concentrating on a beginning worth of underneath $55,000 earlier than on-road prices. That may be a crucial quantity as a result of it places the 6e squarely within the crosshairs of the Mannequin 3 RWD and the BYD Seal Premium.
However right here is the massive query: beneath that gorgeous sheet metallic, does it nonetheless have the ‘Zoom-Zoom’ DNA we anticipate from a Mazda, or does it really feel like simply one other tender, generic EV?
How a lot does the Mazda 6e value?
Mazda hasn’t locked within the last greenback determine, however the steering is aggressive. A sub-$55,000 beginning worth for a automobile of this measurement and spec is spectacular.
That pricing technique is clearly geared toward undercutting or matching the section leaders. For context, the Tesla Mannequin 3 Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) presently begins across the $54,900 mark, and the BYD Seal Dynamic is even cheaper.
If Mazda can land a high-specification automobile at this worth level, it instantly turns into a price participant in a section the place legacy producers have struggled to compete on worth.
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What’s the Mazda 6e like on the within?
In the event you’ve sat in a CX-60 or CX-90 lately, Mazda is pushing onerous on inside high quality. The 6e feels completely different, although – it’s rather more minimalist, clearly taking inspiration from the Chinese language market’s desire for screen-heavy cabins.
The centrepiece is an enormous 14.6-inch infotainment display screen that controls nearly all the things. Sadly, Mazda’s tactile rotary dial is gone, and so are many of the bodily buttons.
For conventional Mazda followers, this can be a shock. You must use the display screen for local weather management, aspect mirror changes, and even altering the drive modes. It feels similar to a Tesla in its operation – clear, however doubtlessly distracting on the transfer.
That mentioned, the fabric high quality is correctly plush. The floating centre console creates a way of area, and the match and end on this pre-production automobile was already top-notch.
It makes use of a mixture of soft-touch supplies and what appears to be like like a Bentley-inspired two-tone leather-based steering wheel within the automobile we drove.
The again seat is the place the brand new platform shines. There may be acres of legroom – way over within the previous petrol Mazda 6 – because of the lengthy wheelbase. The ground is flat, and even with the panoramic glass roof, headroom is respectable for a six-footer.
Unusually for a automobile that appears like a sedan, it’s truly a liftback. The rear glass opens with the boot lid, revealing an enormous aperture that makes loading cumbersome objects considerably simpler than with a Mannequin 3.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
For Australia, we’re getting a better of each worlds powertrain. In different markets, you typically have to decide on between a much bigger battery or extra energy – we get each.
The 6e will include a 78kWh Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) battery paired with a single electrical motor sending 190kW to the rear wheels.
That LFP chemistry is a brilliant selection for Australian patrons. Not like different battery chemistries, it likes being charged to 100 per cent commonly with out degradation issues.
Preliminary specs embrace:
- Energy: 190kW
- Torque: TBC
- Drive: Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
- Battery: 78kWh LFP
- Vary: >500km (claimed WLTP)
- Charging: 30-80% in 15 minutes (DC)
How does the Mazda 6e drive?
That is the place issues get difficult. The automobile we drove was a pre-production automobile with a European suspension tune, and immediately it felt very tender.
Driving across the proving floor, the experience was extremely compliant over small corrugations, absorbing unhealthy surfaces higher than many firm-riding EVs. It’s quiet, refined, and comfy at metropolis speeds.
Nevertheless, when you choose up the tempo, that softness turns into a problem. It feels floaty over crests and dips. Mid-corner bumps are likely to unsettle the rear-end, making the automobile wallow a bit.
It lacks that tied-down, sporty engagement – the Jinba Ittai (horse and rider as one) connection – that normally defines a Mazda.
It jogs my memory a variety of different Chinese language-market EVs that prioritise consolation over physique management. If you would like a relaxed cruiser, it’s beautiful. However should you’re anticipating a sports activities sedan, this isn’t it – but.
The ability supply is easy reasonably than violent. We examined the 0-100km/h dash time and clocked it at 7.35 seconds.
That’s a lot fast sufficient for day by day driving and overtaking, even when it gained’t pin your head to the top restraint like a dual-motor efficiency EV.
The excellent news is that Mazda Australia is conscious of this. It sometimes conducts in depth native experience and dealing with packages and, frankly, this automobile wants it.
If Mazda can tighten up the physique management with out ruining that plush experience, they’ll have a winner.
What do you get?
Full specs haven’t been launched, however based mostly on the prototype we drove we will anticipate a excessive degree of ordinary tools given the value level.
Seemingly customary options will embrace:
- 19-inch alloy wheels with Michelin tyres
- 14.6-inch central touchscreen
- Digital instrument cluster
- Head-up show
- Panoramic glass roof
- Powered tailgate (liftback)
- 360-degree digicam system
Is the Mazda 6e protected?
The Mazda 6e has not but been crash-tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.
Nevertheless, the automobile is loaded with lively security know-how. One concern we frequently have with Chinese language-sourced autos is the calibration of those programs – driver monitoring and lane-keep help programs can typically be intrusive and annoying.
Mazda says it’s engaged on native calibration for these programs, which can be crucial. If you must flip off the security programs each time you get within the automobile as a result of they beep incessantly, they aren’t doing their job.
How a lot does the Mazda 6e value to run?
Official effectivity figures haven’t been homologated for Australia but, however Mazda claims a spread of over 500km on the WLTP cycle.
The 78kWh battery will be fast-charged from 30 to 80 per cent in round quarter-hour on a suitable DC fast-charger, which is aggressive.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mazda 6e
The Mazda 6e is a promising first step again into the mid-size passenger automobile section for the Japanese model. It appears to be like costly, feels premium inside, and presents wonderful electrical specs for the cash.
It’s not excellent, although. The suspension is simply too tender for Australian tastes in its present kind, and the dearth of bodily buttons is a departure from Mazda’s normally wonderful ergonomics.
However the bones are good. If Mazda Australia’s engineering workforce can work its magic on the suspension tune earlier than its 2026 launch, this could possibly be the electrical different many patrons have been ready for.
It presents the reassurance of a legacy model with an enormous seller community, mixed with the tech and worth we’ve come to anticipate from Chinese language-built EVs. In the event that they nail the ultimate worth and the native tune, the Mannequin 3 will lastly have a severe battle on its fingers.
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MORE: Mazda 6e EV confirmed for Australia with Tesla-rivalling worth
