Mazda 6e review
Stylish looks and long equipment list are appealing, but the 6e isn’t as fun to drive as other Mazdas
Our opinion on the Mazda 6e
After the false start that was the MX-30, the Mazda 6e is a far more convincing electric car from the Japanese car maker. It has a good range, while the cabin offers plenty of comfort and equipment, and it does this all at a competitive price. The one thing that is lacking for Mazda enthusiasts is an entertaining driving experience. While other Mazda models manage to deliver a fun drive even in their most basic guises, the 6e is a soft and wallowy executive that focuses on comfort above all else. Still, that will likely make it appealing to company car buyers and EV converts alike.
About the Mazda 6e
The Mazda 6e marks a reset for the Japanese car maker’s electrification plans. The company’s first EV, the MX-30, was a small SUV that offered a poor range at a high asking price, and had too many quirks for it to appeal to buyers. This time around, Mazda is aiming straight for the executive market with a revival of the Mazda 6 to take on rivals such as the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal.
While the Mazda 6e has the Japanese company’s familiar badge on the nose, it’s actually a co-production with Mazda’s Chinese manufacturing partner, Changan Automobile. In China the car is sold as the Mazda EZ6, while the Changan Deepal L07 has a similar shape and uses the same platform.
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Cash £11,000Unlike the last Mazda 6 saloon, the 6e has a fastback body style, similar in execution to a BMW i4 or Audi A5 Sportback. The doors have frameless windows, a feature that harks back to the Mazda 323F of the nineties, while there’s a hatchback rear end to help with access to the boot.
Under the skin, the Mazda 6e sits on Changan’s EPA1 platform, so it doesn’t share anything with its combustion-engined predecessor. China has electric and range-extending petrol options available, but in the UK the Mazda 6e will be exclusively electric. Power is sent to the rear wheels, while the electric motor is mounted under the boot floor to help maximise space further forwards. As with most EVs, the drive battery is under the cabin floor.
There are just two trim levels on offer in the Mazda 6e, and pricing is competitive compared to executive rivals. The range kicks off with the high-spec Takumi grade that starts from just under £40,000, while Takumi Plus is another £1,000 extra and adds a different coloured interior and some minor upgrades.
You can find discounts on these prices via the Auto Express Buy A Car service, where there are competitive lease deals and savings for cash buyers, too.
Performance & driving experience
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Mazda has a reputation for adding the DNA of its excellent MX-5 sports car to its line-up of regular family cars and SUVs, although some more recent models have missed the mark a little. Unfortunately, the Mazda 6e falls into the latter category. Make no mistake, it’s a comfortable, quiet and refined EV, but then again, so are many of its rivals. It could make a mark for itself by delivering something of a fun drive, but there’s too much weight to deal with, and the chassis isn’t designed with sharp handling in mind.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| Mazda 6e | 254bhp | 7.9 seconds | 109mph |
Electric motors, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
There’s just one powertrain configuration on offer, which uses a 78kWh battery that’s located under the passenger compartment and powers a rear-mounted electric motor.
This has 254bhp and 290Nm of torque, which is enough to propel the two-tonne machine from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. That’s not the fastest acceleration you’ll see from an EV (the entry-level Tesla Model 3 accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds), but is plenty for most needs. Since drive is sent to the rear wheels, the Mazda 6e sprints away without fuss or drama, building speed in a straightforward manner.
Town driving, visibility and parking
Driving the Mazda 6e in town is simple; the car starts as soon as you unlock it, so buckle up, put it into drive and away you go. The steering is light but lacks feedback, while the throttle is reasonably responsive at lower speeds.
The car’s cabin is quiet and refined, with very little wind or road noise, and just a faint murmur from the 6e’s active-noise generator when moving at very low speeds. One minor gripe is that you need to be completely stopped when changing from drive to reverse, and you have to be deliberate with the column shifter, otherwise it won’t engage.
There are four stages of energy recovery to choose from, although we found the best option was to keep it at level two, which felt the most natural. Whichever setting you choose – and contrary to many rivals – the energy-recovery system doesn’t activate the brake lights when you lift off the throttle. Frustratingly, you can only adjust the braking strength via the main touchscreen.
Country road driving and handling
Increase your pace and it’s clear that comfort takes priority over driving enjoyment. While the rear-drive layout shows some promise, the 6e’s steering offers little in the way of feedback, and the suspension floats over bumps, although harsher mid-corner imperfections can cause the car to skip sideways as it negotiates them. On the whole the chassis balance is neutral, but adding power does help to tuck the car’s nose into a corner if necessary.
There are Normal, Sport and Individual driving modes on offer, although the Sport setting makes the steering feel slightly nervous, and the throttle response is sharper. It also activates the pop-up rear spoiler, although we didn’t really see any benefit from its use. Overall, the Sport mode doesn’t feel like it fits the car’s character.
Motorway driving and long-distance comfort
At higher speeds, the Mazda 6e maintains its refined character, yet there is some float from the chassis over undulating bumps. Road noise picks up, although not to a level that’s anywhere near intolerable, but more frustrating is the lane-assist system. The set-up is highly sensitive to lane widths, and not just on motorways. As with many other functions, there are different levels to choose from, but even with a late warning set, the car reacts to the edge of the road or white lines on narrow roads, causing the steering wheel to jolt and writhe in your hands.
"A suite of safety systems tries to help you with manoeuvres, but some functions are more useful than others. There’s a 360-degree camera system on board, and Mazda has fitted a Hyundai-style system where activating the indicators sees an image of the inside of the corner relayed to the cabin. However, this completely overlays the main touchscreen and stays active for a long period after you’ve completed the turn. The same applies to the parking cameras, which remain active until you hit a certain speed. This can be distracting if you’re trying to use the navigation system at the same time." - Dean Gibson, senior test editor.
Range, charging & running costs
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Memories of the short range delivered by the Mazda MX-30 are erased by the 6e’s generous 78kWh battery and realistic 300-mile predictions from a full charge.
Electric range, battery life and charge time
Mazda quotes a range of 348 miles for the 6e. That’s competitive with rivals such as the entry-level Tesla Model 3 RWD (332 miles), and when we tested the Mazda, we consistently saw an estimated range of 303 miles showing on the trip display from a battery at 100 per cent. During our time with the car on a test route that included lots of motorway use, we saw a return of 3.9 miles per kWh, which translates into a range of 312 miles from a full charge. A Model 3 on the same route managed 4.4mi/kWh.
A maximum DC charging speed of 195kW is quoted by Mazda, and we saw the car achieve that figure when connected to a suitable source. This allows the 6e to charge from 30-80 per cent capacity in 15 minutes, although we couldn’t find an option to limit charging to a maximum percentage to help maintain battery health. You can schedule charging times when plugged into an AC source.
| Model | Battery size | Range | Insurance group |
| Mazda 6e | 78kWh | 348 miles | 44 |
Insurance groups
A group 44 insurance rating (out of 50) is on the high side, especially when you consider that an entry-level Tesla Model 3 is in group 32. However, our sample quote for the Mazda was cheaper than for the Tesla.
Tax
A sub-£40,000 price tag combined with a long list of standard equipment is sure to make the Mazda 6e a popular choice with company-car buyers. Annual Benefit-in-Kind costs for standard-rate taxpayers at the current four per cent rate are £311 for the Takumi model, while the Plus is only £8 a year dearer.
Depreciation
Residual values in the 47 per cent range are fairly decent for an electric family hatchback, and are similar to those for the Tesla Model 3 RWD.
Interior, design & technology
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A sharp-looking exterior will turn heads, although remove the slender light units and stylised grille, and to our eyes the 6e looks more like an MG than a Mazda.
Interior and dashboard design
The cabin layout features a high-set centre console with a large touchscreen placed centrally on the dash. There’s a two-spoke steering wheel with multifunction controls, although the raised buttons can be easily pressed when turning the wheel.
Takumi cars feature standard black upholstery, but can be upgraded to a light colour at no extra cost. Takumi Plus introduces tan trim with suede-effect inserts and a tan steering wheel. It helps brighten the cabin, but we can understand if it’s not to all tastes.
Materials and build quality
Even though the Mazda 6e is made in China, rather than Japan, there are no question marks about the car’s overall build quality. The doors have a solid feel, the cabin is well screwed together and there were no squeaks or rattles from our test model. The quality of the materials used is also decent, with the artificial leather feeling like the real thing, while high-quality stitching across the dashboard, brushed-silver trim and subtle LED cabin lighting at night all play a part in creating an appealing upmarket ambience.
Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo
One area where the Mazda 6e shows its Chinese roots is with its digital displays. The large central touchscreen measures 14.6 inches across (in comparison, Tesla uses a 15.4-inch screen), and nearly every function is controlled via the screen or the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel. This isn’t as good as it sounds, because there are lots of menus to negotiate, which is something best done when parked.
It’s frustrating that you have to rely on the touchscreen for so many functions, especially when there are lots of sub-menus and their grouping seems illogical. For example, there’s a media section, but radio is controlled via a separate shortcut at the bottom of the display.
The climate controls pop up when you press the screen’s lower section, but again it’s not intuitive, and adjusting the temperature is fiddly. We’d also like to see a shortcut to the rear-screen demister – there’s no rear wiper, and quick access to that would help to clear the glass.
Ahead of the driver is a 10.2-inch digital read-out that offers a lot of information, although the text is on the small side, so might be difficult to read for some. In addition to this, a head-up display is also standard, showing speed and navigation instructions.
"There are two shortcut buttons on the left steering wheel spoke that can be assigned to 14 different settings, ranging from silencing the speed limit warning to opening the tailgate. But the 6e’s control layout has a fundamental flaw in that the left column stalk only has screen wash, main beam and indicator controls (the stalk on the right is the drive selector).
"For other light and wiper controls, you must dip into the touchscreen, or you can map them to the shortcuts on the wheel, which makes the other 12 options redundant." - Dean Gibson, senior test editor.
Boot space & practicality
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The Mazda 6e’s fastback body offers decent passenger space, although the cabin floor is on the high side. The location of the electric motor compromises boot space, too.
Dimensions and size
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| Model | Mazda 6e | Tesla Model 3 | BYD Seal |
| Length | 4,921mm | 4,720mm | 4,800mm |
| Width | 1,890mm | 1,933mm | 1,875mm |
| Height | 1,485mm | 1,440mm | 1,460mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,895mm | 2,875mm | 2,920mm |
| Boot space | 337 litres | 594 litres | 485 litres |
Seats & passenger space
The doors feature frameless glass, and opening them reveals a cabin with a high-set centre console with two levels of storage. The Mazda’s lower shelf has deep sides to help prevent items sliding out when cornering. There are 12-volt and USB sockets (one USB-A, one USB-C), although these are tricky to access. Further back is an armrest cubby that opens via silver Mazda-embossed buttons on either side of the console, which add a classy touch.
The front seats have heating and ventilation, and they are comfortable with plenty of room, although we found they are mounted quite high, so the 6e doesn’t feel as sporty as the last Mazda 6. The door mirrors are adjusted via the touchscreen menu, but you can save their position, including a dipped setting for parking.
The sloping roof reduces headroom, with less space here than in a Tesla Model 3, although the standard panoramic glass does at least add some brightness. There’s a wide range of legroom, though, while the broad cabin ensures there’s enough shoulder room for three to sit comfortably. Three-zone climate control means there are temperature settings for the back, while Takumi Plus cars add controls for the panoramic roof’s sun shade, too.
Boot space
A high load lip and shallow boot floor combine to create a disappointing 337 litres of space – the old Mazda 6 saloon had a 480-litre bay. At least the large tailgate helps with access, while the seat backs have a 60:40 split. There’s a useful 72-litre storage area in the nose, too, although a Tesla Model 3 offers 88 litres of space in comparison.
Towing
Mazda quotes a maximum braked towing capacity of 1,500kg.
"More features that reveal the Mazda 6e’s Chinese roots are the utilities you’ll find buried in the touchscreen. One sub-menu offers you different cabin ambiences, which are designed to help you relax while the car is charging. And if you’re going camping, the 6e has the facility to play music via an external speaker.
"There are two more speakers in the driver’s headrest, which can be set up to deliver navigation instructions and traffic warnings, or even Bluetooth phone calls, so that you don’t disturb other occupants in the car." - Dean Gibson, senior test editor.
Reliability & safety
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A six-year/100,000-mile warranty is standard on all Mazdas, which should provide peace of mind about this Chinese-built model. It should also be reassuring that there are lots of safety systems on board; the Mazda 6e earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2025, although we did find the tech a little too intrusive, especially the lane-assist set-up.
You can adjust the sensitivity of the assorted safety systems, or turn them off completely, but you have to do this every time you start the car. Annoyingly, unlike some rivals that have the facility to set them up at the touch of a button, there’s no easy way to do this in the Mazda 6e.
| Euro NCAP safety ratings | |
| Euro NCAP safety rating | Five stars (2025) |
| Adult occupant protection | 93 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 93 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 74 per cent |
| Safety assist | 77 per cent |
Buying and owning
Best buy: Mazda 6e Takumi
With only slight differences between the Takumi and Takumi Plus, there isn’t really much choice to be had here. Choose the higher-spec version if you like the look of the tan interior and want an electric sun shade for the panoramic glass.
Mazda 6e alternatives
The obvious alternative to the Mazda 6e is the entry-level Tesla Model 3 RWD. It’s slightly cheaper and offers standard kit that’s at a similar level, while the Tesla Supercharger network offers convenient charging. It’s also better to drive than the Mazda, with a sportier feel, a more responsive chassis and less intrusive safety systems.
Elsewhere, the BYD Seal offers similar comfort and kit to the Mazda 6e, while more premium options include the Mercedes CLA Electric and BMW i4.
Mazda 6e pictures:
Key updates of the Mazda 6e review
17 July 2026: Review converted from a road test into an in-depth review following extensive testing in the UK against the Tesla Model 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mazda introduced a new six-year warranty at the end of 2025, and this is standard on all new cars registered since then. There are no requirements to have the car serviced regularly at a Mazda franchise to keep the warranty active, and an overall distance limit of 100,000 miles applies.
Deals on the Mazda 6e and alternatives
