Mazda6e – simply electrifying

WHILE a host of global car manufacturers have embraced the electric revolution as if the future holds no alternative, Japanese brand Mazda has trodden an altogether more tentative path.

With a stable full of petrol, diesel and hybrid models – including a fabulous 3.3-litre seven-seat oil burner launched a few months ago – their only one hundred per cent battery electric vehicle to date has been the MX-30 compact SUV, and even that is also available as a plug-in hybrid.

But things are about to change with next year’s arrival of the company’s second full EV the stylish Mazda6e, a car not unlike the discontinued Mazda6 that proved a stalwart of the brand for 20 years.

A slump in the market for saloons was largely responsible for the demise of the ‘6’ but Mazda is confident its newcomer, which really catches the eye with its sleek five-door hatchback design, will prove a winner.

Luxury, comfort, performance and the latest tech are hallmarks of the new car, which is being built in conjunction with Changan – the fourth best-selling automotive group in China for the first half of 2025.

And we were treated to an early taste of what buyers can expect courtesy of some left-hand drive Mazda6e models sporting Swiss plates on a test drive through Shropshire and the borderlands known as the Welsh Marches.

When it arrives in late spring the 6e will be available with a choice of 68.8kWh or 80kWh batteries, the larger version present in our tested model offering a range of up to 345miles.

With 244PS of wallop on tap it can accelerate to 62mph in 7.8secs and charging takes 45 minutes to get from 10 to 80 per cent.

The smaller battery has a range of up to 300 miles and with 200kW DC charging it can load up from 10 to 80 per cent in 22 minutes, meaning a range of 145 miles can be added in 15 minutes. Its electric motor delivers 258PS for a 0-62mph performance of 7.6 seconds.

A gimmicky but nonetheless smart feature is a dynamic illumination which makes the wings appear to flutter when the car is charging, while the lighting also indicates charge status.

Out on the road the Mazda performs in a very Mazda-like manner, in other words there’s a comfortable, confident driving position with plenty of adjustment and support and good visibility to the front and side, which is just as well because rear view isn’t the best around.

Noise insulation is excellent though and while this does feel quite a heavy vehicle it is also well composed, nicely damped and enjoyable to drive in urban conditions and especially satisfying on faster roads.

Move inside and the 6e, which will be sold in Takumi and Takumi Plus trim grades, is both plush and spacious with ample room up front plus plenty of head and legroom on offer in rear, though the footwell is quite shallow.

But there are plenty of cubbies, including a huge space beneath the centre console, door bins, glovebox and a smartphone charging pad while boot space is accommodating at 466 litres and also easily accessed thanks to the hatchback opening.

Premium materials feature throughout, Takumi models highlighting beige or black artificial leather while upgrading to Plus offers premium tan Nappa leather, and the cockpit features a 14.6-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch instrument set, complemented by an augmented reality head-up display. A full-length panoramic glass sunroof is also included.

As for necessary controls, you can normally rely on some physical buttons and switches with Mazda, but in this case there’s a customisable home screen to configure shortcut buttons and there are lots of menus. Functions like the air-con and heated seats are all accessed via the screen.

All that said, the Mazda6e will prove an interesting addition to the fully electric marketplace – its design, comfort, quality and driving range making it a worthy challenger to established contenders from the likes of Volkswagen, Kia, BMW and Tesla.