Mazda 6e Review 2026: Prices, specs and verdict

What is the Mazda 6e?

The Mazda 6e is the Japanese brand’s first attempt at a full-size, mass-market electric car to take on the likes of the Tesla Model 3.

It isn’t Mazda’s first EV, as that honour applies to the quirky and compromised MX-30. But that small SUV, with its limited range and rear-hinged back doors, wasn’t a commercial success. Indeed, Mazda has just axed the car entirely in the UK after only a few years on sale.

With the brand in real danger of falling behind in the electric car race and lacking the resources to match brands like BMW, Volkswagen and Tesla, Mazda instead turned to its Chinese partner, Changan, for help in developing the 6e. Underneath it’s a Changan Deepal SL03 saloon, with Mazda changing the design inside and out and fiddling with the driving experience a bit.

Having already been on sale in China for a while as the EZ-6, the 6e large saloon is due to go on sale in the middle of 2026. We’ve already driven a left-hand drive European version to see if it’s worth waiting for.

Verdict: is the Mazda 6e a good car?

The Mazda 6e is a stylish, relatively spacious electric four-door that’s expected to offer a lot of standard equipment – and tech – for the money. It seems well-built, too. But unless the price is even lower than expected, there isn’t really anything in the 6e’s range, charging speeds and driving experience that stands out. It also doesn’t really feel like a Mazda, both to drive and (with its fiddly cabin tech) sit in.

Pricing, specs & rivals

Pricing for the Mazda 6e in the UK is due to be confirmed nearer the mid-2026 launch. For now, all we have to go on is pricing for left-hand drive European versions which are already on sale.

In Germany and the Netherlands you can pick up a Mazda 6e for just under €45,000, or around £39,000. Expect UK prices to broadly mirror this, with a starting price of at least £40k for the smaller battery variant and closer to £45,000 for the bigger battery.

That means it should be slightly pricier than a Tesla Model 3 and could possibly undercut the Mercedes-Benz CLA when it arrives in the UK.

Equipment levels are again yet to be confirmed for cars coming to UK shores. But we do know that the entry-level Takumi model in other markets comes generously appointed, with faux leather trim, wireless phone charging, heated and cooled front seats with rear climate control, a 360-degree camera system, a panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate and a Sony audio system.

Takumi Plus models add Nappa leather and suede upholstery and a few other niceties. We’ll confirm the full kit tally when it is announced.

Rivals

There are plenty of alternatives to the Mazda 6e on the market that you should be checking out, not least cars like the Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.7.

Other options include the Hyundai IONIQ 6, BMW i4, Polestar 2 and BYD Seal, along with the new Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric. You might also want to consider hatchback-cum-SUVs like the Kia EV6 and Renault Scenic E-Tech.

Interior comfort, quality & technology

Mazda has traditionally taken an old-school approach to its interiors, preferring a driver-focused layout with plenty of physical controls and thoughtful design elements. The 6e loses quite a lot of that user-friendliness.

Instead, it’s clear that most of what you interact with has been developed by Changan. Like many Chinese market cars, the dash is dominated by a large touchscreen controlling almost all the car’s functions. That doesn’t just mean the climate controls – even the door mirrors, lights and wipers are controlled on-screen.

As we’ve learned from Teslas that have a similar layout, it’s frustrating and fiddly to change or control these functions on the move. At least Mazda gives you a couple of customisable shortcut buttons on the steering wheel to select these, but we’d rather use one for turning off unwanted driver assists easily.

That’s a pity, because when it comes to interior quality the 6e is very good. It looks and feels every inch the premium model in top-spec Takumi Plus trim, feeling posher inside than a Hyundai IONIQ 6 and closer in line with the BMW i4. You get soft-touch materials everywhere including suede on the dashboard and leather on the centre console.

The driving position is good enough, with plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel and comfortable yet supportive front seats. That said, you are sat higher than in many saloon rivals, meaning you feel slightly perched on the car rather than in it. Rear visibility is quite poor due to the tiny, sharply angled rear screen, too.

Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity

Every version of the 6e comes equipped with a 14.6in touchscreen mounted centrally on the dash. It’s a larger, more feature packed system than we’ve seen in any Mazda to date.

The screen is bright and relatively responsive most of the time, but although you won’t be short of things to play with, finding key functions doesn’t come naturally at first. There’s lots of menu layers and small icons that require too much of your attention while driving – it’s a far cry from the simple rotary controller placed where your hand rests in other Mazdas.

At least the air-con controls are permanently displayed at the bottom of the screen, and you can customise other widgets too. You also wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, gesture control (that doesn’t work very well) and voice control (which we weren’t able to use in these European-spec cars).

The 10.2in digital dial display is also packed with lots of information, making it a bit cluttered at first, but you do get used to where everything is after a while. We’re not big fans of the fiddly haptic touch steering wheel buttons, though.

Every version gets wireless phone charging as standard, but while there are two USB-C connectors up front there’s only one in the rear, which is a shame given how tech-focused the cabin is.

Still, the 14-speaker Sony sound system is very good, with punchy and clear sound quality. It also has a cool party trick, with headrest speakers that allow the driver to clearly hear a phone call while the other speakers continue with in-car audio.

How practical is the Mazda 6e?

The Mazda 6e’s dimensions make it 4,921mm long, 1,890mm wide and 1,491mm tall. That’s considerably longer than a Tesla Model 3 and closer to a VW ID.7 in size, but the Mazda has a lower, more rakish roofline.

Even so, there’s an abundance of space on offer up front, with head and legroom to spare for even the most generously-sized adults.

Things in the rear are mostly good, too, with good levels of kneeroom even for six-footers. Head space is a bit limited by the sloping roofline, but six-footers do fit without being too uncomfortable. Overall, it’s roomier than a BMW i4 in the back, and on a par with the Model 3.

Having said that, the shallow footwells (due to the location of the batteries under the floor) mean you knees sit higher up than is comfortable if you’re tall – an ID.7 is roomier if that’s an issue.

We like that rear passengers get their own climate control screen (like the latest Model 3) which can also control the electric roof blinds. We’re not sure the ability to move the front passenger seat is a good thing to let naughty children to have access to, however.

Storage and boot space

You’ll find a decent level of storage in the cabin including reasonable door bins, a decent glovebox, a deep cubby under the centre armrest and a useful under-console tray for bigger items. You also get two phone holders, one of which will charge the device.

In the rear you’ll find some good-sized door bins, pockets in the front seatbacks and a pair of cupholders in the flip-down centre armrest. There’s also a little tray for a phone under the air vents.

The rear seatbacks fold down in a typical 60/40 split (not the more practical 40/20/40 split of the ID.7 and i4).

Meanwhile, the 466-litre boot is larger than that of the Model 3 but not as generous as the ID.7. Regardless, the hatchback opening is great for loading bulky items in or out and the rectangular shape of the boot lets you make the most of the space on offer.

Unlike some EVs, the 63 does have a small front boot. It’s large enough for the charging cables and a small rucksack, so might come in handy.

Performance & drive: What is the Mazda 6e like on the road?

Strangely, the Mazda 6e makes more power with the smaller battery specified than the larger one. We’re not really sure why.

Opting for the smaller battery gives you a 255hp electric motor powering the rear, enough for a  0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds. Being an electric car still feels brisk despite the below-average figures, but even the cheapest versions of the BMW i4 or Tesla Model 3 are a good deal quicker.

The 6e Long Range makes do with just 241hp, albeit the same torque output. The 0-62mph time drops to 7.8 seconds. Again, performance is fine, but a long way short of the best in class. There’s also no dual-motor, all-wheel drive version of the 6e.

In regular driving the 6e never feels underpowered. But those hoping for the sporty feel that Mazda is usually good at will be a bit underwhelmed, particularly as acceleration tails off the faster you go.

At least there are a full four regenerative braking settings to play with. However, rather than handy steering wheel paddles to adjust the setting, you must delve into the touchscreen to change them. At least the brake pedal has a natural, progressive response.

Power, 0-62mph times

• Mazda 6e 68kWh: 255hp / 7.6 secs
• Mazda 6e Long Range: 241hp / 7.8 secs

Ride and handling

In isolation the 6e is decent to drive, and you sense that Mazda is telling the truth when it says the car was further developed for European roads over the Chinese version.

Initially that seems to ring true, with a balanced feel, decent levels of grip and limited body roll. There’s more enjoyment to be had here than in the average electric SUV, that’s for sure.

The problem is that cars like the Tesla Model 3 and (in particular) the BMW i4 set a very high standard for ride and handling that the Mazda can’t match, with its artificial steering and lack of a sense of fun that petrol-powered Mazdas usually deliver.

The ride, too, is disappointing. It’s too fidgety over rougher roads and can’t isolate potholes as well as the best electric cars around town. It’s better at speed, making the 6e decent on the motorway.

Noise and refinement

Despite the Mazda 6e’s unsettled ride, it’s a quiet cruiser at motorway speeds. Wind noise is very well contained (more so than other Mazda models), and although there is some road noise it’s never intrusive even on poor surfaces. The electric motor has a very faint whine, too.

Euro NCAP: is the Mazda 6e a safe car?

Most of Mazda’s recent models have achieved strong Euro NCAP ratings, and the 6e is no different with the maximum five-star score in crash testing.

Particularly impressive are the 93% ratings for adult and child occupant protection – slightly ahead of the already very safe Tesla Model 3.

UK specifications are yet to be finalised regarding safety equipment, but we don’t expect Mazda to skimp on it. In Germany, the 6e is offered with the usual autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assistance, driver monitoring and traffic sign recognition, but it also comes with rear cross-traffic alert, rear collision warning and braking, adaptive cruise control and a safe exit alert system.

Charging, range and running costs

One area where the Mazda 6e raises some questions is in the battery and charging department.

At first glance, all seems as you’d expect. The 6e is available with two battery sizes, one a 68.8kWh unit and another a longer-range 80kWh unit. However, the two packs are completely unrelated.

The larger one is a lithium-ion battery with nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry – typical of most EVs from the last 15 years. The smaller battery uses an LFP (Lithium-ion Phosphate) chemistry used by some Teslas and newer EVs.

The 80kWh NMC battery promises a range of up to 342 miles on a charge according to WLTP tests.

The 68.8kWh pack manages 298 miles from a charge, which is quite a bit below the latest electric saloon standards. Mercedes-Benz, for example, boasts up to 483 miles of range, while even the much older BMW i4 promises up to 373 miles. Most Tesla Model 3s can go further, too.

Things get a bit odd when Mazda claims that the UK version of the 6e isn’t guaranteed to feature the biggest battery option – and the charging statistics might explain that.

Range on a charge (WLTP figures) 

• Mazda 6e 68.8kWh: 298 miles
• Mazda 6e Long Range 80kWh: 342 miles

Very often the longer-range version of an electric car has a faster peak charging speed, allowing roughly the same 10-80% charging times for each version. Mazda has bucked this trend, though.

So while the smaller battery version promises a reasonable peak DC rapid charging speed of 165kW, the bigger battery’s peak speed is almost half that at just 90kW.

That’s not just slower than rivals, it’s slower than a few budget small EVs. It also means you’ll be waiting at least 47 minutes for a 10-80% charge, The smaller battery can achieve the same charge in as little as 24 minutes – competitive with the class.

That really harms the 6e’s appeal as a long-distance car, something which many of its rivals excel at. It may well be fine for those who only really charge at home or work, but we don’t know for sure if Mazda UK will offer it yet.

We do know that the 6e comes as standard with a heat pump in Europe, and expect that to also be the case in the UK. It’s a pity Vehicle-to-Load tech isn’t available to power devices from the car’s battery, however.

Charging speeds

(Figures from EV Database)

• 7kW charging: 10hr 30 mins (68kWh) / 12hrs (80kWh)
• 11kW charging: 7hr 15 mins / 8hr 15 mins
• 50kW rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 58 mins  / 83 mins
• 150kW+ rapid charger (10 to 80% charge): 24 mins / 47 mins

How much does the Mazda 6e cost to insure?

Insurance groups for the Mazda 6e are unlikely to be revealed until it goes on sale later in 2026. Expect both versions to be in the same ballpark as performance is very similar.