After months of teasers, Mazda finally pulled the wraps off its all-new and highly anticipated electric Mazda6e sedan for Europe. Revealed at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium, the new Mazda6e essentially takes the role as the Hiroshima automaker’s latest and greatest Mazda6 successor. But as noted by the “e” appended at the end of its model name, it’s an electric vehicle.
Following numerous spy shots and tips, as well as its initial debut as the EZ-6 for the Chinese market back in May 2024, the Mazda6e really is no surprise. But what’s different is that the model gets the Mazda6e name in Europe, while in China, it’s sold as the EZ-6. With a version destined for the U.S., the European spec model could give us even a better glimpse of what to expect when it arrives stateside.
We May Also Get The Mazda6e As It Is
While we already got a solid preview of the Mazda6e as the Chinese-market EZ-6, even with streamlined models across global markets, there are some market-specific differences. So, while the EZ-6 and Mazda6e may be almost identical at their cores, there’s still a chance for variation for the North American model.
Like the Chinese EZ-6, the Mazda6e utilizes the same Changan EPA1 platform shared with the Deepal L07 and S07 electric vehicles. But unlike the EZ-6, the Mazda6e will be sold strictly as an electric vehicle. Whereas in China, the EZ-6 is available as both a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) or an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV).
The Mazda63 will be available with two battery pack options: one with a 68.8 kilowatt/hour capacity, and a more powerful 80 kilowatt/hour variant. Mazda claims the 68.8 kWh battery should allow a total driving range of up to 298 miles (479 kilometers), and 343 miles (552 km) for the 80 kWh version.
Despite the powertrain differences, the chassis, suspension, body, and interior remain nearly identical, with the design incorporating the company’s new “Authentic Modern” design language. The Mazda6e also boasts the same 50/50 weight distribution as the EZ-L, and “meticulously-tuned braking and handling performance” under the “Jinba Ittai” philosophy, which promises a feeling of “car and driver as one.” Basically, it’s Mazda’s still promising to deliver on its reputation for balanced and sporty handling that it’s known for.
Also included in the mix is Mazda’s new approach to in-car smart-cabin technologies. Although the Japanese automaker didn’t go into deep detail, the Mazda6e supposedly comes with a new intelligent drive system that works together with onboard passive and active safety gear to improve accident mitigation. The interior is also decked out with smart voice, touch, and gesture controls, all in an effort to perpetuate Mazda’s momentum of moving upmarket.
Although we’re expecting a version of the EZ-6/Mazda6e to arrive on U.S. shores in the near future, its Chinese-based mechanical roots and software are likely going to prove a major challenge, should the incoming Trump Administration slap massive tariffs or place bans on Chinese-made automobiles. Whether that becomes an issue for us and Mazda’s plant to introduce the midsize EV on our shores has yet to be seen.
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