Battery size: 78kWh
Miles per kWh: 4.4
E-Rating™: A+
Max charge rate: 200kW
Range: 348 miles
Introduction and model history
Do you want to hear how to win bets, like Mazda? Well, it’s simple. Rather than risk everything on one horse, all you need to do is place a bet on all of the runners! That way you are guaranteed a win! Genius, eh?
For Mazda, this means the company has every base covered rather than choose one technology. It makes petrols, diesels, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and, until recently, even range extenders. That way it can’t really lose, I suppose, although I wonder if there are fights in the R&D centre canteen every lunch time.
In time, this new 6 will be available with pure electric, PHEV and range extender powertrains, although only the EV is confirmed for the UK at the moment. To help spread the cost of its bets, the 6e is made in collaboration with a Chinese company called Changan, who calls its version the Deepal SL03. I guess 6e sounds a bit more, er, sexy?
Range, battery and charging
When we first drove the 6e it came in two battery and motor combinations. The smaller of which, the 68.9kWh LFP and 258hp rear-mounted motor, gave a claimed range of 299 miles (481 kms) – respectable, if not exceptional in outright terms, although the efficiency of 4.34m/kWh was impressive and the 165kW charging peak very competitive. The second option was a larger 80kWh pack that had a longer 345-mile range (555 kms) but, rather bizarrely, was hooked up to a less powerful 244hp motor. It also had a rather feeble 90kW maximum DC charging speed. Why? Because it was an NMC battery.
If you’re in mainland Europe then you’ll still have this rather perplexing choice, but things are easier for us Brits. It's taken a little longer for the 6e to arrive in the UK compared to other European markets, and in that time Changan has introduced a far more competitive battery, which Mazda UK has now chosen to use. It's a new 78kWh LFP battery that gives a 348-mile (560 kms) range, which is more than the entry-level version of the Tesla Model 3.
Rather impressively, it also has a maximum DC charging speed of 200kW, which is quicker charging than a lot of rivals, and means a 10-to-80% top-up will take 24 minutes. It's paired with a 258hp electric motor that still drives the rear wheels.
Practicality and boot space
At 4921mm long and 1890 mm wide, the Mazda is a big car - that's 200mm longer than a Tesla Model 3 and just a fraction smaller than a Volkswagen ID.7. That means there is a decent amount of space for passengers inside. As usual in an EV, the rear seat comfort is a little compromised by the high floor, but it's never going to be a real issue unless you've got very long legs.
Boot space? After initially telling a figure of 330 litres, Mazda finally got out the measuring tapes and have come up with a figure of 466 litres. While smaller than an ID.7, it's usefully larger than those smaller rivals. Although the 6e's boot is relatively shallow, it goes deep horizontally - and there is a 72-litre frunk too. Mazda will even sell you a handy basket to fit in the frunk to make it easy to lift stuff out.
Interior, design/styling and technology
The inside of the 6e is where the Mazda gets more interesting and lifted above the mainstream rivals. I think it is nicer inside than a lot of the premium rivals, with some attractive and interesting materials such as suede-like trim on the doors which make it feel like your favourite slippers, and it all feels extremely well put together.
A full length panoramic roof is also standard on all models, adding light and headroom. There's a 14.6-inch screen which might not have many buttons, but it does have gesture control, which seems like an excellent new way to humiliate yourself in front of your passengers. So, for example, if you give a v sign it will answer an incoming phone call. Putting your fingers on your lips like a nursery school teacher will mute the music, or giving a thumbs up will like a song on your playlist. The software is quite BYD-like in its operation, and the screen is clear and the system is quick to react. It's just very different from the other non-Chinese-related Mazdas in the firm's range, which major on buttons and smaller screens that are operated by rotary dials when driving.
There’s an augmented reality head-up display too, with arrows for the sat nav overlaid over the road you can see out of the windscreen, and there’s even a ‘snow mode’ which makes the graphics blue instead of white so you can see them in wintery weather.
But there are a few oddities. For example, many owners will be freaked out that controls for the wipers and headlamps are buried in the touchscreen. There are two 'favourite' buttons on the steering wheel, and on my test car these were configured to be for the headlights and wipers (you can configure them for anything you like), but the very idea that there isn't a permanent button or - dare I say it - a stalk for major safety features, is a worrying omission.
As for the exterior design, Mazda has done an amazing job. You really wouldn't think that this car's sister is the Changan SL03, such is the excellent job Mazda has done here. There's more than passing resemblance to the previous (non-electric) Mazda 6, and I really like how the rear lights make a passing nod to the classic Mazda RX-7 sports car, and how the Mazda grille has been updated with the outer edges donning up as charging indicator lights when the car is plugged in.
Motors, performance and handling
While 258hp doesn't sound a lot, especially when Tesla, BYD and Polestar will sell you powerful versions of their equivalently sized electric saloons, it's more than enough for a car like this. There's no stomach-churning acceleration here, with 0-62mph taking 7.3 seconds, and the car feels perfectly quick on British B-roads and fast motorway merges.
The engineers say the 6e has been built to 'feel like a Mazda', which means it is sportier than average, with 'an intuitive driving experience and Mazda’s distinctive responsiveness'. For the main part I'd agree - it has near perfect front-to-rear weight distribution, rear-wheel drive and multi-link rear suspension. But, despite all of that, the steering has a slightly odd feel around the dead ahead and doesn't feel as predictable as you might expect, which is very un-Mazda. I also found the ride comfort on UK roads to be a bit fussy. It's not jarring, but it just never really settles down, which is a bit disappointing.
It's not a bad car to drive, just one that doesn't live up to the high expectations we have for Mazda, because we know that this Japanese maker can do brilliant things with ride and handling even on its everyday cars. The 6e just doesn't quite hit the mark, though.
You can’t complain about efficiency, though. Drives of left-hand drive European-spec cars delivered strong efficiency, but a drive of the UK version seriously impressed us.
My colleague James Batchelor recently drove the 6e on a 160-mile drive in the UK in the recent 30-degree-plus heatwave, with the air conditioning on its lowest temperature setting, the fan on full blast and the cooling seats switched on, and the 6e returned 4.3 miles per kWh. That’s a real-world range of 335 miles (539 kms) – not far off the claimed figure, and in spite of hot weather’s tendency to sap range.
Running costs and pricing
Mazda is using that familiar trick of trying to win buyers' hearts with competitive prices and high kit levels. There are only two models and both come packed with luxuries.
Takumi, for £38,995, gets 19-inch alloys, artificial leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic glass roof, a head-up display, an electric tailgate and a 360-degree parking camera. The £39,995 Takumi Plus, meanwhile, adds lovely caramel-coloured Nappa leather and artificial suede upholstery, and an electric sun blind for the glass panoramic roof.
The entry-level Tesla Model 3 undercuts the 6e by around £2,000, but the Mazda is better equipped, and the most basic Mercedes CLA is priced roughly the same. Despite the high equipment levels, Mazda is going to have a tough time against Tesla, BYD, Mercedes, Polestar and Volkswagen with its ID.7. Very competitive finance packages and leasing deals will be key.
Verdict
It isn't the most exciting new electric car, but the Mazda is sleek, spacious and efficient. It's not as fun to drive as we'd hoped, and there are more comfortable and serene electric saloons and hatches out there, too, so it does feel like it's missing a unique selling point over its many rivals. Even so, there are aspects of the Mazda that make it very likeable, such as the plush interior and very impressive efficiency.
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