Here’s why the Mazda 6e’s quirky feel makes it a contender against EV greats from Tesla and Mercedes

Introduction

One of the best things about Mazda is it always likes to do its own thing. Just look at how it continues to use various powertrains across the range rather than go all-in like many rivals. For the Mazda 6e, though, collaboration was the name of the game. This electric car has been produced in a production partnership with Chinese carmaker Changan.

The coupe-style saloon with a hatchback is already known as the Changan Deepal L07/SL03 in other markets. That will surely discount it from any kind of US release, despite Mazda taking the bare bones and making this car its own, with a look and feel that’s everything I’d expect from the Japanese manufacturer. The claim is you’re getting the same ‘Kodo Soul of Motion’ design ethos seen on its other models, but the benefits of Chinese engineering including a near-350-mile range, fast charging capability and very decent efficiency.

So, the Mazda 6e is good looking, very comfortable and practical too. In the UK it starts at £38,995 for the Takumi grade; the Takumi Plus variant I’ve been driving will set you back £39,995. That makes it look like a strong alternative to popular rivals like the excellent Mercedes-Benz CLA or a Tesla Model 3. Anyone with an affinity to the Mazda brand should feel it fits the bill, especially when it comes to the interior finish. However, be warned, there is a large touchscreen that contains most of the controls…

The styling

To my eyes there’s no way this is a better-looking car than the CLA mentioned above, but the Mazda 6e is still rather pleasing to look at. The broad and low-slung coupe-style design is elegant from any angle, with a very prominent grille and badge arrangement up front, topped with sleek LED headlights and a neat, slightly uplifted bonnet line that gives the car a definite air of distinction. The door handles are flush and the windows are without frames, which add to the sleek look and feel.

At the rear, the line of the roof down through the hatchback is dramatically raked, continuing the sleek theme. Aside from that, I think the back end is perhaps the most innocuous aspect of the shape. A thin taillight band and some small Mazda letters topped with a boot lip deployable spoiler is all you get. However, the minimalist styling is nicely in keeping with the rest of the car. Gloss black and chrome alloys lend a touch of class too.

Meanwhile, the interior of my Takumi Plus trim car was a real treat as it was dominated by a tan Nappa leather and artificial suede combination that was really striking. I liked the ambience, although I did find the seats quite firm. The rear seats felt roomy too, but I reckon that sloping roofline could irritate taller occupants. The panoramic glass roof was a nice touch, mind. Nevertheless, for anyone who revelled in the overall appeal of the now-departed Mazda 6, I’d say the Mazda 6e seems like a fairly natural progression.

The drive

I prefer a rear-wheel drive electric car and the Mazda 6e provided me with just that, its 258bhp electric motor driving the back wheels courtesy of a 78kWh battery. The powertrain layout works well and, from the off, the Mazda 6e felt very composed around town. I was surprised at just how agile it was too and, being in more of a saloon-style car was a definite breath of fresh air after being subjected to so many SUVs. There was more than enough power for any occasion and, while a Sport mode was included on the menu, I felt the 6e worked just fine in its everyday comfort settings.

The Mazda 6e is around 2,000kg, so like all electric cars, the weight was evident – though because the car’s design is quite low-slung, this never felt like it was a hindrance. I took the car on a couple of long drives across a wide variety of roads, and it was actually most interesting in curvy countryside locations.

Motorway sections of my journey were uneventful, but I was impressed at how efficient the Mazda 6e seemed to be, reaching over 4Kwh per mile on average. Plus, this car can handle chargers up to 200kW, which is another bonus for 20% to 80% top-ups at under 25 minutes.

Of course, the upbeat vibes were tempered by everyday ADAS bongs and beeps. These could be tamed after some perseverance. However, I found the driving setup was best sorted before getting on the road because the majority of tweaks had to be done via the touchscreen menu system. That said, I loved the simple drive shifter mounted on the column, which added to the generally effortless feel of the Mazda 6e. It was acceptably quiet too, with nothing major going on in the wind or tyre noise departments.

The technology

Knowing the Mazda 6e came about as part of a collaboration with Changan, it didn’t come as much of a surprise to find the interior tech was dominated by the 14.6in central touchscreen. This sizeable landscape offering was nicely designed though, with thankfully some quick access controls for adjusting those all-important door mirrors and climate settings along with heated and ventilated seats as well. Just below the screen there were two spots for 50W wireless phone charging too.

Less practical were the USB ports underneath the central console, which were very difficult to access unless I was parked up. I liked the 10.2in driver instrument display panel, but the way it showed charging information and speed was a little unconventional. I wasn’t overly fussed as there was a head-up display that did a better job of dishing out the information.

Other idiosyncrasies were evident, including a programmable button on the steering wheel that was set for controlling the wipers rather than using a stalk. Similarly, the satellite navigation was a bit odd and felt like a bit of a mish-mash. A Japanese-sounding man was very persistent when informing me of average speed camera sections, giving me endless updates of when they started and finished. Trying both the bespoke system and, before that, directions plumbed in from a phone proved a mix bag. Oh well. Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were present too.

Mazda had done the decent thing and included a 14-speaker Sony audio system on my car and, what with the dual zone climate controls and connectivity options in the rear, I felt like this would be a respectable car for a long run with kids in the back. I wasn’t sure quite how well those posh seat coverings would fare though.

Mazda 6e verdict

There are plenty of alternatives to the Mazda 6e, with the Mercedes-Benz CLA being my personal pick, but the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and BYD Seal are all good too. However, if the Mazda brand continues to strike a chord with you, then the Mazda 6e is well worth a look.

It’s reasonably practical and offers both range and fast charging, which will be especially appealing for anyone clocking up lots of motorway miles. Granted, there is Changan influence underneath the surface, but I think Mazda designers have done a very credible job in disguising this fact. Overall, I’d say it’s a success.

Mazda 6e technical specifications