Mazda 6e Pairs Chinese Tech With Japanese Styling
The electric fastback starts at €37,935 after grants and rebates, undercutting several rivals in its class.
By James Anderson ·
The Mazda 6e arrives carrying a Japanese badge over a Chinese foundation. Mazda, the Japanese engineering brand long associated with the rotary engine and the MX-5 roadster, built this electric sedan on a platform and battery sourced from Changan, the Chinese carmaker. The result is a five-door fastback with 258hp delivered by a rear-mounted motor.
The powertrain pairs a 78kWh LFP battery pack with a 190kW e-motor producing 290Nm of torque. Mazda lists a 0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds and a WLTP range of 560km. During testing, average consumption ran at 16.3 kWh/100km, which points to roughly 480km of usable range. Peak DC charging hit 177kW at an Ionity charger.
Pricing undercuts much of the segment. The Takumi trim starts at €37,935 after grants and rebates. The Takumi Plus test car checked in at €39,765 after grants and the VRT rebate, a figure that buys an electric roof sunshade, tan interior seats and extra trim. For comparison, the BYD Seal starts at €46,885 after grants, the VW ID.7 at €54,990, and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 at €42,085. The Tesla Model 3 opens at €36,484.
The cabin carries tan leather and fabric trim, with comfortable seats and generous rear-seat space. The boot holds 466 litres, and a 72-litre frunk sits under the bonnet. Passenger feedback during testing stayed positive on comfort and room.
Controls run through a touchscreen rather than physical buttons. The bottom toolbar and the left-swipe menu can be customized, but driver assist systems must be switched off through menus before driving. With those alerts active, the steering and suspension react to narrow roads; with them disabled, the car settles into a smoother line through corners. Braking feels light at first contact before biting sharply, and the suspension bottoms out on deeper ruts.
The 6e holds a steady pace at 90km/h, where suspension and steering work together smoothly. Mazda engineered the car to deliver strong equipment and pricing at this level. The company's earlier work with Ford brought US parts and engines into its models, which supported the brand while diluting its identity. The Mazda 6e repeats that pattern with Changan hardware under Japanese bodywork.
Source: The Irish Times · original report published
