Early access to Mazda’s latest EV before it officially arrives in the UK in 2026. By John Challen.

WHAT IS IT? Mid-size saloon  HOW MUCH? TBC, but in the region of £45,000  Range: 298-345 miles (WLTP)  Charge 10-80%: 24 mins (165kW DC)

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For some time, Mazda has been proud of the fact that it is still competing on all powertrain fronts, including diesel. One area that has arguably been lacking when it comes to strength in depth has been pure electric. Yes, there’s the MX-30, but that’s been about for a while, so the arrival of the Mazda6e cannot come too soon.

In Mazda’s search for electrification, it has found a donor at its Chinese manufacturing partner Changan. That means the Changan Deepal SL03 has been used as a base for the new Mazda,  which means a new direction in terms of interior layout – there’s a lot of screen square inches, but not many physical buttons. Yes, it’s another model where pretty much everything is controlled via the screen (in this case there’s a 14.6-inch central touchscreen alongside a 10.2-inch driver display), or by voice control. The steering wheel is also fully loaded with controls for everything from audio to navigation to cruise control. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the technological shift, but it’s a marked departure for Mazda and something that customers will have to get used to. To help the transition, there’s a customisable menu strip along the bottom of the screen, which should make life easier.

But there’s no shortage of styling cues and interior touches that still make the car recognisable as a Mazda. Company representatives talk of “smooth flowing lines” and “bold features” to give the car presence. And inside, it is a spacious and comfortable cabin, featuring quality materials in both the Takumi and Takumi Plus available trims. Measuring 4,921mm long (and 2,895mm wide and 1,485mm high), the 6e is slightly shorter than Mazda’s flagship CX80 SUV, which means it has a strong presence in profile and on the road.

When it goes on sale in the UK, there will be two battery choices offered: a 68.8kWh unit and an 80kWh option. The former is mated to a 258hp electric motor and provides just shy of 300 miles WLTP. Using DC charging, the battery can be replenished from 10% to 80% in 22 minutes – potentially adding 145 miles in 15 minutes. Meanwhile, the larger battery option works alongside a 244hp motor, with a theoretical 345 miles possible. The 10-80% charging time here is 45 minutes, meaning that the longer-range model notably charges at a slower speed than the standard model – and has less power, too. Both setups have 310Nm.

Dynamically, it’s a bit of a mixed bag from the big Mazda. The ride and acceleration are plus points and it is very comfortable across the speed range. Acceleration is pretty good too. But the steering feels pretty vague and is arguably too light for a car of this mass. As a result, it’s not very confidence-inspiring across different road types, but also quite un-Mazda like, which is a shame. To be honest, that assessment sums up the car as a whole, which means a bit of a challenge for the Japanese brand. However, Mazda confirms that the car is set to go through another round of tweaks before it officially arrives, so hopefully some of the issues might be ironed out between now and then.

The Lowdown

Mazda 6e

Key fleet model: Takumi 68.8kW

Thumbs up: Striking looks, comfortable seats

Thumbs down: Confusing infotainment system; low charging speeds

Seven-word summary: A departure – and a risk – for Mazda

Also consider: BYD Seal, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Volkswagen ID.7