Mazda CX-6e Review: First Drive in Mazda's New 258 HP Electric SUV With Digital Mirrors and 14.2 kWh/100 km
My first drive in the Mazda CX-6e, the 4.85-meter electric SUV with a 78 kWh LFP battery and up to 484 km of WLTP range. Kodo design, ventilated rear seats, an 80-liter frunk and efficiency that pleasantly surprised me.
I got the chance to drive the new Mazda CX-6e, a Japanese electric SUV that you can tell is a Mazda from a mile away. This wasn't a full efficiency test but a first drive: I took it through town and along a road between towns, and I checked every button, every seat and every storage space. The short version: you get a lot of car, and the 14.2 kWh/100 km I saw on the drive between towns pleasantly surprised me for a vehicle this big.
The Mazda CX-6e in a nutshell
The CX-6e is a mid-size electric SUV, 4,850 mm long with a 2,902 mm wheelbase. According to "Mazda Motor Europe", it has a 78 kWh LFP battery and a rear-mounted electric motor making 190 kW (258 PS) and 290 Nm. It does 0–100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and offers up to 484 km of WLTP range on the Takumi trim with 19-inch wheels, or 468 km on the Takumi Plus with 21-inch wheels and digital mirrors. DC fast charging from 10 to 80% takes about 24 minutes, and at home it accepts 11 kW on AC. A heat pump is standard.
The car is built in China and was developed together with partner Changan, but Mazda's philosophy shows everywhere: in the design, the materials and the way the cabin is laid out.
The exterior: impossible to mistake for anything else
The front has an element that looks like an integrated spoiler, and the grille is active, for better aerodynamics. Along the sides, air is channeled toward the back, and the rear end is very simple and clean. The doors are frameless and the headlights are very discreet. The car I drove had 21-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires in size 255/40 R21.
Digital mirrors: clever, but I have a preference
The version I tested had camera-based side mirrors. The resolution is good, and when you switch on the turn signal the image automatically zooms out so you see more of the next lane. Personally, I still like classic mirrors, because my instinct is to look at the bottom of the mirror, and with a camera you only see what it films. The good news is that, officially, digital side mirrors are standard only on the Takumi Plus. The interior rear-view mirror works both as a classic mirror and as a screen fed by the rear camera. With three people in the back seat, the digital mode really helps.
The cabin: soft materials and ventilated seats in the back too
The first thing you notice is the huge screen stretching across the dashboard. Mazda describes it as a 26-inch touchscreen. The steering wheel has just two spokes, cruise control is activated from the gear selector stalk, and the head-up display is large and easy to read. The materials feel nice to the touch, with soft surfaces on the doors.
The rear seat held the nicest surprise: heated and ventilated seats for rear passengers too, plus a separate climate screen. The outer rear seats are very well bolstered, and the middle has cup holders and a USB-C port. The panoramic roof has a power sunshade you can stop exactly where you want. I also found ISOFIX on the front passenger seat, which is very handy for families.
Trunk and frunk
The rear trunk is big and roomy, even without underfloor storage, and the folded rear seats leave a perfectly flat floor. Officially, you get 468 liters up to the roof and 1,434 liters with the rear seat folded. Up front, the frunk impressed me: it has an extra compartment underneath, and my arm went in up to the elbow. Mazda rates it at 80 liters, enough for cables or a small bag.
How it drives and what it used
There are only three drive modes: Normal, Sport and Individual. In Sport, the throttle responds faster, and in Individual you can also adjust regenerative braking. My understanding was that you can turn it down so the car almost coasts freely, while Mazda officially lists four levels, from low to strong. I like this Japanese simplicity. It's not a sports car, but it feels like a 250–300 hp car, which matches the official 258 PS.
The car was brand new, with just 15 km on the odometer. Over the last 23 km I averaged 14.9 kWh/100 km, and on the drive between towns I got down to 14.2 kWh/100 km, in summer weather. The official WLTP combined figure is 18.9–19.4 kWh/100 km. For a full range and charging test, I'd like to take it on a long road trip.
What it means for drivers
The Mazda CX-6e is a different car with real personality, for anyone who wants an electric SUV that doesn't look like all the others. The version I drove cost about 49,000 euros and brings a lot of equipment for the money: ventilated front and rear seats, a head-up display, a panoramic roof and digital mirrors. I think it's aimed first at people who already own a Mazda and want to go electric without giving up the brand's style. The 78 kWh LFP battery, 10–80% charging in about 24 minutes and the low consumption I saw in the first miles also make it a good fit for long trips. If you prefer classic mirrors, the Takumi trim is worth a look, and it also has the longest official range, 484 km (about 300 miles).
