New Mazda 6e is a sleek electric saloon to take on Tesla

• New electric replacement for Mazda 6 saloon
• Up to 343 miles of range for Long Range model
• Coming to the UK in 2026

You’re looking at the new Mazda 6e, a fully-electric saloon that’s coming to the UK next year to take on the Tesla Model 3. The Japanese brand already sells one EV over here – the MX-30 – but the new 6e is bigger, has a much longer range and is almost certain to be more expensive.

While the Mazda 6e is new to us Brits, it’s been on sale in China for some time, badged as the EZ-6. It’s built there, too, which might explain why China and other left-hand drive European markets are getting the 6e before a right-hand drive version is put into production. Still, with sleek styling and an entirely new interior design for Mazda, the 6e could well be worth the wait.

Mazda 6e exterior and interior design

First things first, the Mazda 6e is a four-door saloon, which is a bit unusual in this day and age. Most rivals are focusing their efforts on electric SUVs, but then Mazda has never been one to follow the crowd. At 4,921mm long, the 6e is a big car, larger in every dimension than the Tesla Model 3 and similar in length to a Volkswagen Passat.

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We know that styling is subjective, but even we can admit that the Mazda 6e is a handsome machine. It takes Mazda’s tried-and-tested design language but adds a few details to modernise it, including slimmer LED headlights and a “glowing” front grille. The sloping roofline meets a short decklid at the rear, which features an electrically deployable rear spoiler. It automatically pops up above 55mph or with the push of a button.

Inside the 6e, Mazda has abandoned its traditional layout of physical controls in favour of a massive touchscreen. It spans 14.6 inches across and is used to control climate, media and navigation through a “smartphone-like interface with swipe functionality”. The driver gets a 10.2-inch digital display, while rear-seat passengers get one, too, for adjusting their climate and rear sunshades.

We had a chance to sit in the Mazda 6e and found that there was plenty of room for a six-foot tall adult to get comfortable in the front and back. Boot space looks to be a bit short of rivals, though – its 330 litre boot can’t match the Tesla Model 3 or Hyundai Ioniq 6, but at least there’s an extra 70-litre front boot.

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What’s the range and performance of the Mazda 6e?

The Mazda 6e e-Skyactiv EV is the standard model, coming with a 69kWh battery and a range of up to 298 miles – about 20 miles behind the entry-level Tesla Model 3. This version uses a single, rear-mounted motor with 254bhp, which Mazda claims can launch it from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds. Thanks to 200kW rapid charging compatibility, this model can be topped up from 10 to 80% in around 22 minutes.

For those wanting to travel further, there’s also the Mazda 6e Long Range. This version can travel up to 343 miles on a charge, although there are a couple of compromises. It uses a slightly less powerful 242bhp motor, meaning the 0-62mph time is a fraction slower. More importantly, however, rapid charging speeds are capped at 95kW. The same 10 to 80% recharge takes around 45 minutes – twice as long as the standard car.

Like the Mazda MX-5 sports car, both 6e variants use a rear-wheel drive layout with a 50-50 front-to-rear weight distribution, helping to deliver an “intuitive driving experience and Mazda’s distinctive responsiveness.” A plug-in hybrid version of the 6e is sold alongside the EV in China, but there are currently no plans to bring this model to Europe.

How much will the Mazda 6e cost and when is it coming to the UK?

Pricing for the Mazda 6e hasn’t been confirmed yet, but given that it’s aimed at the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6, we expect it to start from around £40,000. It will make its European debut this summer, although UK customers will have to wait until 2026 for it to appear in showrooms.

Prefer SUVs to saloons? Read our review of the big Mazda CX-80…