Look out, Tesla! New Mazda CX-6e spotted in the wild for the first time

• Mazda’s first electric family SUV
• Design inspired by Mazda Arata concept
• Likely to arrive in 2027

You could argue Mazda’s been a bit slow off the mark in the transition to electric power, but that’s set to change with the introduction of the new Mazda CX-6e. It will serve as the Japanese brand’s first dip into the lucrative electric family SUV market, taking aim at the best-selling Tesla Model Y.

Official information about the CX-6e still remains secret, but we’ve now spotted it testing for the first time. Even with the dazzling camouflage, its sleek SUV shape, angular front end and futuristic side-view cameras are all apparent, clueing us in on the electric SUV’s exterior design.

The CX-6e is likely to be revealed in China early next year, where it will be badged as the EZ-60. Before then, all we have are these spy shots, a handful of mysterious teaser images and our exclusive render image, previewing what the CX-6e could look like.

What do we know so far about the new Mazda CX-6e?

Recent filings reveal that the CX-6e nameplate has been trademarked by Mazda, giving us a few hints about the upcoming model. Going by the brand’s current lineup, the ‘X’ suggests the new model is an SUV, while ‘6’ has previously been used to denote its mid-size family cars. No points for guessing that the ‘e’ means electric.

These suspicions were confirmed by the first spy shots of the CX-6e testing on the open road. Its mid-size SUV shape and lack of exhaust pipes suggest that Mazda has decided to join most other major car makers on the electric family car bandwagon.

Another big hint is the Mazda 6e, a new electric saloon that will join the brand’s lineup later this year. The similar names are likely to bring similar styling, so we’d naturally expect both cars to be of similar size – a bit like the relationship between the Mazda3 and CX-30 on sale today.

Launching the electric saloon before the mid-size SUV is a bit of an unusual move in this day and age, given the booming popularity of the latter. But Mazda’s UK managing director, Jeremy Thomson, explained, “[The SUV sector] is where the competition is, so if you want to be cut-throat, maybe you go slightly off-piste.”

With the reveal of that ‘off-piste’ electric saloon out the way, Mazda is now turning its attention to its electric SUV. When asked about different bodystyles for its upcoming EVs, Thomson said, “we’ll start plugging all of the gaps; they will be the mainstream kind of cars you expect.”

What will the new Mazda CX-6e look like?

Using the various clues so far, we’ve put together an exclusive image previewing what the new Mazda CX-6e could look like. We expect it to sport a similar front end design to the 6e saloon, with its illuminating faux grille and slim headlights, along with details like flush doorhandles and chrome accents.

Its overall shape is likely to be inspired by the Mazda Arata concept car from 2024. That show car gave us an idea of the future of Mazda’s SUV design, with chunky styling and cladding around the bumpers and wheelarches. It’s expected to be a lot bigger than Mazda’s first EV, the MX-30, which had limited cabin space and only half-sized rear doors.

In these recent spy shots, the CX-6e’s slim headlights are visible under the camouflage, along with a grille similar in shape to the Mazda 6e’s. Just like the Arata concept, the CX-6e appears to have a steeply-raked rear window, lending it a sleeker silhouette compared to the CX-5 and CX-60.

Still, the CX-6e looks to be far more conventional than the MX-30, with two sets of doors and a bigger boot. That should place it in competition with other family EVs like the Skoda Enyaq, BMW iX1 and, of course, the Tesla Model Y.

Other teaser images from Mazda show the CX-6e’s various aerodynamic design elements guiding air around the car. We can see tall air vents either side of the front bumper, as well as a clearer outline of its razor-thin headlight design. As seen in the spy shots, the teaser images reveal that the CX-6e will use side-view cameras instead of mirrors, presumably to improve its aerodynamic performance. We expect these will be an optional extra for UK customers, with traditional mirrors fitted as standard.

Its interior is still a mystery at this point, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s largely copied over from the 6e saloon. That car represented a pivot in Mazda’s interior design, moving away from physical controls in favour of a giant, central touchscreen. The CX-6e will certainly be roomier, with space for five passengers and a boot with a 500-litre capacity.

What about the battery, electric motors and range?

Little is known about what will lie beneath the CX-6e’s metalwork. There’s a possibility that it will use the same EV architecture as the 6e saloon, which has been co-developed with Chinese auto giant Changan. That car uses an 80kWh battery for up to 342 miles of range – a figure that would probably shrink to around 320 miles in a bulkier SUV.

But there have been hints from Mazda that the CX-6e will instead use a new platform developed in-house for its future electric cars. Named ‘Scalable SkyActiv’, this flexible architecture could be used as the base for a host of EVs, including a mid-size SUV. Mazda has remained tight-lipped over details, with Thomson simply telling us to “watch this space.”

Still, it would make sense for the CX-6e to offer customers two battery sizes – a standard range and a long range model – with the larger of the two delivering at least 300 miles of range. That would mark a major improvement over the Mazda MX-30, which topped out at an underwhelming 124 miles of range.

How much will the CX-6e cost and when will it be revealed?

Mazda has suggested that its first EV to use the Scalable SkyActiv platform will arrive in 2027, meaning we could see the CX-6e shortly after the 6e saloon arrives. A full reveal is likely to happen at some point next year.

Pricing is still unknown, but it would make sense for the CX-6e to cost a bit more than the 6e saloon. That model is estimated to cost from around £40,000, so a £45,000 price tag for the CX-6e would seem likely.

Mazda CX-6e spy shots and teaser images

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