Image Credit: Mazda.
Mazda has finally decided to wake up from its long nap. The Japanese company is joining the electric vehicle market in the UK and it has brought along the new Mazda 6e. Disclaimer - I've always had a soft spot for Mazda. They make cars that feel alive, but their last attempt at an EV, the MX-30, had the range of a toddler's tricycle. It was a total disaster, that was.
But dry your eyes, because the new 6e is here to save the day. Let's start with the looks, because this thing is a stunner. It looks like a million bucks sitting next to the bar soap we know as the Tesla Model 3. The 6e is sleek, aggressive, and undeniably Mazda. But if you peek under that lovely skirt, you'll find a bit of a surprise. It's not actually a Mazda underneath. It's built on the bones of a Chinese car called the Changan Deepal SL03.
Image Credit: Mazda.
Not a big drama, sharing parts is standard practice these days, like sharing a toothbrush in a desperate situation. It's effective, but not entirely dignified. Mazda has taken this Chinese platform and sprinkled its own "Zoom-Zoom" magic dust on it. The result? A car that looks like the traditional Mazdas we all know and love.
Under that gorgeous skin, it's a rather simple affair - you've got a rear-mounted motor pushing out 254 horsepower. That's enough to get you from 0 to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds. Is it fast? Nope, it ain't. It won't rip your face off like a Tesla Plaid, but it's grand for merging onto the highway without saying a prayer first. It's a cruiser, not a bruiser.
Image Credit: Mazda.
The battery is where things get properly good. It's a 78 kWh unit that offers a range of about 348 miles. That's a massive improvement over the old MX-30. You could actually drive this thing for a few days without breaking into a cold sweat every time you pass a charging station. And when you do need to plug in, it'll juice up from 10 to 80 percent in just 24 minutes. Not bad at all.
Inside, the 6e is trying very hard to be posh. The "Takumi Plus" trim gets you tan Nappa leather, suede everywhere, and a glass roof so you can gaze at the gloomy British sky. It's a lovely place to sit. It's actually far nicer than the minimalist dentist waiting room you get in a Tesla.
Image Credit: Mazda.
But here is the rub, and it's a big one - the price. In the UK, this beauty starts at around $49,500. That's roughly the same price as a Tesla Model 3. Fair enough. But if you were to buy this exact same car in China, where it's built and called the EZ-6, do you know how much you'd pay? $21,500.
Now THAT hurts. You could buy two of them in China and still have enough leftover for a grand holiday in Beijing. The top-spec version over there is only about $24,500. The difference is absolutely bonkers. Why the massive markup? It's the usual suspects: taxes, shipping, and import duties. The UK slaps a 10 percent duty on cars, plus a 20 percent VAT. Meanwhile, the Chinese government is handing out subsidies like candy on Halloween.
Image Credit: Mazda.
Is the Mazda 6e worth it? It's a massive step forward for the brand. It's pretty, it's practical, and it has a range that actually works in the real world. But paying double the price just because of geography is a tough pill to swallow. But if your choice is the bare bones Model 3 or the Mazda, then there's not much to think about.
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