Mazda CX-6e lands in Australia as a $53,990 electric SUV rival to the Tesla Model Y

A second Changan-built Mazda EV arrives months after the first

CarExpert reports that Mazda's electric line-up in Australia has gone from a trickle to a stream: after the 6e liftback arrived in July as the first serious post-MX-30 EV, the CX-6e has now landed as a mid-size SUV built on the same platform and key specifications. Like the 6e, it is a product of Mazda's partnership with Chinese automotive powerhouse Changan, and CarExpert argues the SUV body style gives it a far broader audience than its liftback sibling, appealing to buyers cross-shopping the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Zeekr 7X as well as Mazda loyalists currently driving a CX-5. ¹

The commercial stakes are significant. According to CarExpert, Mazda sees potential for CX-6e sales of up to 12,000 units per year in Australia, which would make it the brand's second best-selling model and the third best-selling EV in the country. Whether the car can justify that expectation is the question the publication set out to answer in its first local drive. ¹

Australian pricing undercuts the Model Y, but the market is moving fast

CarExpert lists the 2027 CX-6e range at $53,990 before on-road costs for the entry GT and $56,990 for the flagship Azami. At those figures the base car undercuts the Model Y (from $58,900), the Sealion 7 (from $54,990) and the Zeekr 7X (from $57,900), pricing that CarExpert describes as hard to argue with despite any reservations about the Chinese co-development arrangement. ¹

CarExpert cautions that Australia's EV market is shifting constantly, so the CX-6e's value position may not hold. It points to the competing Nissan Ariya, which can now be had for as little as $42,990 drive-away, having opened from $54,840 plus on-road costs not long ago. For international context, CompleteCar.ie lists Irish pricing at €46,440 for the Takumi and €49,440 for the Takumi Plus, while Top Gear quotes UK prices of £42,925 to £45,285 – all before on-road or VRT charges in their respective markets. ¹²³

Specifications: one powertrain, 78kWh LFP battery and fast DC charging

CarExpert's Australian specification data shows a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive drivetrain with a 190kW/290Nm rear-mounted electric motor fed by a 78kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. Claimed WLTP range is 484km for the GT and 468km for the Azami, with claimed combined energy consumption of 18.9kWh/100km (GT) and 19.4kWh/100km (Azami); CarExpert's tested figure for the Azami was 16.5kWh/100km. Mazda's own German press portal lists the same 18.9–19.4kWh/100km combined consumption figures for the CX-6e, corroborating the official data. ¹⁴

Charging is capped at a maximum 194kW DC rate according to CarExpert, with Mazda claiming a 30 to 80 per cent charge in as little as 15 minutes, plus an 11kW AC rate. Claimed 0-100km/h time is 7.9 seconds and kerb weight is 2155kg. CompleteCar.ie, driving the European-market version in Germany, recorded a peak DC rate of 200kW and a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 24 minutes, with real-world consumption of 18.7kWh/100km overall and 15.4kWh/100km in city driving – figures that differ slightly from the Australian figures and should be read against that market's test car. ¹²

Dimensions per CarExpert are 4850mm long, 1935mm wide excluding mirrors, 1620mm tall on a 2902mm wheelbase, with 160mm of ground clearance. Cargo capacity is 363L behind the rear seats including under-floor storage, 956L with seats folded and 1434L to the ceiling, plus an 83-litre usable storage tub under the bonnet where charging cables are kept. Braked towing capacity is 1500kg. ¹

Equipment: a 26.45-inch screen, 23 speakers and digital mirrors for the Azami

CarExpert details a two-grade Australian range with a short step between them: the Azami adds only 21-inch alloy wheels in Michelin Pilot Sport rubber and digital exterior mirrors over the GT's 19-inch wheels on Michelin ePrimacy tyres. Standard equipment is extensive, including a 26.45-inch central touchscreen, a 50-inch head-up display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 23-speaker sound system, panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats, three-zone climate control, hands-free power tailgate and 256-colour ambient lighting. Both grades support the Mazda EV Bluetooth key and a smartphone app for remote climate, locking, tracking, charging management and battery preconditioning. The only option is a $1000 Warm Beige interior. ¹

The 23-speaker audio system is a standout on paper: CarExpert notes the equivalent Model Y, 7X and Sealion 7 all carry 12 speakers or fewer, and even in default settings the system delivers better audio than almost any SUV at this price point, in its reviewer's assessment. ¹

Inside and on the road: refined but alien to Mazda regulars

CarExpert finds the cabin a mix of quintessential Mazda design and Chinese-EV operating logic. With no central physical switchgear, everything runs through the 26.45-inch touchscreen, much bigger than the 6e's unit and unlike any previous local-market Mazda system. Climate controls buried in the screen require several taps while driving, and CarExpert says the climate system itself can behave erratically. There is no conventional instrument cluster; speed and key data are projected on a bright head-up display. The Azami's digital side mirrors feed door-mounted screens, a feature Mazda says widens the field of view by 30 per cent, though CarExpert's reviewer remains unconvinced. The spacious second row is a strength, while the boot is on the small side and there is no spare wheel. ¹

On the road, CarExpert describes smooth, linear acceleration and excellent rolling refinement, aided by a European tune Mazda applied to the electric motors, brakes, steering and dynamics software, plus a stiffer chassis and Michelin tyres compared with the Chinese-market EZ60. The verdict on dynamics: sharper than most Chinese rivals, but less engaging than European, Japanese and other Mazda alternatives, with the 2155kg kerb weight felt in spirited driving. The Azami's 21-inch wheels make the ride jiggly at low speeds; the GT is noticeably more compliant. ¹

Independent European drives broadly align. CompleteCar.ie, driving in Germany, praises the noticeably quiet cabin at 130km/h, well-judged pedal calibration and strong braking, though it finds the steering light and the car less engaging than expected from Mazda. Top Gear calls it a hushed and calming car with a smooth swagger from its rear-mounted motor and even weight distribution, but notes it prioritises comfort over chassis excitement and rides rigidly on 21-inch wheels over bumpier urban roads. ²³

Driver-assistance behaviour draws criticism from all three outlets. CarExpert reports a beep or chime for nearly everything, with the overspeed warning and other alerts requiring repeated driver intervention to silence, and finds the semi-autonomous Cruising and Traffic Support system's constant micro-adjustments frustrating. Top Gear says the distraction and fatigue sensors are overly watchful and the steering wheel writhes against inputs through roadworks, noting Mazda already toned down the original Chinese-market setup but more work is needed. CompleteCar.ie found lane-keeping overly sensitive and notes speed-alert mutings must be repeated at the start of every journey as defined by legislation. On regen, CarExpert says there is no single-pedal mode in the Australian car, while CompleteCar.ie reports a one-pedal setting when recuperation is set to High in the European version – a discrepancy worth noting between the two reviews. ¹³²

Safety rating gap and ownership context

CarExpert flags that the CX-6e has yet to be assessed by independent safety authorities Euro NCAP and ANCAP, listing it among the car's cons. Standard safety equipment is nevertheless broad, per CarExpert: nine airbags, adaptive cruise control with cruising and traffic support, blind-spot monitoring, driver attention monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic assist, safe exit warning, a surround-view camera with see-through view, traffic sign recognition and front and rear parking sensors. ¹

For ownership context outside Australia, CompleteCar.ie reports the CX-6e in Ireland follows Mazda's standard maintenance schedule of one service per year or 20,000km, is covered by a six-year or 150,000km vehicle warranty and a separate eight-year or 160,000km battery guarantee. Australian warranty terms are not detailed in the local coverage, and pricing noted above is on different national bases and should not be compared directly across markets. ²¹