Mazda CX-6e wins praise from first-drive media as Japanese brand pitches its biggest EV bet
Australian media have delivered their first verdicts on the made-in-China Mazda CX-6e electric SUV after a launch drive from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula, with reviewers praising its design, ride and value while flagging touchscreen-heavy controls, an unrated crash-test status and some spec-sheet inconsistencies.
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Media first drive: what reviewers said
Mazda Australia has published its round-up of first impressions from the CX-6e's inaugural media drive, which took Australian journalists from Melbourne's urban streets to the coastal roads of the Mornington Peninsula. The company says the vehicle's driving performance, comfort and refinement 'shone through' in everyday conditions, and highlights praise for the Kodo-derived design, the Jinba Ittai driving character and the reassurance offered by Mazda's roughly 150-strong national dealer network. 1
The quoted contributors include Drive Thru Media's Shana Zlotin, who called the design the most concept-car-like of any production car she has seen and praised the digital camera mirrors, and Chasing Cars' John Law, who admired the lighting signature, 21-inch Azami wheels and new Nightfall Violet paint. CarsGuide's Andrew Chesterton described a very attractive electric SUV with a plush interior, while RACQ's Ged Bulmer noted generous rear-seat accommodation and said Mazda had 'priced it well' with good range and decent performance. These are verbatim excerpts republished by Mazda Australia, not DriveAgent's own testing. 1
Mazda's roundup also carries longer-form quotes from published reviews: Drive noted the appeal of a familiar badge with a big dealer network; CarsGuide said it doesn't drive like a typical Chinese EV; CarExpert judged the 23-speaker audio better than almost any SUV at the price point, noting the equivalent Model Y, Zeekr 7X and Sealion 7 all have 12 speakers or fewer; and WhichCar? wrote that despite joint-venture limitations such as a lack of real buttons, 'the Mazda-ness has managed to shine through where it counts'. 1
Chinese joint-venture engineering, Mazda tuning
The CX-6e is the second Mazda developed with Chinese partner Changan, following the 6e liftback launched here earlier in 2026. Chasing Cars reports it sits on Changan's EPA1 platform with a very similar wheelbase to the Deepal S07, though Mazda says the two medium SUVs share no body panels, not even the glasshouse. The brand has previously shared products with other manufacturers, including the Isuzu D-Max-based BT-50. 3
Chasing Cars reports Mazda revised almost every dynamic element for Australia: increased structural rigidity, different compliance bushings, revised spring rates and damper tunes, a recalibrated steering system, changed software and a transformed brake pedal, which the outlet describes as firm and supportive unlike most Chinese-built EVs. CarExpert adds that compared with the Chinese-market EZ60, the Australian CX-6e gets a stiffer chassis, Michelin tyres and a European tune for the motors, brakes, steering and dynamics software. 37
The Open Road review for the NRMA frames the CX-6e as a direct response to the federal New Vehicle Efficiency Standard: it estimates that without the CX-6e and 6e, Mazda would face the largest NVES penalty of any brand, an estimated $25.4 million. The NRMA says the visible parts are Mazda while the mechanical and operating elements are Chinese, and that Mazda claims local tuning of ride and handling rather than Chinese-spec settings. Its reviewers found the result smooth and quiet but slightly busy at times, with a driving position that is not quite as adjustable as Japanese-built Mazdas. 8
Pricing, grades and pre-order demand
The line-up comprises two grades. The GT opens at $53,990 before on-road costs and the Azami at $56,990 before on-road costs, according to Chasing Cars and CarExpert. Both flag the GT undercutting the Tesla Model Y (from $58,900), BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990) and Zeekr 7X (from $57,900). Chasing Cars lists an approximate on-road price of $59,984 including registration and government charges; drive-away figures vary by state, and Mazda Australia's site currently quotes CX-6e GT drive-away pricing from $56,990, excluding premium paint, with terms and conditions applying. These different price bases should not be compared directly. 3572
Equipment is closely matched between grades: Chasing Cars says the Azami's $3000 premium buys mainly 21-inch wheels, camera side mirrors and a digital rear-view mirror. The GT runs 19-inch alloys on eco tyres. Premium paint, including Nightfall Violet, is a $995 option and Warm Beige Maztex upholstery adds $1000. Mazda Australia's page confirms a $2000 cashback for eligible novated-lease buyers of the 6e or CX-6e who take delivery between 1 October and 31 December 2026, with Mazda reserving the right to amend or withdraw the promotion. 32
Demand indicators are strong. CarExpert reports the CX-6e followed Mazda Australia's most successful pre-order program, after all 1000 complimentary upgrades from GT to Azami trim were claimed within weeks of the March offer launching. Chief executive Vinesh Bhindi told CarExpert the CX-6e could potentially grow to 1000 sales a month, though he cautioned the figure depends on fuel prices and tax incentives. CarExpert also reports 56 per cent of pre-orders came from customers new to Mazda. Chasing Cars separately reported the pre-order list had swollen beyond 2000 buyers, and quoted Bhindi saying the CX-6e could become Mazda's number-one seller if external factors driving EV demand persist. 65
Specifications: battery, range and charging
Both grades use a 78kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery feeding a 190kW/290Nm rear-mounted motor, with rear-wheel drive. Claimed WLTP range is 484km for the GT and 468km for the Azami according to CarExpert; Chasing Cars cites the same battery and quotes up to 483km, a minor discrepancy between outlets, while Mazda Australia's own page states up to 484km (WLTP) on the GT grade. CarExpert lists claimed consumption of 18.9kWh/100km for the GT and 19.4kWh/100km for the Azami, kerb weight of 2155kg, a claimed 0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds and 1500kg braked towing capacity. 732
Charging figures differ slightly by source: Mazda's site says 194kW DC fast charging takes approximately 15 minutes from 30 to 80 per cent, a figure CarExpert repeats; Chasing Cars says a 194kW DC peak takes the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 24 minutes, a figure the NRMA repeats. Both note 11kW AC charging. Chasing Cars also records vehicle-to-load capability at up to 3.5kW with an included adapter. No gross-versus-usable battery split is stated in any source, and no values beyond those published should be inferred. 2738
Real-world consumption differs by reviewer and conditions. Chasing Cars observed 15.3kWh/100km in the GT and 16.7kWh/100km in the Azami, equating to roughly 510km and 467km respectively. CarExpert recorded 16.5kWh/100km in the Azami. The NRMA, citing a 484km WLTP figure, judged the range 'not fabulous' and listed range among its criticisms alongside a busy ride and touchy throttle. 378
Cabin tech, practicality and reviewer criticisms
The dominant interior feature is a 26.45-inch dual-split touchscreen, which CarExpert notes is much larger than anything in a local-market Mazda and controls nearly everything, including climate. Its reviewer called the passenger-side portion of the display largely pointless, since Chinese-market video streaming functions are not enabled in Australia, and found the climate system inconsistent. Chasing Cars similarly argued the interface needs a rethink, noting functions such as regenerative-braking adjustment are buried in menus and that the passenger-side screen area is severely limited pending in-car internet connectivity. 73
Both outlets praise the rear seat and materials: Chasing Cars calls it huge with ample leg, toe and headroom for adults, while CarExpert, at 185cm tall, recorded ample headroom and generous kneerooom. The NRMA says the cabin feels more premium than its price suggests, though it found the digital wing mirrors on the Azami 'awful to use' and recommended the GT. Boot space is quoted at 363L to the cargo cover with the rear seats up, expanding to 956L folded per CarExpert, plus an 83-litre under-bonnet frunk; Chasing Cars notes it is significantly smaller on paper than a CX-5 or RAV4. 738
Other criticisms recur across reviews: Chasing Cars found sticky on-centre steering, seats lacking support, intrusive driver-assistance alerts and a 23-speaker system that sounded thin in practice, and noted the boot figure and missing height adjustment on the passenger seat. CarExpert flagged over-sensitive safety chimes and called the Azami's upgrades underwhelming. The NRMA observed more than half of orders have come from buyers new to the brand, quoting Andrew Chesterton. These are independent driving impressions, not verified defects, and no recall or safety defect has been reported for this model. 378
Safety rating and the road ahead
The CX-6e has not yet been assessed by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, as CarExpert, Chasing Cars and the NRMA all note. The NRMA reports Mazda is awaiting Euro NCAP results and is confident of five stars, which remains a manufacturer expectation rather than a verified rating. The related 6e sedan holds a five-star ANCAP rating based on 2025 testing, per CarExpert, but that result does not transfer to the CX-6e, as platform sharing does not establish identical safety outcomes. 7384
Mazda's site lists nine airbags, a high-strength steel structure, lane-keep assist, rear collision warning and rear cross-traffic alert with Smart Brake Support; Chasing Cars also lists nine airbags while the NRMA mentions seven airbags, a discrepancy between outlets that remains unresolved in the available information. Chasing Cars judged the adaptive cruise control the most impressive system on test but criticised patchy emergency lane-keep, over-sensitive driver-attention monitoring and an overspeed warning that defaults on at every start. 238
Ownership terms are consistent across sources: five-year/unlimited-kilometre Mazda warranty with an eight-year battery and high-voltage guarantee (Chasing Cars), servicing every 12 months or 20,000km at $1860 for five years/100,000km (Chasing Cars), and the CX-6e now at dealerships per Chasing Cars' news report. Whether it becomes Mazda's best-seller, as executives have suggested to both CarExpert and Chasing Cars, hinges on the fuel-price and incentive conditions both outlets quote Bhindi emphasising. 356
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