Mazda CX-6e Review & Prices

The Mazda CX-6e follows hot on the heels of the Mazda 6e electric saloon, and it’s a very handsome electric SUV with a sleek interior and plenty of standard kit, but the range isn’t particularly impressive and the lack of physical controls inside won’t suit everybody.

You can think of it as one of those fancy, art-deco orange juicers - the metal ones that look like a rocket ship. Yes it’s very pretty and oozes cool, but it isn’t particularly easy to use.

Unlike a posh kitchen appliance, though, the CX-6e is rather well priced when compared to similarly sized - but less attractive - alternatives in the BMW iX3, Volvo EX60, Mercedes GLC and Lexus NX. It’s mechanically related to the Changan Deepal S07 under the skin, while the Geely EX5 and MG S5 EV are value-for-money alternatives to consider.

None, however, are nearly as good looking as the Mazda. With its sharknose front end, super-slender headlights, ultra-sleek sides and perky behind, the CX-6e looks far more expensive than it is - and it’s more attractive than cars which cost twice as much.

The cabin is also very easy on the eye, but it’s not without its quirks. There’s a whopping great infotainment screen (26.0 inches!) that stretches all the way from the centre console to your passenger, while doing without a driver instrumentation of any kind, bar a head-up display.

Pretty much every surface is upholstered in leatherette, and top-spec cars get a very swanky purple-and-white two-tone colour scheme. Unfortunately, they’re also limited to rear-view cameras in place of the side mirrors, which some drivers won’t get on with.

Interior space appears generous with plenty of legroom in the back, while up front there are a trio of cubbies between the seats. The 486-litre boot is about average for a car of this size, larger than the EX5 but smaller than the iX3, though the CX-6e also has a 80-litre front boot, which is handy for backpacks and charging cables.

The single 78kW battery and motor combo offers a claimed 300 miles of range, but only offers a 165kW charging rate which lags behind European alternatives. Still, Mazda claims a 24-minute 10-80% charging time, which isn’t too bad. AC charging at 11kW will fill an empty battery in eight hours and 15 minutes.

We have yet to sample the CX-6e in the UK, but if it’s anything like the smaller 6e then it ought to be comfortable and refined - if less fun than what we’ve come to expect from Mazda.

Starting at just under £43,000, the CX-6e is more expensive than the £40,000 Changan Deepal S07 and a good chunk more than the entry-level Geely EX5 at £32,000. A BMW iX3 or Audi Q6 e-tron will set you back around £20,000 more, and in terms of standard kit and design it’s hard to see why.

Takumi models feature the enormous infotainment display, grey or black upholstery, diamond-cut 19-inch wheels, and a full suite of safety assistance systems as standard. The posher Takumi Plus trim level adds 21-inch wheels, the lovely two-tone interior trim, rear-view cameras instead of mirror, heated and ventilated rear seats and ambient interior lighting.