Driving the new Mazda 6e: why i’d buy this over a Tesla Model 3

I’m a big fan of Mazdas. I used to own an MX-5, and I miss it so much I’m probably about to own another one. I’d also choose a Mazda 3 if I was after a posh family hatchback, and the old RX-7 sports car would have a place in my dream car garage.

But Mazda hasn’t got the best track record with electric cars. The old MX-30 looked great and it was brilliant to drive, but the 124-mile range limited its appeal. But now it’s launched the new Mazda 6e – a large electric family car with sights set firmly on the Tesla Model 3 and Mercedes CLA Electric.

But is it actually a match for those cars? Well I’ve spent a day driving the 6e to see how it fares out on the road and first impressions are good.

New Mazda 6e batteries and range – the elephant in the room

The first thing you probably want to know is how far the Mazda 6e will go on a charge; can it go further than the old MX-30?

Thankfully, yes it can. There’s just one battery option in the UK – a 78kWh pack which delivers up to 348 miles of range. That’s around 16 miles more than a basic Tesla Model 3, but it’s around 100 miles less than a Mercedes CLA EV.

It’s still more than enough for most people’s daily driving duties though, and a 10-80% charge takes 24 minutes from a 195kW DC fast charger if you do run out of juice on a long run.

Powering this car is a rear-mounted 258hp motor, which means it’s good for 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. That’s pretty nippy, but a Tesla Model 3 will complete the same sprint in 6.2 seconds.

New Mazda 6e price and value for money

Prices for the Mazda 6e start from £38,995, making it around £1,000 more expensive than a Tesla Model 3 but more than £6,500 cheaper than a Mercedes CLA EV.

Standard equipment is generous as well. All cars get heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, 19-inch alloy wheels and a head-up display.

For an extra £1,000 you can upgrade to the top-spec Takumi Plus, and this gets you a touchscreen for the rear seats, a two-tone interior with Nappa leather seats, a panoramic glass roof and wood grain trim. I reckon it’s well-worth upgrading.

New Mazda 6e design and interior – the main attraction

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but having beheld the new Mazda 6e I reckon it’s better-looking than the Tesla Model 3 and Mercedes CLA EV.

The low nose and wide rear hips make the 6e look sporty and muscular, and I like the swept-back headlights as well. It looks really modern, but it’s still unmistakably a Mazda – especially in this deep red paint.

I like the interior as well. It looks fabulous and is really well-made, with lashings of leather and metal trim to make it feel more upmarket.

You have to dig down to the lower door cards to find any hard plastic. It’s very nearly on-par with more expensive cars like the BMW i5 and it’s a lot posher than a Tesla Model 3. The colour options are cool as well – I especially liked the Alcantara tan upholstery in my test car.

I did have a couple of gripes, the first being the 14.6-inch central touchscreen. It’s pretty responsive, but the menu layout is a touch confusing. I was also a little disappointed to see a lack of physical buttons for the climate control – something I’ve praised the Mazda 3 for continuing to feature.

New Mazda 6e space and practicality – it’s a mixed bag

There are plenty of storage cubbies in the Mazda 6e, including a massive compartment under the central armrest and a couple of good-sized cupholders. You also get a handy wireless charging pad under the screen.

Getting comfortable behind the wheel is easy as well, although I’d like the driver’s seat to go a touch lower. Mazdas are well-known for their low-slung and sporty driving positions, but this isn’t something I felt in the 6e. Still, at least your view out of the front is good as a result.

The same can’t be said for the view out of the back though, because that sloping roofline means you get a really narrow rear window and thick C-Pillars. I was relying quite heavily on the 360-degree camera system, which is thankfully really high-definition.

Moving into the back seats, it’s a tale of two halves. Legroom is decent – I had enough space behind my driving position, which is a rarity. However, headroom isn’t the best. People under six feet will be okay, but at 6”3’ I found that my head was just brushing the side of the roof. It’s still comfy, but a Tesla Model 3 is better for carrying rear passengers.

I was impressed by the boot though. At 466 litres it may be 124 litres down on a Tesla Model 3, but it’s 60 litres bigger than a Mercedes CLA EV and the hatchback boot opening and low load lip make it really easy to load. It’s plenty big enough for the daily needs of a family, and you get a 72-litre front boot for your charging cables.

Driving the new Mazda 6e – does it handle as a Mazda should?

I was pretty impressed by the Mazda 6e’s driving experience on a twisty road, but this came as no surprise because Mazda knows how to make a car fun to drive. It’s not quite as engaging as a BMW i4, but it’s not far off.

You get very little bodyroll through the corners, and the steering is sharp and nicely weighted. It’s an easy car to hustle down a country lane, although the ride can get a bit jittery over broken surfaces.

Things settle down nicely on the motorway though. The suspension is smooth, and you get very little wind or road noise in the cabin. It’s a pretty good cruiser.

One thing I did notice was the slightly dampened throttle response. I usually expect an electric car to shove you back in your seat when you plant your right foot, but the 6e builds speed more like a petrol-powered car. It’s quite linear.

Around town you get a good view forwards, but the narrow rear window is a pain when parking or pulling out at oblique junctions. The Mazda also doesn’t handle sharp bumps as well as a Mercedes CLA does; they send a bit of a thud through the cabin.

New Mazda 6e final verdict: is it a good car?

The new Mazda 6e is the brand’s first electric car which will have mass market appeal. Unlike the MX-30, it has a usable driving range and decent charging speeds, making it much more practical for daily use. That said, it can’t match the Tesla Model 3 on the range front.

But it looks awesome, it’s nice to drive and practicality is decent as well – tight rear headroom aside. It’s also well-priced, which is why I’d choose this over the Tesla Model 3.

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