When it comes to mainstream cars in the American market, I have an affinity for Mazda because the company tries to wear a Bimmer hat in a milquetoast segment. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Mazda is one of the few brands to embrace the manual transmission. However, I was disappointed when the Mazda6 was discontinued in the American market after 2021. What’s up with the Mazda6 these days in other markets? The next-gen Mazda6 is already out in China and will be hitting Europe soon.
First appearing at the Beijing Auto Show in the spring of 2024, the new Mazda6e (known as the EZ-6 in China), built in conjunction with Chinese automaker Changan Automobile, debuted in the Chinese market several months later. Interestingly—and slightly off brand—this model is only available as an EV and an extended-range EV, the latter being somewhat of an inverse version of a hybrid as it regularly runs on electricity but has the assistance of a gas-powered engine as an auxiliary power unit. The only body style available is a five-door hatchback, a style that hasn’t appeared in the U.S. in decades though Mazda continued to offer it elsewhere.
Currently, there are two battery-electric vehicles available in China: one with a 56.1-kWh battery and a 255-horsepower electric motor, while the 68.8-kWh battery and 241-horse motor can give 300 miles of range. The range extender version is available in two versions: 130 or 200 kilometers (81 or 124 miles). Both use a 1.5-liter inline-four with 94 horsepower, though the former uses an 18.9-kWh battery and the latter uses a 28.4-kWh battery. The electric motor puts out 215 horsepower.
When the 2026 Mazda6e is introduced for Europeans, there will also be two versions available, but it will start with the 68.8-kWh version, with an 80-kWh variant available with a longer range of 345 miles.
Even if the Mazda6e is not available in the States, the EV aspect may still make some people gag. Since it’s rear-wheel drive, that counts for something, right?
