- Mazda’s first correct EV is right here.
- After the relatively disappointing MX-30 EV, the brand-new Mazda 6e comes to avoid wasting the day.
- With appears to be like to die for, the brand new electrical mid-size EV has rear-wheel drive and an ideal 50:50 weight distribution.
Automobile lovers, your fixed requests for a handsome rear-wheel drive sedan have been answered by Mazda. That is the brand-new Mazda 6e, an all-electric successor to the front-wheel drive mid-size Mazda 6 sedan that was discontinued in the USA again in 2021.
The brand new Mazda 6e EV is gorgeous to take a look at, it has a hatchback, it’s RWD-only, and there’s an LFP battery on supply, so the fundamentals are there. However that’s simply a part of the story, as you’ll quickly discover out.
Let’s get the plain out of the way in which first. The Mazda 6e can be obtainable in Europe beginning this summer season, and it’s not coming to the USA, no less than not for the foreseeable future. Then, it’s best to know that it’s the identical automotive because the Chinese language-spec Mazda EZ-6, which in flip is closely primarily based on the Deepal SL03. In different phrases, it’s not an EV that Mazda constructed from the bottom up, however relatively leaned on its companions to chop growth prices and convey the automotive to the market sooner–that’s not a foul factor by any stretch of the creativeness.
The Mazda 6e has two battery choices. The bottom model is a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack that may retailer as much as 68.8 kilowatt-hours of vitality, sufficient for a WLTP-rated vary of 297 miles on a full cost. The battery is paired with a single rear motor that makes 254 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. It may be DC fast-charged at as much as 200 kW, for a ten% top-up in 22 minutes, whereas plugging it right into a three-phase 11 kW AC wall charger will replenish the state of cost from 10% to 80% in eight hours.
The bottom mannequin can speed up from zero to 62 miles per hour in 7.6 seconds and has a high pace of 108 miles per hour.
Picture by: Mazda
Now for the bizarre half. The Mazda 6e Lengthy Vary comes with a bigger, 80 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) battery pack that allows a barely longer driving vary of 343 miles on the WLTP testing process. That’s nice information, however for no matter purpose, the utmost DC charging pace of this battery is simply 95 kW, resulting in a ten% to 80% top-up in a painstakingly gradual 45 minutes. On an 11 kW AC residence charger, going from 10% to 80% will take 9 and a half hours.
Furthermore, the rear electrical motor makes 241 hp–13 lower than the bottom spec mannequin–whereas the torque determine stays the identical at 236 lb-ft.
Diving a bit deeper into the specs sheet reveals that each battery packs weigh the identical–1,058 kilos–and that the burden distinction between the 2 powertrain variations is simply 2.2 kilos aside. The usual vary mannequin ideas the scales at 4,303 lbs, whereas the long-range variant is 4,305 lbs.
Picture by: Mazda
This leads me to consider that the 2 packs are similar in quantity and that Mazda selected the protected route for the bigger battery–slower charging and discharging means the cells ought to last more with minimal degradation. However judging from the specs sheet, the bottom LFP-powered mannequin needs to be the very best all-around choice for anybody, seeing how it may be routinely charged to 100% with out worrying about degradation–and at double the pace in comparison with the bigger NCM pack that ought to routinely be charged to simply 80% to keep away from degradation.
Measurement-wise, the Mazda 6e is 193.7 inches lengthy, 84.8 inches vast (with facet mirrors) and 58.7 inches tall. The wheelbase is 113.9 inches. The trunk capability is 11.6 cubic ft, which isn’t precisely record-breaking, however there’s additionally a 2.4 cubic ft frunk up entrance.
Picture by: Mazda
Mazda says its electrical sedan is without doubt one of the most spacious fashions in its class, with loads of headroom within the entrance and rear seats, and sufficient area for 5 individuals. Talking of the inside, one of many greatest speaking factors must be the spectacular 50-inch digital actual property for the augmented-reality head-up show that initiatives info straight onto the windshield.
The instrument cluster is a ten.2-inch show and the infotainment is dealt with by a centrally-mounted 14.6-inch touchscreen. One other a lot smaller touchscreen is for the rear passengers to regulate local weather settings, function the sunshade and regulate the entrance passenger seat place when the automotive is parked.
There aren’t any bodily buttons up entrance for controlling the local weather system or the audio system–all the things is dealt with by the central touchscreen–similar to in a Tesla Mannequin 3. That stated, there are standard steering wheel stalks, so mundane actions like placing on the flip alerts don’t require a fast browse of the proprietor’s guide.
There’s a chunky heart console between the 2 entrance seats with a pair of cupholders and a pair of smartphone cradles. Beneath it, there’s a spacious cubby to retailer issues like purses or different giant objects. Plus one other cubby beneath the armrest.
Up entrance, the Mazda 6e has a Cadillac-like illuminated grille, and due to the black wheel arch surrounds, the automotive has a crossover vibe to it–for higher or worse. On the again, there’s a full-width LED bar and a retractable electrical spoiler that routinely goes up at 56 mph, however it may also be raised manually beneath this threshold.
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The EV comes with 19-inch wheels as customary, in addition to a multi-link suspension setup on the rear and a MacPherson strut association for the entrance wheels. Mazda boasts an ideal 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution, which–along with the suspension setup–ought to make for a reasonably partaking drive.
The Mazda 6e was designed for a five-star Euro NCAP security ranking. It comes as customary with 9 airbags and the corporate’s i-Activesense superior driving help system (ADAS) with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, visitors signal recognition, Emergency Lane Maintaining, Rear Collision Warning and Good Brake Help.
The security pack makes use of M-pixel cameras, millimeter-wave radar and ultrasonic radar to repeatedly monitor the automotive’s environment and take emergency motion if wanted. There’s additionally an Occupancy Monitoring System that may detect youngsters within the rear seats and warn the motive force to stop a baby from being left within the automotive.
The Mazda 6e will arrive in European showrooms this summer season. Pricing has not been introduced but.
