The local launch of the Chinese-built, electric Mazda 6e liftback appears almost inevitable at this point, with a right-hand drive example spied by CarExpert negotiating a roundabout in Sydney.
The latest sighting of the battery-powered successor to the long-running Mazda 6 follows images of what is likely to have been the same car (judging by its Victorian number plate) being shared in a Mazda owner’s group earlier this month – only on that occasion the car was seen in Melbourne.
Although it’s yet to be officially confirmed for Australia, the 6e (known as the EZ-6 in China) has already been locked in for right-hand drive production and will go on sale in Thailand later this year, followed by the UK in 2026.
Multiple Australian sightings suggest that Mazda is not only interested in selling the model locally, but has already begun fine-tuning its software and potentially hardware to suit our notoriously unique driving conditions – something the brand chose to forego with the launch of the widely criticised CX-60 mid-size SUV.
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These latest spy shots don’t reveal anything new about the 6e’s exterior design, which isn’t surprising given the sleek, liftback sedan has already been shown off without camouflage overseas.
We also already have an idea of what to expect under the skin when it arrives in Australian showrooms, as indicated by European specifications. In that market it’s available with a single-motor rear-wheel drive electric powertrain producing up to 190kW of power and 320Nm of torque.
It’s fitted with a standard 68.8kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that can be charged at up to 165kW, and offers 479km of range on the WLTP cycle.
There’s also a larger 80kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery that can only support 90kW DC fast-charging, but offers an increased range of 552km. With this battery, peak power output drops slightly to 180kW.
Launched in China in 2024, the EZ-6/6e is a twin of the Deepal L07 and therefore built by Chinese manufacturer Changan Automobile, with which Mazda has a joint-venture partnership. Its local arrival would make it Mazda Australia’s first Chinese-built model, diverging from vehicles typically sourced from Japan or Thailand.
It’s built atop the same Changan EPA1 platform utilised by the Deepal S07 electric SUV, which is already sold here through Subaru importer Inchcape.
Although not officially designated as such, the 6e serves as an indirect replacement for the Mazda 6, which was axed in late 2024, and will compete with the Tesla Model 3 sedan. No variant of the 6e or L07 exists to fill the hole left by the Mazda 6 wagon, but the new liftback measures roughly 50mm longer and 50mm wider than the Mazda 6 sedan.
A statement by Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi indicated the brand was “building a business case” for the 6e, but only in its fully electric guise, meaning we’re unlikely to see the extended-range electric (EREV) version offered in China.
In some European markets, the 6e is offered only in well-specified Takumi or Takumi Plus grades. Both come standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and heated, ventilated and power-adjustable front seats.
While the 6e has been confirmed for RHD production, theEZ-60 mid-size electric SUV– another Chinese Mazda, which was revealed at this year’s Shanghai motor show – hasn’t yet. It’s expected to be exported from China under the CX-6e nameplate and will compete with the the world’s top-selling EV, the Tesla Model Y.
Mazda isn’t just relying on China for EV development, however.
In addition to two new models jointly developed with Changan, which are slated to launch between 2028 and 2030, Mazda plans to launchits first bespoke EV based on a dedicated platformin 2027.
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