It’s not turned a wheel on British roads but already been rated as one of the safest cars you will be able to buy.
The all-new Mazda6e achieved a maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP in its recent series of tests.
In the two categories of Adult Occupant and Child Occupant protection, Mazda’s latest all-electric model scored an excellent 93%. The Mazda6e was also rated 74% for the protection of Vulnerable Road Users and 77% for its Safety Assist systems.
The Mazda6e’s 93% score in Adult Occupancy included maximum points in the side barrier test and good or adequate protection to all critical body areas in the more severe side pole impact test.
The far side airbag designed to mitigate occupant-to-occupant injuries in lateral impacts provided good protection for the driver and the front passenger.
Head restraints on the front and rear seats demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision.
In the Child Occupancy category, Mazda’s new five-door hatchback also scored 93% overall and achieved maximum points in crash test performance with both Frontal and Lateral Impact based on six- and ten-year-old children.
The correct installation of child seats – CRS Installation Check – also received full marks, and the Mazda6e’s Occupancy Monitoring System warning the driver not to leave their children in the car unattended received positive recognition.
In the Vulnerable Road Users category, the Mazda6e provided mostly good or adequate protection for pedestrians.
The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and Lane Support systems achieved maximum points for protecting motorcyclists.
The vehicle also scored well in protecting cyclists with its AEB system and door opening warnings for all side doors, resulting in a 74% overall rating in this category.
The Mazda6e’s comprehensive range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) helped it secure a solid 77% Safety Assist rating.
Unveiled at the 2025 Brussels Motor Show it’s on European sale now and we were fortunate to get into a left hand drive version last week before UK showrooms get it in the first half of 2026.
It is a mid-sized fastback pure electric version of the popular Mazda6 with internal combustion engine which spanned three generations from 2002 to 2023 but is a new platform which is the basis for a model sold in China.
Mazda6e is offered with a choice of 68.8kWh or 80kWh battery. The 68.8kWh version offers a range of up to 300miles and with 200kW DC charging it charges from 10 to 80 per cent in just 22 minutes, meaning a range of 145miles can be added in 15 minutes.
The electric motor delivers 258ps for a 0-62mph performance of 7.6seconds.
For customers prioritising longer range usage the 80kWh version enables a range of up to 345miles and with 244ps reaches 62mph in 7.8secs.
Both versions produce the same 320Nm of torque with a rear-wheel drive layout. The longer range 80kWh Mazda6e will charge from 10 to 80 per cent in 45 minutes and like the smaller battery version supports DC rapid charging.
It looks striking with the well-known Mazda Kodo Soul of Motion design producing a low profile with short bonnet and sweeping fifth door shape.
It has frameless doors, inset handles and a distinctive front lights architecture around the grille and charging lights which appear to flutter when activated.
There is a unique rear lights set up and the familiar Mazda badge has been replaced by lettering and it gets an extendable rear spoiler to aid stability at speed.
Inside it features “floating” centre console and instruments panel under a very big sunroof and high quality artificial or nappa leather.
There’s a 14.6-inch central touchscreen and 10.2-inch driver panel with head up display onto the screen.
Practical points are a 70-litre front boot and up to 330-litres luggage area.
Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director, Mazda Motors UK, said, “The Mazda6e is the car our dealers have been waiting for, with a nod to the popularity of the Mazda6 it’s a real statement of intent for the future and illustrates how Mazda can bring great design, technology and style to battery electric vehicles.
“And with the suspension, power steering and braking carefully calibrated by the team at Mazda Research Europe in Frankfurt to match European and UK preferences.”
He added, “In the UK we are facing some unique and complex challenges in the balance between EV legislation and consumer demand but at Mazda we will introduce new models and ensure our product range fits the pace of actual consumer demand in the UK.”
Mazda plans to show off a new sports car at the Japanese Motor Show which uses renewable fuels and a mix of powertrains will be rolled out over the next decade across its range, offering buyers the maximum choice without committing to pure electric cars at high price and risking losing business.
Currently, Mazda offer a range of mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure electric models in its UK range.
First impressions of the Mazda6e
The long wheelbase of the Mazda6e has given its designers and engineers a freer rein to produce a good riding, roomy and well-equipped challenger to existing rivals from Germany and the Far East.
The 2.9m distance between the front and rear wheels together with a width of almost 1.9m ensures a good footprint on the road to soak up bumps and grip when cornering, which has been a design strong-point of Mazda’s chassis engineers for many years.
The eye-catching sleek styling has been carried inside with Nappa leather on our top model and nice design touches throughout the cabin, along with a very big sunroof.
We were put into the longer range model for evaluation. Naturally it was fairly quick from standstill, responding well to steering and brakes. The rear wheel drive system gives it a nice predictable handling feel.
The absence of a traditional petrol engine and gearbox substantially reduced noises but this meant road rumbles and suspension movements were noticed. Wind noise was very low thanks to the sleek profile, but the thick roof pillars and low saloon shape did restrict over the shoulder visibility when pulling out into traffic.
The Mazda6e is unusual and breaks away from the trend to launching SUVs with pure electric powertrains, although it already has hybrids in these shapes. The less chunky look of the fastback may well win over new buyers to the brand as a result.
A lot of reliance and emphasis went into the car’s electronics and safety displays over two displays and a short run in the Mazda6e was insufficient to properly get to grips with it, so the dealers’ sales teams will have their work cut out explaining and assisting buyers before they drive away sometime next summer.
Although no UK prices were suggested for the Mazda6e, if it follows those in Europe it might start at £42,000 with top versions going from £45,000, but that is about 90% above the identical Mazda EZ car sold in China. It will be a very careful balancing act for Mazda UK to pull off with their first BEV at a time when sales have slowed for zero-emission cars but long term interest is probably going to rise.
Mazda’s decision to introduce a fastback and emphasise its sportiness alongside its design and technology may just pay dividends.
