A domestic debut of the China-made, electric Mazda 6e liftback now seems nearly certain, after a right-hand-drive example was spotted negotiating a roundabout in Sydney.
This newest sighting of the battery-powered successor to the long-running Mazda 6 follows photos of what was likely the same car being shared in a Mazda owners’ group earlier this month.
While it’s not yet officially confirmed for Australia, the 6e (marketed as the EZ-6 in China) has already been greenlit for right-hand-drive production and will go on sale in Thailand later this year, with the UK to follow in 2026.
Multiple Australian sightings suggest Mazda is not only considering selling the model locally, but has already begun fine-tuning its software and possibly hardware to suit our notoriously unique driving conditions.
The latest spy shots don’t disclose anything new about the 6e’s exterior styling, which isn’t surprising given the sleek liftback has already been displayed overseas without camouflage.
We also already have an idea of what to expect under the skin when it arrives in Australian showrooms, based on European specifications. In that market it’s available with a single-motor rear-wheel-drive electric powertrain producing up to 190kW and 320Nm of torque.
It comes 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 delivers an increased range of 552km. With this battery, peak power output falls slightly to 180kW.
Introduced in China in 2024, the EZ-6/6e is a twin of the Deepal L07 and is 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 China-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 functions 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 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, a 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, the EZ-60 mid-size electric SUV – another China-made Mazda – hasn’t yet. It’s expected to be exported from China under the CX-6e nameplate and will compete with 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 introduce its first bespoke EV based on a dedicated platform in 2027.
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