Mazda's first proper electric SUV for Australia has landed, and it has arrived with a price aimed squarely at the Tesla Model Y. The CX-6e starts at $53,990 before on-road costs, with first deliveries expected from this month.
There are two grades. The GT opens the range at $53,990 and the Azami sits above it at $56,990, both before on-roads. A warm beige interior trim is a $1,000 option on either.
What's under it
Both grades share the same running gear: a single 190kW rear-mounted motor making 290Nm, fed by a 78kWh lithium iron phosphate battery. Rear-wheel drive only, which is worth noting if you were waiting on a dual-motor version at launch.
Range and charging
Mazda quotes up to 484km combined on the WLTP cycle. Charging runs through a CCS Type-2 port, and Mazda says a 30 to 80 per cent DC top-up takes as little as fifteen minutes. Treat both numbers the way you would any manufacturer figure: they are best-case, and a hot day on the Hume is not the best case.
It's a Mazda, but not entirely
The CX-6e was developed with Changan Automobile, the Chinese manufacturer Mazda partners with, and it is built in China. That is unremarkable now, because a growing share of the EVs sold here come out of Chinese plants whatever the badge on the nose. It is also the reason Mazda can land a mid-size electric SUV under $54,000 at all.
What we don't know yet
Mazda has not published battery and drivetrain warranty terms in the launch material, and there is no ANCAP result yet. Both are worth waiting on if you are cross-shopping, because battery warranty is where electric cars tend to separate themselves.
Source: Mazda Australia. Pricing is manufacturer list price before on-road costs and is current at the time of writing.
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