The Auto China fair is in full swing in Beijing. There is a lot of typical Chinese stuff, but Mazda is also presenting two brand new models. We would especially like to see the Mazda EZ-6 in the Netherlands. This is why.
Mazda is off to an unfortunate start in the electric car space so far. The electric one Mazda MX-30 is a very original and fun SUV, but the range is impractically small. Mazda has stated several times that it considers the hunt for increasingly larger and heavier battery packs to be a disastrous path.
Meanwhile, Mazda seems to be missing the EV boat completely. Apparently car consumers do not agree with the manufacturer that a range of approximately 200 kilometers is more than enough, because the MX30 does not sell for anything.
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Two new electric Mazdas
We were therefore surprised by the two new models that Mazda showed to the world in Beijing. The EZ-6 seems completely ready for production, the Arata is still in the concept phase. By the way, they are not officially thoroughbred Mazdas. They were created in collaboration with the Chinese manufacturer Changan Automobile, with whom Mazda has had connections for more than twenty years.
Are these Mazdas coming to the Netherlands after all? Our newsletter will tell you!
EZ-6 seems to foreshadow electric Mazda 6
The Mazda EZ-6 is the first of a series of new electric cars developed and built by Changan Mazda. The Mazda EZ-6 will hit the Chinese market at the end of 2024, but would definitely not look out of place in Europe. The model follows Mazda’s well-known Kodo design philosophy and seems to be an excellent electric alternative to the Mazda6.
The car looks sleek and slim and has a coupe-like roofline, which ends in an electrically operated rear spoiler. The stylish doors underline the sporty ambitions. Anyone who still has a soft spot for traditional grille noses will not be disappointed by the EZ-6. This means the car doesn’t look like a typical EV – a plus for many people.
Electric Mazda EZ-6 with 600 km range
Many technical details have not been disclosed, but Mazda has announced that two versions of the Mazda EZ-6 will be available. A fully electric car (BEV) and a plug-in hybrid. The purely electric version would have a range of 600 kilometers. This would allow the rear-wheel drive EZ-6 to hold its own among cars like the BMW i4, Tesla Model 3 and Volkswagen ID.7. The Mazda EZ-6 PHEV is said to have a combined range of 620 miles.
Large and luxurious
The EZ-6 is a big guy: it measures 4.92 meters in length and is 1.89 meters wide. With its height of 1.49 meters, the Mazda sits between the Volkswagen ID.7 and BMW i4. The interior offers space for five passengers, who can bathe in luxury, leather and Alcantara. We do have our reservations about the enormous Erasmus Bridge that hangs between the front seats. The front seats themselves look as if you can easily last 600 or 1000 kilometers. To put it bluntly: the Chinese standard for measuring consumption is (even) more optimistic than the WLTP standard that we use in Europe.
But even if the electric range is 500 kilometers, the Mazda EZ-6 still doesn’t cut a fine figure. With a multi-link rear suspension and a 50:50 weight distribution, we are confident that the Mazda EZ-6 will also be able to keep up with the European and Korean competition in terms of handling. So: bring that thing on!
Mazda Arata: electric counterpart CX-30
In addition to the Mazda EZ-6, Mazda Changan presented the Arata study model. This electric SUV will go into production at the end of 2025 and is also intended for the Chinese market. Compared to Mazda’s current SUVs, the Arata is a bit less voluptuous and round. It looks a bit sleeker and more linear and of course trendy details such as an illuminated grille edge and brand name are not missing.
‘Ready for Europe’
We actually think the Arata is even better looking than Mazda’s current SUV models. More modern and elegant, but still recognizable as Mazda. Mazda is still tight-lipped about the dimensions and technology of the Arata. We’re guessing it’s about the same size as the Mazda CX-30 and gets the same battery pack as the EZ-6. We therefore wonder what is stopping Mazda from bringing both cars to Europe and the Netherlands.
