Jinba Ittai Goes Electric (Properly This Time)
Mazda’s flirted with electrification before – remember the MX-30? Stylish, well-built, and charmingly unconventional, but with a range so short you’d start worrying halfway to the shops. Even Mazda later admitted it needed work, adding a rotary range-extender to make it more usable.
This time, though, they’ve gone much further. The Mazda6e isn’t a half-step or an experiment – it’s a proper, full-sized, ground-up battery-electric saloon. Well, not entirely ground-up: it’s actually been around since 2024, born of a collaborative effort between Changan-Mazda’s Nanjing R&D centre, Mazda’s HQ in Hiroshima, and the Mazda Europe engineering team. The result is a car shaped by global input but still unmistakably Mazda.
According to the company, the Mazda6e combines a low-drag interpretation of the Kodo design language with an electrified evolution of its Jinba Ittai philosophy – that harmony between car and driver that’s defined every great Mazda from the MX-5 to the RX-8. So yes, Mazda’s had a bit of help this time, but make no mistake – this is still very much a Mazda.
And crucially, they’ve gone their own way: no SUV, no crossover, just a sleek, five-door saloon-hatchback designed to rekindle the emotional connection between car and driver in an era of soulless EVs.
A Real Clean Slate
The Mazda6e feels cohesive and fully realised. There are two versions: a 68.8kWh battery with 258bhp and 300 miles of range, and an 80kWh pack with 245bhp and about 345 miles. Both are rear-wheel drive, and produce 320Nm.
Performance is brisk but civilised – 0–62 mph in 7.6-7.8 seconds – because Mazda’s engineers have prioritised feel over fireworks. With a 47:53 front-rear weight distribution, a multi-link rear suspension, and steering calibrated in Germany for natural feedback, this is an EV engineered to engage.
Design: The Art of Movement
If you thought Mazda had forgotten how to style a car, think again. The Mazda6e is an absolute stunner – long, low, and subtly muscular. At nearly five metres long, it’s a big car, yet its proportions are graceful and taut. The surface sculpting channels Mazda’s Kodo – Soul of Motion design language, only now optimised for aerodynamic efficiency.
At the front, the signature wing grille is outlined by glowing LED “wings” that gently animate while charging. The logo itself lights up too, giving the car a sense of presence even at rest. Along the flanks, flush door handles, frameless doors, and 19-inch aero wheels add elegance and efficiency in equal measure.
Round the back, a deployable spoiler rises at 60 mph to enhance stability, while the slim horizontal taillight bar and circular motifs nod affectionately to past Mazdas like the RX-8. It’s an EV that manages to look modern without losing character – something few rivals pull off.
Interior: Calm, Classy, and Crafted
Inside, Mazda continues its reputation for tactile excellence. The cabin feels premium, minimalist and beautifully made – a mix of Japanese restraint and modern tech. Designers reference the concept of Ma – the beauty of empty space – and it shows.
In Takumi trim, you get Nappa leather, a floating centre console, and soft ambient lighting. The panoramic roof floods the interior with natural light, making it feel airy yet sophisticated. Everything you touch feels quality: from the solid door pulls to the subtly ribbed metallic trim.
Tech is bang-up-to-date: a 14.6-inch touchscreen, 10.2-inch driver display, AR head-up display, and a slick 360-degree camera system. Thankfully, Mazda’s resisted the temptation to hide basic functions behind menus – you still get proper buttons for climate and volume. Though I would like more physical buttons for say the climate control and door mirror adjustment.
Practicality’s good too, with a 331-litre boot and a 52-litre frunk for cables or small bags.
Rear Comfort and Space
At 6ft 1in, I set the driver’s seat for myself and could still sit comfortably behind it. There’s ample knee and shoulder room, while the flat floor helps with comfort for middle passengers. Rear occupants get their own vents, USB-C ports and heated seats, all in a bright, airy environment enhanced by that expansive glass roof.
Driving: Jinba Ittai, Electrified
Mazda promised that the 6e would deliver connection in a segment where most EVs feel detached – and to their credit, it does.
The 6e feels composed and intuitive from the moment you set off. The steering is light but precise, the body control secure yet supple, and the throttle response progressive.
Acceleration is measured rather than manic, but there’s ample shove when needed. Sport mode sharpens things up a little, giving crisper response and firmer steering weight, while Normal keeps things calm and comfortable.
On the road, it feels grown-up and confident. You sense the car working with you, not just for you. There’s even a faint form of feedback through the wheel, which is rare these days – if not quite what sports car drivers might expect.
Ride comfort is mostly good, though the 19-inch tyres can transmit some firmness over broken surfaces. It’s fine on smooth tarmac, though. Cabin refinement is outstanding – quiet, calm, and hushed even at motorway speeds, although you hear more of the road surface due to that quietness.
Mazda’s True Electric Beginning
Forget the MX-30 – the Mazda6e is Mazda’s real electric dawn. It’s elegant, cohesive and genuinely desirable, with an identity all its own.
Prices haven’t been revealed for the UK yet, but I’d expect to be between £40,000 and £43,000. But where they trade on speed and software, the Mazda6e trades on feel, balance and craftsmanship.
A beautifully designed, rear-drive, slightly more driver-focused EV that proves emotion and electricity don’t have to be mutually exclusive. If you’re shopping for an EV, this is worth checking out, as it ticks most of the boxes!
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