This is the new Mazda6! But he is not for us…

It’s the editors’ secret favorite, the Mazda6. To the point that 30% of our team visits Mazda6 Wagons! Just saying that we don’t light a candle every day in the hope of one day seeing an heir. Now we get to see that successor … but it will definitely remain “China only“-example. Calm down guys…

Spacious size

Successor to the Mazda6? It is already called the EZ-6 in China and is the product of a joint venture between Mazda and China’s Changan. If we are to believe the internet, it shares its genes with the Changan Deepal SL03, although Mazda is unwilling to confirm this. What we do know is that the EZ-6 brings its own design language. That looks recognizably Mazda – the grille, the dots in the taillights and the chrome strip on the C-pillar – but it’s also more angular than we’re used to from the Japanese brand.

With its length of 4.92 meters, the EZ-6 has also become a large car. Although the Chinese naturally value rear legroom, the EZ-6 doesn’t seem to want to disappoint. 19-inch lightweight wheels, paneled roof, recessed door handles and frameless doors should round out the party. Also notice the completely unnecessary chrome strip on the front door. Yes, you can’t avoid them now.

Mazda with Chinese sauce

So let’s quickly jump into the internals. That is also at the level of the real Mazda. Horizontal lines, simplicity and those slim door handles. There is Alcantara, there is wood and also many other things you like. A striking feature is the 14.6-inch floating screen in the center of the dashboard. We’ve never seen that on a Mazda before… but we did on the Changan Deepal SL03. As a result, Mazda cannot hide its origins in secret.

At the front and back we see beautifully stitched leather seats and Mazda badges. The megalomaniac center console floats, as it were, throughout the cabin. Stylish, simple and – hopefully also – practical. As we are used to our Mazdas.

A PHEV EV?

Mazda is yet to release technical details for this EZ-6. Although it will always have an electric motor under the hood. If we look at its sibling from Changan, we see that it has a 262 hp electric motor on the rear axle and a 58.1 kWh (LFP) or 80 kWh (NMC) battery. This makes a possible distance of 515 to 705 kilometers according to the Chinese cycle.

The “range extender” version is basically a plug-in. For example, it uses a 218 hp electric motor that drives the rear wheels and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that maintains a 28.39 kWh battery. As a result, they are talking about a minimum of 1,200 km before refueling/recharging. Come on Mazda, bring this EZ-6 to Europe!