Colline d’Élancourt has a kind of subtle magic to it. It’s not the kind of place that demands your attention, it earns it. The gentle slope of the land, the view toward Paris shimmering in the summer haze, and the quiet winding roads that seem made for thoughtful driving rather than thrills. It’s where I spent a full day with Mazda’s new 6e, Mazda’s long-overdue step into the proper electric sedan segment, and found myself asking a very simple question: Does this car live up to its promise, or is it simply another cautious move in a world changing faster than most automakers can keep up with?
This isn’t the first electric Mazda we’ve seen in Europe, the MX-30 arrived a few years ago, but it always felt like a half-step. A proof of concept, maybe. The 6e is different. It’s longer, more mature, more confident. From the moment I saw it waiting at the base of the hill in Élancourt, low and poised, I knew Mazda had more to say this time.
First Impressions: Elegance Before Aggression
The Mazda 6e doesn’t shout for attention. It’s not trying to mimic a spaceship or impress you with LED theatrics. It leans into something we’ve nearly forgotten, quiet elegance. A clean front fascia with Mazda’s so-called “Signature Wing” lit bar across the nose connects the sharp headlamps, replacing any need for a traditional grille. It’s aerodynamic and understated, yet it holds a presence.
From the side, the 6e looks almost like a coupe masquerading as a sedan. The long hood, flush-mounted door handles, and tapering rear give it balance. But it’s the back that surprised me most. The thin LED taillights wrap around into the trunk, and there’s a deployable spoiler that lifts subtly at speed. I’ll admit, I manually triggered it more than once just for the visual kick.
Inside, it’s all Mazda refinement. Soft materials in the right places, precise stitching, and clean lines make you feel welcome without overwhelming you. The new 14.6-inch center screen dominates the dashboard, paired with a tidy 10.25-inch driver’s display. If anything felt off, it was the control layout. For some reason, Mazda moved the wiper functions onto the screen instead of a stalk. Not ideal when a sudden drizzle hit us mid-corner on a tight rural descent.
Still, this isn’t a car you rush through. It invites you to relax and drive with intent.
Real-World Driving: Colline d’Élancourt to the Outskirts
What struck me immediately once behind the wheel was how relaxed the car felt at urban speeds. The steering is light but deliberate. There’s no overboosted float or delay, Mazda has retained a mechanical honesty in how the car responds, even though it’s electric.
I drove the rear-wheel-drive 190 kW (258 hp) version, the Mazda 6e 258. It felt just right for the twisty two-lane roads snaking out from Élancourt. There’s 320 Nm of torque available, and while the car isn’t what I’d call aggressive off the line, the acceleration is satisfyingly linear up to around 100 km/h. After that, it begins to taper off.
Still, it’s composed. The passive steel suspension communicates the road without being harsh. It handles undulations with grace and dispatches small bumps with that typical EV solidity, quiet and cushioned. The 19-inch wheels do compromise some comfort on sharper imperfections, especially in urban stretches, but overall the ride has been tuned for comfort, not for carving.
In long sweeping curves, there is body roll, sure, but not excessive. This isn’t a car trying to be sporty. Mazda has leaned toward gran turismo character: smooth, quiet, balanced, and calm. The steering doesn’t talk much, but it’s consistent. This is the kind of electric sedan you can settle into for hours without fatigue.
Battery Performance and Efficiency: More Than Just Numbers
Let’s talk about range. Mazda claims 479 km WLTP for the standard version with the 68.8 kWh LFP battery. I managed 14.1 kWh/100 km on our loop that was almost entirely off-motorway, with a bit of stop-start village traffic and a few strong acceleration bursts for testing. That puts the real-world range at somewhere around 480 km, pretty much on target, and impressive.
Mazda also offers a Long Range version with an 80 kWh NMC battery, promising up to 552 km. But here’s the twist: that version only allows 90 kW max DC charging. Yes, that’s slower than many competitors. Charging from 10–80% in the Long Range variant takes a yawning 47 minutes. I didn’t get to test this personally, but I can’t ignore how even a humble Opel Corsa Electric outpaces it with 100 kW.
That said, the standard version does support 165 kW DC charging, which is far more usable. From near-empty to 80%, you’re looking at about 30 minutes. That’s more in line with what buyers will expect in 2025. AC charging caps at 11 kW across the board, and I plugged into a wall box at a local café in Élancourt after our drive with no issues.
Cabin Tech and Ergonomics: Almost There
The main touchscreen is crisp and fairly intuitive. Wireless Apple CarPlay synced immediately, and the menus weren’t buried under layers of nonsense. Voice commands through the Google Assistant were accurate most of the time, and the augmented-reality head-up display is genuinely helpful. Speed, navigation, and driver assists are all presented cleanly in your line of sight.
But Mazda’s push toward minimalism occasionally works against it. No wiper stalk means I had to dig through screen menus while moving, frustrating and potentially unsafe. There are steering wheel shortcuts, but I still triggered the wrong function more than once.
The rear seat space is ample. At 6’1” I had no complaints sitting behind my own driving position. Trunk space is generous, and although there’s no frunk, the rear cargo bay is flat and accessible.
Sound insulation is very well done. Wind noise was minimal even at 110 km/h, and tire noise only became noticeable on broken pavement. Mazda might not have put a 20-speaker system in here, but the cabin ambiance is excellent.
The Verdict from Élancourt
As the sun began to dip behind the ridge, the 6e’s silhouette stood clean and sharp against the sky. I found myself reluctant to hand the keys back. Not because the car blew me away, but because it had quietly won me over. It’s not a Tesla Model 3 rival in terms of charging speed or raw performance. It doesn’t break the mold like a Hyundai Ioniq 6 or offer frills like the Mercedes EQE.
But it’s honest. And in a segment full of hyperbole, there’s something refreshing about a car that just works, feels good to drive, and won’t overwhelm your senses. It’s an electric sedan made for real people, not influencers.
If Mazda can improve the ergonomics and fix that frustrating wiper control decision, they’ve got a real contender on their hands. It may not be perfect, but it’s unquestionably Mazda.
Mazda 6e – Technical Specifications (2025)
All tech info comes right from Mazda’s official site so it’s accurate and trustworthy.
| Specification | Details |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) |
| Motor Output | 190 kW (258 hp) or 180 kW (245 hp) |
| Torque | 320 Nm |
| Battery Type | LFP (68.8 kWh) or NMC (80 kWh) |
| Battery Capacity (Net/Gross) | ~68.8 kWh / ~72.0 kWh (Standard) |
| ~80.0 kWh / ~83.0 kWh (Long Range) | |
| Electric Range (WLTP) | Up to 552 km |
| Acceleration (0–100 km/h) | 7.6 seconds (258 hp version) |
| Top Speed | ~180 km/h (electronically limited) |
| Charging (AC) | Up to 11 kW (both versions) |
| Charging (DC Fast Charging) | 165 kW (Standard), 90 kW (Long Range) |
| Charging Time (10–80%) | ~30 min (Standard), ~47 min (Long Range) |
| Wheels | 19-inch standard alloy |
| Infotainment Display | 14.6-inch central touchscreen |
| Instrument Cluster | 10.25-inch fully digital |
| Head-Up Display | 50-inch Augmented Reality projection |
| Connectivity | Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto |
| Drive Modes | Multiple selectable modes |
| Suspension | Passive steel setup |
| Interior Upholstery | Synthetic leather standard, genuine optional |
| Price (Starting) | ~€45,000 (Germany, July 2025) |
Conclusion
Mazda hasn’t tried to reinvent the electric car with the 6e. But they’ve crafted something more lasting, an electric sedan that feels rooted in the brand’s values. At Colline d’Élancourt, it simply made sense.
How fast does the Mazda 6e charge?
The standard 6e charges at up to 165 kW DC, taking around 30 minutes from 10–80%. The Long Range version charges slower, only up to 90 kW, which takes about 47 minutes for the same range.
What is the real-world range of the Mazda 6e?
On a mixed test drive, the standard model returned around 14.1 kWh/100 km, which translates to roughly 480 km of real-world range. That’s very close to the official figure.
Does the Mazda 6e have all-wheel drive?
No, currently both versions of the Mazda 6e are rear-wheel drive only.
