Daily driving, two road trips and a genuine surprise. Has Mazda finally built an electric car I'd happily own?

Inside the Mazda 6e – A Very Different Mazda

Climb inside and you'll immediately notice that Mazda has taken a very different approach with the 6e.

The cabin is minimalist, modern and dominated by a large central touchscreen.

It's a significant departure from the more traditional Mazda interiors we've become familiar with.

There's a real sense of space, and the clean dashboard design creates an uncluttered environment.

The overall presentation feels sophisticated, and the combination of modern technology, comfortable seating and thoughtful design makes it a pleasant place to spend time.

Of course, moving so many vehicle functions into a touchscreen isn't going to suit everyone.

Personally, I still appreciate physical controls for frequently used functions. Sometimes a simple button is easier than navigating through menus, particularly while driving.

It's an area where I think Mazda could have retained a little more of its traditional approach.

But once you're familiar with the layout, the cabin is an enjoyable place to be.

And that became increasingly important as the kilometres added up.

Living With the Mazda 6e – The Everyday Test

One of the biggest mistakes we can make when reviewing a car is judging it entirely on a short drive.

A vehicle might be exciting for 30 minutes, but what's it like on a Monday morning? What about running errands, dealing with Sydney traffic or simply heading out for a coffee?

That's where the Mazda 6e really started to win me over.

The electric drivetrain makes everyday driving wonderfully effortless.

There's no engine vibration, no gear changes and none of the mechanical fuss we've become accustomed to with petrol-powered vehicles.

Just smooth, quiet acceleration and an almost relaxing driving experience.

In Sydney traffic, that refinement is particularly appealing.

The instant response from the electric motor means there's always power available when you need it, without the car feeling unnecessarily aggressive.

And while outright performance figures might be important to some buyers, they're becoming increasingly irrelevant to me.

I'd much rather have a car that feels comfortable, refined and enjoyable every time I climb behind the wheel.

That's exactly what I found with the Mazda 6e.

Road Trip One – Escaping to the Blue Mountains

A car can be excellent around town, but I also wanted to see how the Mazda 6e performed once Sydney disappeared in the rear-view mirror.

So I headed west for a day trip into the Blue Mountains.

The journey included a coffee stop at Glenwood, a visit to Con's Patisserie, Blue Mountains Ugg Boots and, naturally, a stop at Mountain High Pies.

It was exactly the sort of relaxed day trip I enjoy. Nothing particularly complicated, just getting out on the road, exploring a few places and enjoying the journey.

And the Mazda felt perfectly suited to it.

On the motorway, the quiet electric drivetrain made cruising particularly enjoyable. There's something satisfying about travelling at highway speeds without the constant background noise of an engine.

As the roads became more interesting approaching the mountains, the Mazda remained composed and easy to drive.

With 190kW driving the rear wheels, there's more than enough performance for overtaking, merging and enjoying a winding section of road.

It isn't pretending to be a hardcore sports sedan, and frankly, I don't think it needs to.

The appeal is in how effortlessly it covers distance.

It's a comfortable, refined grand tourer with the added convenience of being completely electric.

And that combination really works.

Road Trip Two – An Overnight Escape to the Central Coast

My second road trip took me north towards the Central Coast for an overnight getaway.

This time the idea was to enjoy some different roads, stop for lunch around Terrigal and spend a night away from the city.

The journey also gave me another opportunity to experience the Mazda in a different environment.

The Old Pacific Highway is a road I know well, particularly from my motorcycle riding, and it's always enjoyable to experience familiar roads from behind the wheel of something different.

What stood out once again was how easy the Mazda was to live with.

It was comfortable on the motorway, enjoyable through the bends and refined enough to make the entire journey feel relaxed.

Arriving at the coast, I found myself appreciating the Mazda not just as an electric vehicle, but simply as a really nice car.

And I think that's an important distinction.

We spend so much time discussing electric vehicles in terms of battery capacity, charging speed and range that we sometimes forget the most fundamental question.

Is it actually a good car?

For me, the Mazda 6e absolutely is.

Range and Charging – The Big EV Questions

Naturally, range and charging are going to be major considerations for anyone contemplating the switch to electric.

The Australian Mazda 6e features a 78kWh battery, with Mazda quoting a driving range of up to 560km under WLTP testing conditions.

It also supports DC fast charging, with Mazda quoting a 30–80% charging time of approximately 15 minutes under suitable conditions.

Those are impressive figures on paper.

Of course, real-world range will depend on factors including driving style, weather, road conditions and motorway speeds.

I wouldn't suggest treating the advertised maximum as a guaranteed distance.

But the combination of a substantial battery and rapid charging capability makes the Mazda 6e a compelling proposition for people who regularly travel beyond their local area.

My time with the car reinforced something I've been thinking about for a while.

For many Australians, an EV doesn't have to be restricted to short commutes and city driving.

With some sensible planning, longer journeys can be part of the experience too.

Performance – More Than Enough for the Real World

There's a tendency for electric vehicle manufacturers to focus heavily on acceleration figures.

And yes, some electric cars are ridiculously quick.

But I don't necessarily believe that makes them better cars to own.

The Mazda 6e produces 190kW and 290Nm, with power delivered to the rear wheels.

On paper, those figures might not sound extraordinary compared with some competitors, but in everyday use they're more than adequate.

The immediate response of an electric motor gives the Mazda a satisfying sense of effortless performance.

Whether you're leaving a set of traffic lights, joining a motorway or overtaking on a country road, it delivers its power smoothly and confidently.

What impressed me more than outright acceleration was the overall driving experience.

The 6e feels like a car designed to be enjoyed over distance rather than one built simply to win a traffic-light drag race.

And personally, I think that's the better approach.

Is There Anything I Didn't Like?

No car is perfect, and despite how much I enjoyed the Mazda 6e, there are areas I'd change.

My biggest reservation is the reliance on the central touchscreen.

While the technology looks impressive, I still believe frequently used controls should be accessible without having to work through on-screen menus.

There's something to be said for the simplicity of a physical button or dial.

The other consideration is one that applies to electric vehicle ownership generally.

If you have convenient access to home charging, an EV can be incredibly appealing. If you rely entirely on public charging infrastructure, the experience requires a little more planning.

That's not necessarily a criticism of the Mazda, but it's something buyers should consider carefully.

And while the Mazda offers enjoyable performance, those seeking an aggressively sporty electric sedan might find quicker alternatives.

For me, however, that's missing the point of this car.

Its strengths lie elsewhere.

Would I Actually Buy One?

This is where things get interesting.

It's easy to be enthusiastic about a new car when someone has handed you the keys for a few days.

There's no purchase price to worry about, no depreciation and none of the longer-term financial considerations that come with ownership.

But after spending time with the Mazda 6e, I found myself thinking about it differently.

I wasn't simply enjoying a press vehicle.

I was imagining what it would be like to own one.

Using it for the daily commute. Heading away for weekends. Travelling through regional NSW. Loading up for a few days away and simply enjoying the freedom of the open road.

And I could see it fitting into my lifestyle remarkably well.

The design appeals to me, the interior feels like a genuinely nice place to spend time, and the smooth electric drivetrain makes driving enjoyable in a different way.

It doesn't need to be the fastest or most technologically outrageous EV on the market.

It just needs to be a car that I look forward to driving.

And it is.

Final Verdict – A Mazda That Won Me Over

When Mazda Australia handed me the keys to the Mazda 6e, I was genuinely curious to see what its new generation of electric motoring would be like.

After using it daily, taking it into the Blue Mountains and enjoying an overnight road trip to the Central Coast, I came away impressed.

Not because it has the most outrageous performance figures.

Not because it's packed with technology.

And not simply because it's electric.

I loved it because it's a genuinely enjoyable car to drive and live with.

It's comfortable, stylish, refined and offers the sort of relaxed touring experience that appeals to me more and more these days.

Would I buy one?

Absolutely. It's a car I could realistically see sitting in my driveway in the future.

And perhaps that's the strongest endorsement I can give it.

The Mazda 6e wasn't just a good review car. It was one I genuinely didn't want to give back.

Disclosure: The Mazda 6e was provided by Mazda Australia for review purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.

For more details about the Mazda 6e, visit Mazda Australia.