Oh Snap, We Might Get The Mazda EZ-6 After All

Earlier this year, Mazda revealed the rather foxy EZ-6 at the Beijing motor show, and we all said “ooooooh, that’s nice”. But then Mazda said it would only be sold in China, and we sighed and went back to remembering how unappreciated the Mazda6 was.

But now Mazda is changing its mind, and the EZ-6, with its 373-mile battery range and swishy looks, is heading to Europe. And if it comes to Europe, it could head to the UK, which could mean we could finally have a decent electric Mazda. No, the MX-30 doesn’t count.

Because Business

Look, this is all slightly speculative, but it is based on fact. The Mazda EZ-6 is styled by Mazda but built by Chinese manufacturer Changan, and originally China was where it was going to stay.

But since then Mazda has signed an agreement to cooperate with Changan on electric vehicle export, and it says the EZ-6 will be, quote, “Mazda’s first global new-energy vehicle” and will be coming to Europe from the autumn.

So that means it’s coming to the UK, right? Well, maybe. According to Autocar, a decision has yet to be made, but it’s possible. And it would seem to make business sense, too. Mazda currently has just one EV in Europe, and it’s the MX-30, which isn’t particularly brilliant.

The EZ-6 would dramatically ramp up Mazda’s EV appeal, and provide a rather sexy alternative to the likes of the Tesla Model 3, the BMW i4 and the Polestar 2.

In addition, Chinese-built EVs are now the subject of pretty hefty EU import tariffs, but not in the UK, what with Brexit and all that. In theory, that would make the UK a rather attractive destination.

Could The EZ-6 Be The New Mazda6?

Despite the fact that the platform upon which it sits is unrelated to any other Mazda, the company says its old “jinba ittai” philosophy – horse and rider as one, meaning the car is designed to be fun to drive – remains in the EZ-6. Tech highlights include 50:50 weight distribution and active aero for high-speed stability.

In China, it’s available with a rear-mounted 218bhp electric motor, and is also available as a petrol-assisted range-extender (REx) model, boosting its overall range to 745 miles. The MX-30 is sold in the UK in both electric-only and REx form, so perhaps both versions of the EZ-6 could make their way here, too.

Tempted? If so, wait for Mazda to make up its mind, and in the meantime start browsing for used Mazda6 MPSs.