Futuristic EV aims to stand out in crowded market

SHARPLY futuristic with a dashboard that would not be out of place in a space movie, the all-new Mazda CX-6e electric car was revealed at the recent 2026 Brussels Motor Show.

After a European launch this summer, the CX-6e will arrive here in the UK later this year.

Indeed, this year is set to be an electrifying one for the Japanese carmaker as the CX-6e (price to be announced) joins the Mazda6e in Mazda’s battery electric line-up. The latter is on sale in Britain this summer.

So, what does this new Mazda CX-6e offer a car-buying public that must feel bedazzled by the new array of EVs on the market?

Well, this one certainly has the looks. For a start there is that dashboard featuring a 26in touchscreen, that seems — as Buzz Lightyear might put it — to stretch to infinity and beyond.

The cockpit centres on this sweeping touchscreen with its dual-split layout that provides passengers with access to a wide range of information.

Mazda says all this is achieved “without distracting the driver from the road”, although you have to wonder if such a prominent feature does distract.

Mazda says no because “this screen is complemented by a large head-up display that overlays navigation guidance on to the road ahead”. This is done by what the carmaker calls “gesture control” — this allows drivers to manage vehicle functions through hand movements.

Mazda says this “lets you (the driver) quickly select pre-saved routes or play your favourite music without touching a button”.

Multilingual voice recognition responds to everyday requests — whether that’s adjusting the temperature in the car, opening the windows or finding a new destination.

Powered by a 78kWh battery, this mid-sized SUV has a range of up to 300 miles. Rapid DC charging the CX-6e offers “both long-distance confidence and everyday convenience”, says Mazda.

A maximum DC charging rate of 195kW results in a 10-80 per cent charge time of 24 minutes.

Its 78kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery powers a rear-mounted motor that develops 258PS and 290Nm of instantly accessible torque.

Every model features nine airbags and a network of high-definition cameras, millimetre-wave radar and ultrasonic sensors to enhance visibility and awareness. There is a full suite of driver assistance systems, including Smart Brake Support, Lane Keeping Assist and Blind Spot Monitoring.

Its extended 2,902mm wheelbase means this car as versatile load-carrying capabilities, with the 468-litre luggage bay expanding to 1,434 litres with the second row of seats folded flat.

Adding to this car’s avowed mystique, seven exterior colours are available “headlined”, says Mazda, by the Nightfall Violet colour.

This is described as “a deep and glossy tone that shifts between a lustrous purple glow and near-black shadows depending on the light”.

The CX-6e offers generous head, leg and shoulder room for all occupants. The interior is available in three colour variations: Warm Beige or Black Maztex in Takumi models, or a two-tone Amethyst and White Maztex in the Takumi Plus.

“The all-new Mazda CX-6e brings our human-centric approach into the electric era, combining great design, driving enjoyment, and advanced technology for European customers,” says Martijn ten Brink, president and chief executive officer, Mazda Motor Europe. “The all-new CX-6e offers the efficiency and performance our customers expect, while supporting Mazda’s broader ambition to reduce CO2 and expand our electric portfolio. Together with the Mazda6e, it accelerates our electrification strategy.”

Alongside the all-new CX-6e, Mazda also presented the all-new CX-5 in Brussels. Featuring an updated Kodo Design language and refined driving dynamics, the all-new CX-5 will also be offered in a striking new body colour: Navy Blue.

Developed through a collaborative process between regional design teams and inspired by indigo experiments from Mazda’s European R&D Centre, this distinctive shade “is a bold addition to the exterior colour palette”. The all-new CX-5 arrives in the UK in the summer.

Cumulative global production and sales of the Mazda CX-5 passed five million units at the end of 2025. The milestone means the CX-5 is the third Mazda model surpass five-million sales —– the others being the Mazda 323 and the Mazda3.

To date, the CX-5 has been sold in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide with its enduring popularity meaning that in 2025 it was Mazda’s global best-seller, as well as being the biggest seller in the UK.