What's the difference?
You’re getting flooded with new electric mid-size SUVs from China, I know. But if you’re struggling to recall them all, just remember – this is the good-looking one.
It’s the Deepal S07, the spearhead for the Deepal brand's new presence in Australia, and I reckon it looks damn sharp.
But is there substance to match the style? And can it take on the likes of the Kia EV5, Tesla Model Y and XPeng G6?
Let's find out, shall we?
It’s fair to say Mazda didn’t exactly rush into the electric vehicle market with a flourish. Its first battery-powered offering, the MX-30, was a small SUV with a big price and it sold in small numbers.
But with EV sales on the rise in 2026, the timing is perfect for its second electric offering to land in Australia, and the Mazda 6e is a very different proposition to the MX-30.
The 6e is a mid-size sedan, with a very competitive price and it has plenty of influence from the booming Chinese EV industry. The 6e is a product of the long-time joint-venture between Mazda and Changan and is the first car built in China sold in Australia by the Japanese brand.
The 6e (which is known as the EZ-6 in China) shares its underpinnings with the Deepal L07, with Deepal being the electric brand for Changan Automobiles.
So, can this second EV, with Chinese influence, help Mazda catch up lost ground in the electric car race? Read on to find out…
The Deepal S07 has the makings of a great family friendly EV, but with some quirks that really need to be ironed out.
Mazda never had high hopes for the MX-30, it was always intended as a niche offering, but that is not the case with the 6e. The company is keeping its expectations in check, with sales of EVs seemingly returning to pre-oil crisis levels, but clearly there is a hope that this new-generation EV can help it catch up in the electric car race.
Certainly there is a lot to like with the 6e, starting with the price. It’s a cheaper alternative to both the BYD Seal and Tesla Model 3, so it starts strongly and then builds on that with the kind of design and driving experience we expect from Mazda.
There are definitely elements that need improvement, primarily the active safety calibration, but overall Mazda’s second electric car has a much better chance of success.
Given the similarities between the two, the cheaper price of the GT makes it the pick of the pair.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.