2027 Mazda Cx-6E Reviews

Overnight reports out of Japan are pointing to a new-generation Mazda CX-30 arriving in 2030, which would make the current, first-generation model 11 years old on replacement.According to Chugoku Shimbun Mazda plans to launch the new CX-30 by fiscal year 2030 (the Japanese financial year runs from April 1 to March 31 the following year) with the aim of retaining its position as the brand’s second best-selling model globally, behind the CX-5.Introduced in Europe in late 2019 and arriving in Australia early the following year, the Mazda 3-based compact CX-30 was developed to fill the gap between the small CX-3 and medium CX-5 in Mazda’s now extensive SUV line-up.Mazda President and CEO Katsuhiro Moro told the Hiroshima-based outlet the company is aiming to strengthen the CX-30’s product appeal, noting that to reduce costs “we will incorporate the methods used in the new CX-5 into the next-generation CX-30".In 2025, Mazda sold just over 200,000 examples of the CX-30 worldwide, putting it in a clear second spot behind the CX-5 at around 350,000 units.It’s worth noting Mazda’s Chief Financial Officer Jeff Guyton told CarsGuide at the 2025 Tokyo motor show the brand’s next-generation “smaller architecture cars”  were the next priority after the brand finishes its hybrid development.By 2027 Mazda plans to add its next-generation ‘Skyactiv-Z’ internal combustion engine and proprietary hybrid system to the recently renewed CX-5, with two more hybrid models set to follow soon after.Currently produced in Mazda’s main Ujina plant in Hiroshima City, the CX-30 is also produced in Hofu City, as well as in Mexico, Thailand and China with CKD (Completely Knocked Down) assembly in Malaysia and Indonesia.Early Australian CX-30 production came out of Thailand but local examples have been Japan-built since mid-2020 and it’s likely the new model, with a likely hybrid powertrain option, will follow suit.

Mazda’s slow roll out of its long-awaited hybrid technology is hurting its CX-5 sales, according to reports.The Japanese giant launched the CX-5, its biggest selling model in two of its largest markets - the US and Australia, this year.Sales have not lived up to the hype so far, with the SUV launching with just petrol power and the hybrid alternative not arriving until late 2027 in the US and likely 2028 in Australia.In the US, sales of the CX-5 have dipped 23 per cent since the model went on sale, according to Nikkei Asia.Mazda US is blaming insufficient stock for the sales blip, but sales of the similar-sized hybrid CX-50 — which uses Toyota's hybrid tech — have skyrocketed during the same period, according to reports.July was the first full month of sales of the new CX-5 in Australia, with sales flat compared to the same month in 2025.This might also be the result of stock not flowing freely just yet, but buyers could also be running to snatch up hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives.Sales of hybrid SUVs are up about 13 per cent this year, and plug-in hybrids have jumped almost 200 per cent.Petrol SUV registrations have shed a quarter of sales compared to 2025… read into that what you will.Mazda has always been open about the timing of its new hybrid technology and decided against installing someone else’s petrol-electric set-up in favour of developing its own in-house unit for the CX-5.At the 2025 Tokyo motor show, Mazda’s Managing Executive Officer in charge of Vehicle Development, Product Development, Design and Cost Innovation Naohito Saga said there were no technical issues developing the new hybrid tech but the delay was due to regulatory reasons both within Mazda and global markets.“We need a certain period of development timing, that is why,” said Saga through a translator.“Basically CX-5 will be introduced in Europe and US, so those stringent regulations we need to comply with."Mazda is also aiming to make the new CX-5 Hybrid sweeter to drive than any Toyota.“ Different characteristics . Because what we aim for is the Mazda driving feeling, which is the good feeling when you drive. That is what we are aiming for, so it will be different,” said Saga.When the hybrid does arrive it should be the pick of the litter, with performance to surpass the now defunct turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol engine of the previous generation.Mazda Australia won’t just offer the hybrid in the priciest versions, but will have a broad offering across its grades, according to local boss Vinesh Bhindi.

Australia's top 10 sales list looks very different when automotive groups are counted together, with Hyundai and Kia rocketing up the charts and Chinese companies taking out four places in total.While vehicles might wear different names, often they are owned by the same company, such as the Volkswagen Group with VW, Skoda, Cupra, Audi and more, Toyota with Toyota and Lexuz, or Geely with Geely, Zeekr, Polestar and Lotus.Counted as groups with a single corporate owner rather than as individual brands –which, it must be pointed out, is not how Australia's official body counts sales, making this more an experiment than anything else – and the sales results look very different.At the close of July, for example, Toyota led the YTD sales charts with a total 115,550 sales. BYD nabbed second spot, with 60,192 sales, followed by Ford, Kia and Mazda, with 48,696, 48,399 and 46,960 sales. Hyundai, GWM, Chery, Tesla and Mitsubishi round out the top 10.But counting group totals rather than individual brands paints a very different picture. Toyota and Lexus still comfortably hold top spot, with 122,902 sales, but it's the Hyundai Group (Hyundai and Kia) which take second spot, with a combined 94,113. Next comes the BYD Group (BYD and Denza) with 62,885. Ford and Mazda hold onto spots four and five, even as individual players.It's spot six through 10 where things get interesting, with the Chery Group (Chery, Omoda Jaecoo) storming into spot number six with 40,522 sales. GWM remains in spot seven, while the Geely Group arrives in the top 10 with 28,089 total sales. Mitsubishi and MG (the fifth Chinese brand/group inside this new top 10) fill spots eight and nine.For Chery, the July result was enough to elevate the group to spot number four for the month – a result which did not go unnoticed at HQ."Becoming the fourth largest automotive group in Australia is a significant achievement and demonstrates how strongly Australian consumers have embraced both Chery and Omoda Jaecoo," said Lewis Lu, CEO of Chery Motor Australia.   

Sales of Mazda’s Tesla Model 3 rival are now fully on tap in Australia and we finally have an understanding of how it’s stacking up on the sales chart.As detailed in the latest VFACTS sales report, Mazda sold a total of 283 examples of the 6e electric liftback during July in Australia.This is off the back of the Japanese carmaker selling 28 examples of the 6e in June.Mazda has only reported two months of 6e sales in Australia so far and the figures may be higher than usual due to initial customer backlogs and demonstrator coverage across its dealer network. This will likely equalise over the coming months, giving a clear picture of demand and sales.Tesla sold a total of 134 examples of the Model 3 electric sedan in July, as detailed in the latest EV Council sales report. This is down 63 per cent compared to July 2025.Until the end of July a total of 3326 Model 3 examples were sold, which is down 18.4 per cent year-on-year.BYD, on the other hand, sold a total of 394 examples of the Seal electric sedan in July. This is up 44.3 per cent compared to July 2025.Until the end of July a total 3048 Seal examples were sold, which is up 62 per cent year-on-year.The Mazda 6e liftback is the Japanese carmaker’s second electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, following the niche MX-30 EV SUV that was offered earlier this decade.It’s produced in China in partnership with its joint venture Changan Mazda. It shares its platform with the Deepal SL03.Two versions of the 6e are offered in Australia – GT and Atenza. Pricing starts from $49,990 before on-road costs.All versions are powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 190kW and 290Nm. This is fed by a 78kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that allows for up to 560km of WLTP-claimed range.Following the launch of the 6e electric liftback, it’s soon launching an SUV counterpart called the CX-6e. Like the 6e, it’s made in China in partnership with Changan Mazda.Two versions of the CX-6e are set to be offered – GT and Azami. Pricing starts from $53,990 before on-road costs, which is $4000 more than the 6e. Despite this, SUVs sell in much higher volumes than passenger cars (sedans, liftbacks and hatchbacks) in Australia.For context, Tesla has sold a total of 25,040 examples of the Model Y/Model Y L in Australia so far this year. It’s by far the best-selling EV and the third best-selling car overall, behind only the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.With this in mind, it’s likely that Mazda will have higher sales of the CX-6e electric SUV than the 6e electric liftback. We’ll have to wait and see how it stacks up once it properly launches.

Despite an already huge year for new model launches, there are still some key mid-size SUVs slated for Australia in the tail end of 2026 which might be worth waiting for.So far this year, new-generation versions of top-selling mid-size SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 have arrived, among a swathe of new contenders from challenger brands.If you’re not a huge fan of what’s currently on the market though, there may be something coming that better suits your lifestyle, budget or tastes.Here is a rundown of the five best mid-size SUVs that are still to come. They’re in alphabetical order and span both the mainstream and premium mid-size SUV segments.The current GWM Haval H7 has flown under the radar since it launched in 2025 and the Chinese carmaker is planning to hit reset with a new-generation model.GWM has confirmed it will launch the new Haval H7 in the second half of 2026 and it will feature hybrid and all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power.Front and rear differential locks are also confirmed for the flagship variants, which is a major upgrade to the off-road capabilities compared to the current front-wheel drive hybrid model.Overall there’s a tougher and boxier look that’s more in keeping with the Tank models.Mazda is finally launching a rival to the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X in Australia.The CX-6e is the brand’s first electric mid-size SUV and it quickly follows on the heels of the Mazda 6e electric liftback launching locally.Both vehicles have been co-developed with Changan and are built in China. The CX-6e in particular is built on the same platform as the Deepal S07, which is already offered in Australia.Locally the CX-6e will only be offered with a battery electric (BEV) powertrain, however in other markets a range-extender (REEV) hybrid is available.Mercedes-Benz is set to launch a new-generation version of the GLB SUV in Australia. Final details haven’t been locked in yet.Globally the new GLB is offered with both mild-hybrid and BEV powertrains, like the new GLA and CLA it shares componentry with.This new GLB is larger in every dimension and notably features a 60mm longer wheelbase. It’s available with both five- and seven-seat configurations.Another highlight is the ‘MBUX Superscreen’ which comprises a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as dual 14.0-inch touchscreens for the central multimedia system and front passenger display.Skoda launched the regular Elroq electric SUV in 2025, but later in 2026 it’s readying the hotter RS version.Power comes from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with total system outputs of 250kW and 545Nm. This is enough to send it from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds.The electric motors are fed by an 84kWh lithium-ion battery pack which allows for up to 550km of claimed range, according to WLTP testing.The Elroq is essentially a shortened version of the Enyaq electric mid-size SUV. It is already offered in RS form locally with both the typical SUV and ‘coupe’ SUV body styles.Volvo fans have been waiting for an electric counterpart to the top-selling XC60 mid-size SUV for years now and later in 2026 it’ll arrive in Australia.The Volvo EX60 is based on a new platform called SPA3 and it has an 800V electrical architecture.In Australia two versions of the EX60 will be offered initially, the Ultra P6 RWD and Ultra P10 AWD. They’re priced from $86,990 and $101,990, before on-road costs, respectively.It’s understood that the range-topping P12 AWD trim, as well as a more affordable, entry-level grade will arrive in 2027.

Australians are still buying cars in greater quantity than ever before, despite tough economic conditions.The new vehicle market recorded its strongest ever July result off the back of the same feat in June. Toyota has had a resurgent month up against its Chinese challengers BYD and Chery, led by its new-generation RAV4 SUV. Electric car sales are also showing no signs of slowing down in Australia, accounting for more than one-in-five cars sold. Chinese brands are becoming a staple high up the sales charts in Australia, with many budget-focused models continuing to drive sales. Toyota achieved 20,409 registrations for July, more than double what BYD managed.The Japanese juggernaut has taken out the top-two spots for July with its RAV4 family SUV and HiLux ute.The RAV4 has shot up the sale charts to take out pole position, with 5564 units, wrestling back against early supply issues plaguing the new version of the hugely popular family model. Plug-in hybrid variants of the RAV4 have received some serious attention from buyers, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of the SUV's total sales.Toyota's HiLux ute was not far behind, boasting 4721 units and overtaking the Ford Ranger (4042) in July. The brand also experienced its best month in 2026 for its Land Cruiser Prado and 300 Series 4WDs.Fully-electric cars represented more than one-fifth of all sales in July, with rising fuel prices continuing to influence buyer choices.The Tesla Model Y registered another month as the best-selling EV in Australia, with 4644 units in July between its five- (2215) and six-seater (2429) variants according to EV Council data. BYD’s Sealion 7 mid-size SUV was another strong performer, with 2548 examples sold last month, keeping its tag as the brand’s best-selling model for another month.The Geely EX5 (2034) made another appearance in the top 10 best sellers, followed by the Zeekr 7X (1892). The Chery Tiggo 4 (2156) small SUV has continued its run as one of the best-selling small SUVs, holding off competition from the Hyundai Kona (2096) and Mazda CX-5 (1836).BYD held onto second position in the overall sales standings for July (7857), despite a noticeable drop-off from June. In addition to the Sealion 7, its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute registered another confident registration figure, with 1216 units, along with the Atto 2 small SUV (1214).Chery, Geely, GWM and MG all made the top 10 best-selling brands for the month.

A big change is coming for one of the most iconic sports cars in the world, with the next generation of Mazda’s convertible to go electric.Masahiro Moro, CEO of Mazda, has confirmed the fifth generation of the Mazda MX-5 must be able to forgo a combustion engine in order to be viable."The successor must also be ready for a scenario without a combustion engine,” the CEO told German outlet Auto Motor und Sport.The surprise confirmation raises one of the biggest questions regularly asked in regards to electric sports cars: what about the weight?Moro says the goal weight is between 1000kg and 1200kg. That would keep it close to the low weight of the current ND MX-5, which weighs around 1100kg, depending on the variant.“The challenge for us is to make the basic structure lighter without using exotic materials like carbon fiber.”Earlier this year Mazda’s General Manager of Global Sales and Marketing, Manabu Osuga, told CarsGuide electrification was unlikely for the fifth-generation MX-5.“At the moment, electric is going the opposite direction of fulfilling the MX-5’s (core) concept, as it needs to remain a lightweight sportscar, and electric means heavier,” he told CarsGuide in Melbourne.“We want to make the weight less than one tonne before additional equipment, then with additional equipment 1.1-tonne, but we don’t want it to exceed 1.2-tonne (in total) if it is to be a lightweight sportscar.”European outlets report similar statements from executives, with Christian Schultze, Director of Research & Operations at Mazda Motor Europe telling Dutch publication AutoRAI in February the same thing.“The moment you go fully electric, you fundamentally change the car’s architecture. That means different proportions, a different weight, and a different balance,” he said.An electric version of the fifth-gen MX-5 - which we expect to follow the generational NA, NB, NC and ND names of the first four - is coming, but it won’t be the only drivetrain available.Earlier this year, Mazda also announced the MX-5 would use the upcoming Skyactiv-Z engine, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with hybrid capability.A mild-hybrid would more easily allow Mazda to equip the MX-5 with a manual gearbox, as heavier electrification complicates the system and automatic transmissions become preferred.We won’t see the fifth-gen MX-5 until at least next year, for a launch likely sometime in 2028.

Mazda has subjected its CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 large SUVs to a range-wide shake-up in Australia.These cars form part of Mazda's large-platform family SUV range, with many now significantly more affordable than before.The CX-60 and CX-70 feature two-rows of seating, while the CX-80 and CX-90 are three-row SUVs.All are available with 3.3-litre turbo six-cylinder engines in either petrol or diesel. The CX-60 is also available with a smaller G25 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, while the CX-60 and CX-80 are available with a P50e plug-in hybrid drivetrainDiesel-powered examples used to incur a small hike on their petrol-powered siblings.Mazda has now introduced price parity between petrol and diesel models across all grades of its family SUVs.A petrol CX-60 will now start from $51,640, before on-road costs, which is $900 more than it cost before.The base diesel variant is also offered at that price, representing a $1100 decrease.Next up, the CX-70 now comes in at a more accessible price point. It starts from $73,020, equating to a more than $3000 drop for the petrol and more than a $5000 drop for the diesel. Mazda has introduced a base diesel CX-80 variant to the line-up that will start from $56,100.Its petrol sibling will be offered at the same price, resulting in a $400 increase.The petrol CX-90 is more than $3000 cheaper, starting from $66,100, while the diesel has come down by more than $5000. Mazda also lowered the price of its plug-in hybrid CX-60 and CX-80 SUVs, reducing the gap to its petrol- and diesel-only siblings.The CX-60 PHEV now starts from $56,640, coming down from $63,790. The CX-80 PHEV starts from $68,100, having previously started from $75,750.The cheapest CX-60, powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine, has dropped by more than $5000, now starting from $45,640.Mazda is currently facing the highest New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) fines out of any brand in Australia, due to its petrol- and diesel-heavy line-up.More affordable PHEV offerings could be key to staving off the impacts of more stringent emissions rules.CX-60 and CX-90 variants now come with front cross traffic brake and Cruising Traffic Support (CTS) with Driver Emergency Assist, to mirror the CX-70.The CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 large platform range have proved to be slow selling models for the usually high-volume Mazda, in what has been an overall slower sales year for the brand in Australia.2027 Mazda CX-60 pricing (before on-road costs)2027 Mazda CX-70 pricing (before on-road costs)2027 Mazda CX-80 pricing (before on-road costs)2027 Mazda CX-90 pricing (before on-road costs)

Japan’s major carmakers are reportedly looking to band together and standardise componentry in order to stand up against the rise of Chinese players.As reported by Automotive News, this directive is coming from Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) Chairman Koji Sato who is also the Toyota Vice Chairman and Chief Industry Officer.As a start, Sato is looking to standardise wiring harnesses across the Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota brands, which could reportedly increase productivity more than tenfold.There could also be scope to widen the commonality to steel grades, plastics, among other common components to manufacture cars.“Right now, the most important theme facing the Japanese auto industry is improving ‘international competitiveness’,” said Sato to Automotive News.“We aim to strategically create ‘areas of cooperation’ to improve efficiency, thereby accelerating coexistence in the essential ‘areas of competition.“We have a strong sense of crisis that the Japanese auto industry is in a massive period of transition.“Now is exactly the time to further develop and evolve with the challenges and reform initiatives that the auto industry as a whole must face.“Unless things change, we will not survive.”“We are really talking about what we can do together, because we do see that other industries in other countries or other parts of the world are better organised than us,” said Nissan Motor Company CEO Ivan Espinosa to Automotive News.“We will see a lot more collaboration among Japanese OEMs.“We have a big opportunity to start sharing critical commodities, at least having a common spec on certain things.“We’d have something like a JAMA standard that complies with the requirements of all of us, where we certify some suppliers, and then use this freely.”Beyond this parts standardisation across the Japanese carmakers, JAMA is also reportedly looking to commonise logistics, simplify Japan’s automobile taxing system, redesign the country’s autonomous driving infrastructure, secure access to raw materials, commercialise a circular recycling economy, as well as improve talent recruitment.Even if Japan’s major OEMs can band together and standardise componentry, it still may not be enough to compete against the so-called 'China Speed.'As recently reported, BYD Executive Vice President He Zhiqi claimed that 650 new or updated cars have launched in China in the first half of 2026. This equals around 25 vehicles per week.Many Chinese brands are also having breakthrough success in many export markets, including Australia.China overtook Japan earlier this year to become the largest importer of new vehicles in Australia, ending a 28-year streak.In the first half of 2026 a total of 175,151 new vehicles sold in Australia were manufactured in China, according to VFACTS. This is up 70.2 per cent year-on-year.This number is higher when sales figures from the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) are factored in, however it doesn’t stipulate the vehicle’s country of origin in its reports. Polestar and Tesla report their sales figures through the EVC, rather than VFACTS.On the other hand, a total of 144,430 new vehicles sold in Australia in the first half of 2026 were imported from Japan. This is down 22.8 per cent year-on-year.It’s worth noting that many Japanese carmakers already have partnerships or joint ventures with Chinese carmakers to produce vehicles in China, mainly for China.However, some of these brands are exporting these Chinese-made models to other markets, including Australia.Examples include the Mazda 6e and soon the Mazda CX-6e, and Nissan is still assessing whether to bring some of its popular Chinese-made vehicles Down Under, like the Frontier Pro plug-in hybrid ute and NX8 hybrid and electric SUV.

Recently, a realisation from behind the wheel of the current generation of a widely beloved rear-drive two-door coupe raised a question for me.Are sports cars doomed? The question came as I realised that because of the development of the car I was driving, the 2026 Nissan Z (specifically the Heritage Edition), underneath was essentially a Nissan 350Z that had been given enough surgery to be relevant in two decades later.But the last of the ancient platforms won’t be around for much longer, surely, and the cars built on them are, at least in two cases, some of the most-loved sports cars around.The other is the Ford Mustang, which rides on a platform closely related to one older than you might think.Back to the Z for a moment, because the platform it rides on comes from so far back that I was just getting into primary school when it debuted. The 2002 Nissan 350Z was released when I was in grade 2, about a decade and a half ago, when I was only allowed behind the wheel of one if it was on Need for Speed: Underground 2.Nissan recently celebrated 35 years of its Infiniti sub-brand, which kicked off with the G35 Coupe - a sibling car to the V35 Nissan Skyline - and gave the Front Midship (FM) Platform its flowers.The aim was to get a V6 nestled in just behind the front axle, which resulted in a 52:48 front/rear weight distribution. Slightly more weight over the front was a deliberate choice, according to the engineers.The FM platform would go on to carry the Z33 350Z to cultural relevance in the aforementioned Underground 2 and Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, before the Z34 370Z came along with a heavily updated version of the platform in 2009 and hung around for 12 years. The FM was just about old enough to vote in Australia when the 370Z was discontinued.The RZ34 is already coming up on four years old, and its platform is 20 years older than that.Even though its chassis feels heavy for something carrying a two-door coupe, it’s not alone in the world of heavy hybrid and electric ‘sports cars’, but it retains a level of engagement and trust in the driver that doesn’t rely on tricks and electronics.If Nissan built another platform for the Z, not only would it have possibly sent the company bankrupt, it might have lost some of its magic.Nissan’s FM platform is not alone in this. In fact, even though Ford probably could afford to create a new Mustang platform, you could argue the platform it rides on is even older than the Z’s. Depends who you ask. While Ford says the S550 Mustang is built on a ‘ground-up’ platform developed just for the Mustang in 2015, it’s to some extent based on the existing D2C platform that the Mustang rode on since 2004, itself an evolution of the DEW98 platform used from the late 1990s.While the Mustang’s platform is now different in a few key areas, including the addition of independent rear suspension for the S550 generation onwards, it’s still related to that of the early 2000s.And it’s still quite capable and really, really fun, just like the Nissan Z.I point all of this out because I’m a little worried about what happens to the other, even more affordable sports cars when it’s time for their next generations. Will the Mazda MX-5 or Toyota GR86 (and Subaru BRZ) hold onto their platforms until it’s no longer possible to release a car on them?We’re going to be waiting until after 2030 for a new Nissan Z according to Nissan Americas’ Senior Vice President Chief Product & Planning Officer Ponz Pandikuthira, though given he says the next GT-R will ride on a new platform the FM Platform might also be outta here.A new Ford Mustang won’t be around until a similar time, though Ford CEO Jim Farley has notably said the V8 would stick around “as long as God and the politicians let us”. The platform might need some more work by then if the brand intends to electrify the pony car, though it won’t go full-EV if Ford can avoid it.If you’re anything like me, you’d probably be okay with the next generations of each of these cars riding on a very similar platform to their predecessors.Of course evolution needs to take place, otherwise the Mustang would still have a solid rear axle and the likes of ANCAP would have thoughts about that.The current Mazda MX-5 and Toyota GR86 are two properly affordable sports cars, and if keeping them within reach of most people means a new generation on the same highly acclaimed platforms as before, I’d be all for it.