Toyota BZ4X vs Mazda Cx-6E
What's the difference?

Toyota BZ4X

$55,990 - $69,990

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Mazda Cx-6E

$53,990 - $57,990

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mini Aceman

Mini Cooper

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Renault Megane E-Tech

Renault Scenic E-Tech

Summary

2026 Toyota BZ4X

2026 Mazda Cx-6E

By Stephen Ottley

By Andrew Chesterton

Safety Rating

Electric motor type

Permanent Magnet

Electric motor type

—

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Electric range

488 km

Electric range

484 km

Energy consumption

16.8 kWh/100km

18.9 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

74.70 kWh

78.00 kWh

Seating

Likes

Well integrated safety technology
More space than bZ4X
Great performance for an SUV

Nicely executed design, inside and out
Sharp enough pricing to capture attention
Backseat space for days

Dislikes

Cabin design is awkward in places
Not a price leader in the EV market
No one-pedal driving

Digital wing mirrors are rubbish on all cars
Some flaws in the drive experience
Chinese manufacturing, but a very Japanese warranty

2026 Toyota BZ4X Summary

Toyota finds itself in a very unusual position - playing catch-up.

Usually the Japanese brand dominates any market segment it is in - or at least has one of the more popular offerings. But when it comes to mid-size electric SUVs, Toyota finds its bZ4X trailing well behind several rivals including the BYD Sealion 7, Geely EX5, Kia EV5, Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X.

There’s a very clear reason for this, too. Toyota was late to the party. The brand has taken a very slow approach to the electric vehicle (EV) market, launching its first battery-powered model, the bZ4X SUV, in early 2024.

Up until the start of 2026 and a price drop that coincided with surging petrol prices and a spike in EV demand, the bZ4X was something of a bit-player in the EV market. But with sales up more than 300 per cent in 2026 the time seems perfect to expand, with the bZ4X Touring reaching dealerships.

So is this the right SUV at the right time? Or is it too little too late?

@carsguide.com.au
The 2026 Toyota bZ4X Touring is a camping friendly EV! A close relative of the Subaru Trailseeker, the new electric family car has on-board plugs to charge small appliances and you can stow up to 300kg on the roof racks. Is this a better camping car than a Toyota Prado? #Toyota #bz4xtouring #EV #cartok #fyp
♬ original sound - CarsGuide.com.au

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2026 Mazda Cx-6E Summary

We know the story of Mazda’s sudden EV push already, but I’ll recap it quickly.

On one side, soaring fuel prices and helpful incentives combined to lure Aussie buyers into EVs in record numbers. But Mazda doesn’t really have any to sell. On the other side, tightening NVES (New Vehicle Efficiency Standard) regulations punish brands that aren’t using EVs to lower their fleet emissions. But Mazda doesn’t really have any to sell.

The answer lay not in Japan, but in China, where Mazda has been able to capitalise on its relationship with Changan to get new EVs on the road quickly. The first was the 6e sedan, and this is the second arrival, the CX-6e.

And yes, that means that under the skin of this undeniably sexy electric SUV it’s very similar to something from Deepal, but the brand insists it’s still very much a Mazda everywhere else.

And so with this, Mazda rides into the electric SUV fray. But how does it stack up?

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2026 Toyota BZ4X 2026 Mazda Cx-6E

Verdict

Is the bZ4X Touring the right Toyota for this moment in time or too little too late for the brand to play catch-up to its EV rivals?

The good news for Toyota is that it isn’t too late, at all. The Touring expands the appeal of the bZ4X, metaphorically and literally, and certainly the sales trajectory in 2026 suggests buyers are warming to Toyota’s electric future.

However, it remains a more expensive proposition for its size and the Touring doesn’t really make it stand out amongst the crowd that includes the popular BYD Sealion 7 and Tesla Model Y. It’s unfamiliar territory for Toyota, but it didn’t become the automotive juggernaut it is by giving up, so there is every reason to think the bZ4X duo will chip away at the EV sales leaders.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Verdict

It might be the product of the brand's Chinese partnership, and in fact it might not even be a Mazda under the skin, but it definitely feels more like the Japanese brand than you might be expecting.

Does it feel quite enough like a Mazda? That's going to be up to you. But it certainly looks the part, inside and out.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number of automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

Toyota BZ4X vs Mazda Cx-6E What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Toyota BZ4X vs Mazda Cx-6E
What's the difference?