Mazda 6e

FIRST DRIVE Electric family car has a lot going for it, but its breakaway from traditional Mazda values might upset some

- Alex Ingram

THIS is the new Mazda 6e, a car to replace a model that no matter how often we praised it, never achieved the success it deserved.

The Mk3 Mazda 6 arrived in 2012 and offered buyers a smart-looking, spacious and brilliant-to-drive alternative to the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia and Skoda Superb. While the first two have fallen by the wayside and the Superb continues with the same formula that has worked so well for it, the 'e' in the 6's name shows that for this model, Mazda has taken its large family car into the electric era.

For many, the first EV competitor that will spring to mind is the Tesla Model 3, but the 6e is bigger. At more than 4.9 metres long, the Mazda's closest challenger size-wise is the Volkswagen ID.7. That length certainly lends the 6e lots of presence and all models ride on 19-inch wheels. There are eight colours to choose from, plus three interior finishes.

But it’s in the cabin where some things start to feel quite 'un-Mazda'. The brand has long favoured physical controls over touchscreens, but it has ditched that approach completely here for a huge display. Beyond the window switches, pretty much everything else goes through the 14.6-inch display. While there is lots of customisation for shortcuts, many features need more than one motion, so we feel it’s a step back. Even the lights and wipers can only be controlled through the screen.