Forbidden Fruit Review: 2025 Mazda 6e Takumi Plus – The Electric Mazda We Wish Came to Canada

We spent nearly three weeks and 4,000 km behind the wheel of one of the most convincing electric sedans to arrive on the European market: The 2025 Mazda 6e. So why won’t this potentially game-changing car make its way to Canada?

• The Mazda 6e would offer an EPA-equivalent range of 410 kilometres
• Due to tariffs on electric vehicles built in China, its price would reach $128,000
• The car is available with two battery sizes, but always rear-wheel drive

2025 Mazda 6e Takumi Plus Pros

-Natural and engaging driving experience and sharp steering

-Low electric consumption in real use

-Interior design that looks refined and premium

2025 Mazda 6e Takumi Plus Cons

-Fastest charging speeds limited to the smaller battery

-Rear visibility is restricted

-Infotainment interface is complex to use

The answer lies in a complex mix of geopolitics, infrastructure, and market preference. This model perfectly blends Mazda’s signature driving pleasure with a refined, high-end cabin design, all at a price that undercuts its German competitors in Europe.

The Elephant in the Room: The Chinese Tariff Wall

The main reason you won’t see a Mazda 6e at your local dealership is written plainly on its certificate of origin. Developed and assembled in partnership with Changan Automobile in China, the 6e faces a major obstacle: the federal 100% surtax imposed on light vehicles manufactured in China.

This measure, implemented to protect the North American auto industry, effectively doubles the cost of vehicle entry.

A well-equipped Mazda 6e Takumi Plus sells for €46,900 in Germany (around $76,400 CAD), including Germany’s 19% sales tax and import duties that can reach 31.3%. In Canada, the price before tax would climb to about $128,000 after adding import duties and the Canadian surtax. This is simply not viable for a brand like Mazda.

A Frustration for Canadians

This situation highlights a frustrating reality for Canadian EV shoppers. By shutting the door on vehicles imported from China, among other nations, we also shut the door on greater diversity, innovation, and price competition. Brands like BYD, Xiaomi, and Nio — along with partnerships like Mazda and Changan — design high-quality electric vehicles that could energize the Canadian market and offer more alternatives than the current crop of North American, Korean, Japanese, and European models. Allowing controlled imports of these vehicles would benefit consumers and push all manufacturers to increase the value and features of their products.

What Challenges Would the Mazda 6e Face in Canada?

Even if tariff barriers disappeared overnight, the current configuration of the Mazda 6e would still present challenges for our market.

Range and Charging Infrastructure

Our test vehicle, the standard-range version, came with a 68.8-kWh battery. On European roads, we recorded an impressive real-world consumption of 18.3 kWh/100 km, though slightly higher than the manufacturer’s rating of 16.6 kWh/100 km. Our consumption was somewhat higher because we didn’t go easy on the 6e. We pushed it for several hundred kilometres at maximum speed on the Autobahn in cold, rainy autumn conditions, thus a true demonstration of its efficiency.

However, a WLTP range of 479 km (or 410 km EPA-equivalent) doesn’t translate directly to our colder climate and longer distances. In provinces with a strong fast-charging network, such as British Columbia, Quebec, and southern Ontario, that range is more than enough for daily use and regional travel. But for drivers in the Prairies, the Maritimes, or northern Ontario, where fast chargers are scarce, a battery of this size could raise range anxiety.

The long-range version, with its 552 km WLTP (473 km EPA-equivalent), would be better suited, but it comes with a major drawback: significantly slower fast-charging (up to 95 kW for the Long Range versus 200 kW for the Standard Range), making long road trips less flexible.

This difference is worth noting. The Long Range version uses a different battery chemistry at the expense of charging speed. The Standard Range version, despite its smaller battery, allowed us to leave the charger in just 15 to 20 minutes. Mazda claims speeds of up to 200 kW; in our cold-weather test, we saw up to 160 kW, which remains quick. Stops are more frequent, but twice as short.

Home Charging and Energy Efficiency

During our test, we were able to power the 6e almost entirely from renewable energy thanks to our home solar system with 12.4 kW of panels and a 21-kW battery. This system allowed us to charge the vehicle during the day with solar power and at night using the battery. It’s easy to manage charging speed depending on your needs and electricity rates.

The Absence of All-Wheel Drive

The Mazda 6e is offered exclusively with rear-wheel drive (RWD). Hearing that alone will make several Canadian buyers hesitate, imagining snowy ditches. The concern is understandable, but not necessarily justified. Tesla, Hyundai, and Polestar have proven that with proper winter tires and a modern traction-control system, a rear-wheel-drive EV is perfectly viable in our winters. The low centre of gravity and centrally placed battery improve stability. Still, perception remains a key factor, and the absence of a dual-motor AWD version would likely cost Mazda sales against rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 6, Tesla Model 3, and BMW i4, which offer all-season traction.

Driving Dynamics

The way the Mazda 6e tackles the winding roads of the Austrian Alps is its most impressive trait. The chassis tuning and steering are exemplary. The car responds naturally and with balance, and the smooth surge of electric torque provides a fluid and dynamic drive. It isn’t the quickest in its segment (around 7.6 seconds 0–100 km/h in our version), but it focuses on driving pleasure and precision. The only drawback: the suspension can feel firm on rough pavement, a necessary compromise for outstanding handling.

Comfort and Interior Design

Spending long hours behind the wheel of a grand touring sedan demands exceptional seats, and the 6e Takumi Plus delivers. The standard Nappa leather immediately feels more upscale than expected for the category. But it’s the seat design and support that impress the most.

The front seats balance firmness and comfort. They avoid sagging after several hours, without feeling hard. The bolsters offer solid cornering support without compromising everyday accessibility. This balance reflects Mazda’s driver-centred philosophy.

In the rear, the seats follow the same approach. The bottom cushion is long and well-shaped to support the thighs of average-sized passengers, but the slightly raised floor — due to the battery — may bother taller occupants.

Infotainment and Ergonomics (The Influence of Changan)

The infotainment system is one of the few disappointing aspects of the vehicle. It’s built around a large 14.6-inch touchscreen powered by a third-generation Qualcomm 8155 processor with 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Despite its power and responsiveness, navigating the menus is confusing. We continued to discover features even after two weeks of testing. The interface feels more like Changan than Mazda.

Mazda had accustomed us to a more intuitive interface, thanks in large part to its central control knob. We miss it, as it allowed drivers to operate key functions without taking their eyes off the road. Mazda says consumers prefer touchscreens, but in real driving, the knob offered far better ergonomics. Another annoyance: the voice assistant, which is often activated unintentionally from slight steering-wheel movements.

We also found the driver-assist systems too intrusive, especially lane-keeping and lane-centring features imposed by European regulations. These functions automatically reactivate at every start-up or when the car detects signs of fatigue, such as yawning, which quickly becomes irritating.

Audio System: A Surprise from Sony

The big surprise in the Mazda 6e was its 14-speaker Sony audio system. Rivalling those in more expensive cars, its speakers integrated into the headrests create an immersive sound field or concentrate audio directly for the driver. Ideal when passengers are sleeping, but you still want to listen to music.

Verdict: A Missed Opportunity for the Canadian Market

The Mazda 6e, along with its upcoming SUV sibling, the EZ-60, proves that the automaker has learned from the MX-30’s missteps. Thanks to its partnership with Changan, Mazda has taken the lead over other Japanese brands still hesitant about electrification. The 6e impresses with its driving quality and refined cabin, to the point of feeling more expensive than it truly is, something several Europeans we spoke to noted during our test.

Mazda EZ-60 2025: Striking Prices, a Slap in the Face to Other Automakers

Its likely absence from the Canadian market, like the EZ-60, represents a real loss for consumers. These models embody the type of competition the Canadian market needs to shake up the established giants.

Ultimately, the Mazda 6e perfectly illustrates modern automotive policy: A car desired for its design and driving pleasure, but inaccessible due to protectionist policies. It shows that, in the era of electric vehicles, true freedom of choice depends on opening our market to the best products from around the world.