Mazda announced the Year of the Horse special version of its mid-size SUV model CX-6e before the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. In the new version, the fully electric version is on sale at 145,900 yuan (less than 1 million TL), while the price of the EREV version with range extension is announced as 139,900 yuan. According to CLTC data, the electric model offers an electric range of 600 kilometers and the EREV model offers an electric range of 200 kilometers.
CX-6e, also sold as EZ-60 in the Chinese market, is positioned between 119,900 yuan and 166,900 yuan in the normal product range. What is noteworthy here is that electric versions are approximately 10,000 yuan more expensive than EREV options. Mazda’s new special version was directly launched to enter more strongly into this intensely competitive new energy SUV market. What has changed in the new special version of the Mazda CX-6e?
Mazda’s Year of the Horse version is directly based on the Chinese calendar in 2026 on the name side. In the Chinese zodiac, the horse is associated with speed, optimism and success as the seventh animal of the 12-year cycle. This theme also coincides with the name of the brand in China and the Jinba-Ittai approach that Mazda has been using for a long time, that is, the integration of the driver and the car. There are no changes on the exterior design side.
The CX-6e retains the aerodynamic structure of the current model. A total of nine air channels located in the hood, bumpers and sail panel areas help reduce friction. Thus, the friction coefficient of the vehicle drops to 0.258 Cd. This value is in the same league with competitors such as Xiaomi YU7 with 0.245 Cd and Xpeng G9 with 0.272 Cd. 19-inch wheels are offered as standard in both power options. For those who want it, 21 inch rims and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV tires are also included in the option list.
The real change comes on the cabin side. With this special version, Mazda has made the purple-white interior theme standard in the CX-6e. In previous versions, black-white dual-tone structure was offered as standard. In the next sporty packages, red stitching and details on a black background stood out. A 26.45-inch 5K infotainment screen is standard on the front console, extending from the middle section to the passenger side.
On the driver’s side, a 50-inch HUD is provided as standard equipment. A 100-inch HUD can be purchased optionally. No changes have been made to the technical structure of the full electric version. In this model, a 77.94 kWh LFP battery pack signed by CALB is used. Power comes from a single electric motor on the rear axle and the system produces 190 kW, that is, 255 horsepower. The maximum speed is 185 km/h. The basic structure is preserved in the EREV version.
This model has a 31.73 kWh LFP battery pack developed by the CATL and Changan joint venture. At the front, there is a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated 72 kW, that is, 97 horsepower, range extender engine. At the rear, a 190 kW electric motor works, and this version reaches a maximum speed of 185 km/h. Considering the dimensions, the Mazda CX-6e has dimensions of 4,850 mm in length, 1,935 mm in width and 1,620 mm in height.
Wheelbase is 2,902 mm. Depending on the equipment and power system, the curb weight varies between 2,048 kilograms and 2,180 kilograms. McPherson suspension system is used at the front and multi-link suspension system at the rear. The model rises on Changan’s EPA platform, along with the 6e sedan sold as EZ-6 in China. The same infrastructure is also used in the brand’s Deepal and Nevo models. This special version stands out as a marketing and positioning move, not a comprehensive renewal.
While the difference in the hardware side was quite limited, the most obvious innovation was the new interior color. The regulation on the pricing side is seen as a clear step taken directly to adapt to that competition, not aiming to make the model more assertive against the harsh new energy vehicle competition in China. Mazda’s new energy vehicle performance in China also reveals the picture behind this move. According to China EV DataTracker data, the brand delivered 2,379 units of CX-6e, namely EZ-60, in the domestic market in March 2026.
6e, that is, EZ-6 deliveries were 1,287 units in the same period. When the two models are evaluated together, Mazda’s new energy vehicles account for almost half of the brand’s monthly sales in China.
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