Mazda’s newest entrant into the electric vehicle market, the EZ-60 SUV, could very well change our expectations of what we get out of mid-size crossovers. With its aggressive styling, advanced tech, and dual powertrain offerings, this car is Mazda’s take-no-prisoners response to the Tesla Model Y. But what really separates the EZ-60 from other cars isn’t its drivetrain or styling it’s the interior, a virtual parade of screens and technology that seems more suitable for a concept car than production.
At the center of the EZ-60’s interior is a 26.5-inch ultra-wide 5K screen that runs unbroken across the dashboard. Instead of piecing together several screens into a single sheet of glass, as some other vehicles have done, Mazda went with a single, unbroken piece of glass. This screen combines digital gauges, media, and climate control, with no physical buttons. According to Autohome, the display is driven by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295 processor, offering a high-definition interface that’s as functional as it is beautiful. That’s complemented by a 100-inch augmented reality heads-up display (AR-HUD), projecting vital driving information onto the windshield itself.
But Mazda didn’t rest at two screens. The EZ-60 features a whopping six screens, including digital rearview mirrors, side-view camera screens, and a standalone control panel for rear-seat passengers. And there’s more: there’s even a 23-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system for a genuine immersive listen. Both rows also receive heated and ventilated seats to boot, and the purple-hued interior a tip of the hat to Mazda’s own special “Future Purple” exterior paint color makes a dramatic visual impression.
Beneath its stylish skin, the EZ-60 has been built on the EPA1 modular platform used in the Deepal S07, a Changan model with Mazda affiliation. Two powertrain options exist: one driven solely by battery, and a range-extender variant. The range-extender variant uses a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine used only as a generator and a 31.7 kWh battery. The setup drives a 255-horsepower rear-axle electric motor with an all-electric range of 160 kilometers (99 miles) on the CLTC cycle and a combined range of more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) when the generator is engaged. The all-electric variant will have a bigger 78 kWh battery with a range of more than 600 kilometers (373 miles) on the CLTC cycle.
The roominess of the EZ-60 makes it a spacious five-seater with dimensions of 4,850 mm in length, 1,935 mm in width, and 1,620 mm in height and a wheelbase of 2,902 mm. It is slightly larger than the Tesla Model Y and therefore qualifies as even more interior space spacious. Practicality has not been forgotten either; the SUV features a 350-liter rear trunk space which can be expanded to 2,036 liters when the seats are folded, plus a 126-liter front trunk on the electric variant.
Mazda’s design philosophy, based in its “Kodo” lexicon, is reflected in the EZ-60’s exterior appearance. Its lighting grille and logo, thin LED daytime running lights, and aerodynamics such as flying buttresses and D-pillar vents all serve to make it look futuristic but unmistakably Mazda. The SUV’s aggressive posture is also amplified by available 21-inch wheels and floating roofline style.
Although having impeccable characteristics, EZ-60 must compete with the flooded electric car market. Back in China, it will encounter such cars as the BYD Tang, Nio ES6, and Tesla Model Y. It must cost within the range of RMB 150,000 to RMB 200,000 (roughly $20,500 to $27,100) to be positioned as a mid-to-premium brand. However, according to Car News China, Mazda will be having difficulty convincing individuals to pay more money for a car highly related to the Deepal S07.
Internationally, the EZ-60 will be sold as the CX-6e to markets such as Europe and Southeast Asia. But it won’t make it to the U.S. market, thanks to stringent tariffs on Chinese-built vehicles. Instead, Mazda is looking to increase its EV sales in markets where competition is fierce but growth opportunities are still high.
The EZ-60 represents a watershed moment for Mazda as it tries to carve out its niche in the electric vehicle market. Using the convergence of cutting-edge technology, daring design, and useful versatility, the SUV seeks to carve out a niche in a market share dominated by entrenched players. Success will depend on whether it can convince tech-conscious buyers who seek the best convergence of innovation and functionality.
