Budget-friendly electric car priced under $20,000, but you can't buy it.

Mazda has had some tough luck with its electric vehicles, ending production of their first entry into the segment after just a few years on the market. Now, the Japanese automaker has debuted the EZ-6 EV with the claim it will be a global model. With a starting price under $20,000 in China, that’s a pretty bold claim.

The Mazda EZ-6 EV is the result of a joint venture

Mazda’s second attempt at an electric car arrives as a result of a joint venture between Changan Automobiles and the Japanese automaker. The EZ-6 EV officially went on sale in China not long ago, and the sleek sedan starts at the equivalent of just $19,600.

Back in August 2024, Mazda announced the EZ-6 would be the brand’s first “global” electric vehicle offering. It would first launch in China before heading to Europe. There’s no word just yet on a North American offering, and with the tariff situation uncertain, it may not make it to our shores at all.

“Electrification” technology requires an asterisk

The Mazda EZ-6 EV utilizes Changan’s electrification technology, and the automaker chooses those words purposefully. Not all of the brand’s EZ-6 offerings will be all-electric models. Instead, extended-range variants will include a gasoline engine working in tandem with an electric motor.

The extended range models include a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and 215-horsepower electric motor with two battery pack options. All-electric range runs up to 124 miles with the larger battery and rear-wheel drive.

Related: China-bound Mazda EZ-6 sedan sure looks like the next-gen 6

The pure electric models offer two battery options as well, a 68.8 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery landing at the top. The all-electric EZ-6 sees a more powerful electric motor that delivers up to 255 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque. When paired with rear-wheel drive, that combination offers up to a 373-mile range.

The $19,600 price tag is too good to be true

The Mazda EZ-6 extended range models start at $19,600 and max out at just under $24,000. The all-electric models cost a little more, ranging from $22,400 to $25,200. Keep in mind those are China’s prices, and the same model in the European market will likely cost a pretty penny more.

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There’s no confirmation that we’ll see the Mazda EZ-6 EV in the United States, or in any North American market. Even so, the tech powering the Japanese automaker’s latest EV entry could give insight to what Mazda plans to bring to North America in the future.

Mazda’s first entry into the EV segment was a bust

Every automaker is throwing their hat into the electrified ring, but Mazda is arguably one of the furthest behind, and not for a lack of trying. The Mazda MX-30 was the marque’s first foray into the EV segment, and it ended in absolute disaster.

If you haven’t heard of the MX-30, don’t beat yourself up. Not many people have, because Mazda ended its production after just two years on the market. The all-electric crossover offering came with just 100 miles of range, meaning it fell right into the “range anxiety” trap.

Sales were nearly nonexistent, with just 16 MX-30’s sold in June 2023, down from 23 models sold in June 2022. From January to June 2023, just 66 MX-30s left dealer lots. Thus ended the tragic tale of the Mazda MX-30.

Final thoughts

Seeing the Mazda EZ-6 EV on North American roadways could give the Japanese automaker an entry into a niche it can be competitive in. While it would likely be priced well above $25,000 in the United States, it could still be a true competitor to other electric cars, like the Hyundai Ioniq 6.

With a range of over 350 miles and pretty peppy performance specs, Mazda seems to have learned from their mistakes. Now, only time (and European sales) will tell if the Mazda EZ-6 will hit our shores.

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