Mazda’s new CX-6e has arrived in China with a roof-mounted LiDAR system for advanced assisted driving. It starts at 145,900 yuan, about 18,967 euros, less than half the price of a Tesla Model Y in China.
Chinese buyers can choose a pure electric or a range-extended (EREV) model. The electric version uses a 77.94 kWh LFP battery from CALB and can travel up to 600 kilometers on the CLTC cycle, or 474-486 km WLTP. The EREV pairs a 1.5-liter gasoline generator with a 31.73 kWh battery, providing 200 kilometers of electric-only range and a total range well over 1,000 kilometers. Both versions have a 190 kW rear motor and can reach 185 km/h. Fast charging from 30% to 80% takes 15 minutes.
LiDAR is the basic upgrade. The CX-6e’s “L2 advanced” assisted driving can handle more than 200 scenarios, including highway lane changes at up to 130 km/h and city intersections and roundabouts at speeds of up to 80 km/h. Its system uses three millimeter-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, 11 cameras and a laser scanner. Trims with LiDAR cost 12,000 yuan (1,560 euros) more than standard versions. Electric models cost 6,000 yuan (780 euros) more than EREV models.
The LiDAR-equipped lineup starts with the EREV Pro 200 km LiDAR at 145,900 yuan (18,967 euros). The EREV Max 200 km LiDAR costs 160,900 yuan (20,917 euros), the EV Pro 600 km LiDAR 151,900 yuan (19,747 euros), and the EV Max 600 km LiDAR 166,900 yuan (21,697 euros). The cheapest electric CX-6e without LiDAR starts at 139,900 yuan (18,187 euros). The Tesla Model Y in China, by comparison, starts at 263,500 yuan (34,255 euros). The full CX-6e range costs from 113,900 to 166,900 yuan (14,807-21,697 euros). In the UK, its launch price is 42,990 pounds, almost three times the Chinese price.
August 2026 sales data shows Mazda delivered 4,532 CX-6e units in China, accounting for 45% of the company’s local sales. The CX-6e uses Changan’s EPA1 platform and shares much with the Deepal S07, part of a wider trend of Japanese and Chinese automakers working together. It is Mazda’s second model developed in China with Changan, following the Mazda6e (EZ-6). Both are now sold in Europe.
Europe is a different story. The CX-6e that arrived in Spain this summer is essentially the same as the Chinese electric version, but costs much more. There is no range-extended option or LiDAR system, at least not yet. Specifications and WLTP range are almost the same, but the missing EREV option and advanced radar expose the gap in value and technology between the two markets. Charging figures cannot be compared directly because Mazda uses different measurement intervals in Europe.
China’s low prices and rapid rollout of new features are changing the market. As reported earlier, Chinese brands are drawing on their home-market advantage to challenge established players abroad. Mazda’s partnership with Changan offers a clear example of the shift.
The CX-6e’s arrival in Europe without its top features and at a much higher price shows how far the markets have diverged. Chinese buyers get more for less, while European buyers pay more and get less. The Chinese launch sets a new benchmark for value in mid-size SUVs and technology, putting pressure on European importers to explain their prices and missing features. Without a European response, the gap could grow, leaving local buyers to question why new idea and low prices stop at the border.
