This is the Mazda EZ-6, seen in southern Beijing earlier this summer. The EZ-6 is a new liftback sedan based on Chinese technology. It is a good-looking car, it looks expensive, especially in this classy Flowing Gold color scheme with dark gray alloy wheels.
Reverse joint venture car
The Mazda EZ-6 is an example of a “reverse joint venture” (反向合资) car—a term describing foreign brands that rely on Chinese platforms and technology in joint ventures. This marks a sharp reversal from earlier days, when Chinese automakers depended heavily on Western technology. The manufacturer of the EZ-6 is Changan-Mazda, a long-running joint venture established in 2012.
For foreign automakers, a reverse joint venture provides a shortcut to launching competitive new-energy vehicles in China. Many global brands were caught sleeping at the wheel by the country’s NEV boom and struggled to develop attractive models in time.
The origins of the EZ-6
The Mazda EZ-6 is a liftback sedan based on the Deepal SL03. Deepal is a Changan brand. The EZ-6 and the SL03 share the same EPA1 platform, dimensions, powertrain and batteries, and electronics. Even the design is largely similar. Only the front and rear designs are different.
This is the Deepal SL03. Deepal launched it in 2022, with an update in 2025. The EZ-6 launched in 2025 and is thus based on the pre-update variant of the SL03.
Mazda positions the EZ-6 as a sports sedan. It has a bootlid with an integrated spoiler, wide black bumpers, and big 19-inch wheels.
Interior of the Mazda EZ-6
The interior dimensions are the same as the donor car’s, but some of the design is different. Mazda designed an original dashboard, center tunnel, and door panels. However, the seats are the same as in the Deepal. Mazda equipped the EZ-6 with a 10.1-inch instrument panel, a 14.6-inch touch screen, and a 14-speaker audio system.
The proud owner hasn’t used the rear bench yet; it is still covered by protective dealer plastics. The owner also added a set of floor mats. The EZ-6 has a long wheelbase, as Chinese cars have, so there’s a lot of space in the rear cabin. The dimensions of the EZ-6 are: 4921/1890/1485, 2895.
Technical specifications
Mazda offers the EZ-6 with EREV and EV powertrains. The car in the photos is the top-spec EV. It is a single-motor rear-wheel drive car. The output of the electric motor is 258 hp (190 kW) and 320 Nm, good for a 170 km/h top speed. The battery is a 68.8 kWh LFP unit. The EZ-6 has 13.4 kWh/100 km energy consumption and a 600-kilometer range. Charging from 30 to 80% takes 15 minutes.
Price of the EZ-6 in China
The Changan-Mazda EZ-6 EV version costs between 159.800 yuan and 179.800 yuan ($22.4K – $25.2K). That is a good deal for such a large car, but sales have been disappointing. Mazda sells about 260 units per month, and that is not enough. Well, no wonder. Chinese consumers ain’t stupid, and why would they buy a reverse joint-venture car when they can get the real thing? For comparison, Deepal sells about 2500 SL03 sedans every month. Mazda also exports the EZ-6 to Europe as the Mazda 6e, but sales there have likewise fallen short of expectations.