Starting from 119，900 RMB!
Mazda has finally unveiled the EZ-60， a highly anticipated model that has been in the works for over half a year. Offering a choice between extended-range electric and pure electric powertrains， across six configurations， it is priced between 119，900 and 160，900 RMB. The announcement of these prices immediately ignited excitement in what was previously a quiet atmosphere.
This is a mid-to-large SUV with a length of 4.8 meters and a wheelbase of 2.9 meters. Compared to competitors in a similar price bracket from brands like Leapmotor， BYD， and Geely， Mazda appears to have carved out a unique niche. They are either offering more space or a more competitive price point， suggesting a strategic move in the market.
Consequently， it comes as no surprise that the EZ-60 saw a surge in interest over the weekend.
Intrigued by this new offering， our team at Cheyou went to a dealership for a test drive. A major question on everyone’s mind was whether the EZ-60 is merely a rebadged Changan Deepal. The answer is no; it retains a distinctly Mazda identity.
For those familiar with our auto section， you’ll know that Cheyou has a considerable number of Mazda enthusiasts. We have colleagues who own Mazda 3s， MX-5s， and even RX-8s. The dedication to the brand among our team is quite strong.
Following the weekend test drives， the general consensus was that the EZ-60’s tuning and driving dynamics are superior to those of the Deepal. Furthermore， it’s positioned at a price point over 30，000 RMB lower than the Deepal S07. Mazda has also indicated plans for global distribution， with the car having already received European certification. This points towards the EZ-60 being a truly global model， a testament to its perceived quality and market potential.
Without further ado， let’s delve into the specifications offered at this attractive price point.
Mazda has simplified the trim structure for the EZ-60， making it relatively easy to understand. The six configurations can be viewed as two main powertrain options (extended-range and pure electric)， each available in four distinct tiers. The pure electric range is consistently 600km， while the extended-range variant offers 200km in electric mode. For ease of reference， we can consider these as Air， Air+， Pro， and Max trims.
The entry-level Air trim is surprisingly well-equipped， featuring 9 airbags (including rear side and center airbags)， a soft-touch interior， manual sunshades， a 50-inch HUD， and a 26-inch 5K display.
The Air+ model builds upon this by adding 4 more speakers (bringing the total to 8) and L2-level driver assistance features.
Moving up to the Pro trim， comfort features are notably enhanced. This includes ventilated and heated front seats， rear cup holders， rear air vents， and a 23-speaker audio system (offered as a limited-time complimentary upgrade). Additionally， it features vanity mirrors with lights and ambient lighting.
Optional features for the Pro trim include FSD adaptive dampers and zero-gravity seats， both priced at 5，000 RMB.
The top-tier Max trim incorporates all the Pro optional features as standard. It further adds a 100-inch HUD， rear heated and ventilated seats， streaming interior and exterior mirrors， and the option for 21-inch wheels and Michelin tires. The wheels and streaming mirrors are offered as a limited-time complimentary choice between the two.
Considering the overall value proposition， the Air and Pro trims appear to offer the best bang for your buck. The immediate popularity observed at the dealership， with sales staff busier than ever， further supports this assessment.
During conversations with the sales representatives， it was noted that the Pro trim had limited stock remaining， while the Air and Max trims had lower production allocation and thus required waiting periods. The sales team expressed optimism， stating that the competitive pricing， lower than the previous EZ-6， has instilled confidence in customers， leading to more decisive purchases and less negotiation.
In essence， the EZ-60 appears to be revitalizing Mazda’s presence in the Chinese market.
Let’s now turn our attention to the vehicle itself.
Design is a significant highlight of the EZ-60. While Mazda is known for its signature Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Platinum Quartz Metallic paints， the EZ-60’s exterior focuses more on sculpted lines rather than just vibrant colors.
The front and rear of the car feature a flattened design language， a Mazda family element. However， it’s more restrained than the previous EZ-6， aiming for a balance between traditional combustion engine aesthetics and new energy vehicle trends. This design approach avoids radical departures， which can sometimes alienate traditional brand loyalists.
Addressing aerodynamic concerns common in new energy vehicles， Mazda has opted against sacrificing body proportions or passenger headroom with an aggressive coupe-like roofline. Instead， they’ve incorporated functional air channels to improve airflow efficiency. This thoughtful approach to design shows a commitment to both form and function.
With its 4.85-meter length， 1.62-meter height， and 2.9-meter wheelbase， the EZ-60 presents a more stretched and elegant profile compared to the CX-5， aligning it with models like the CX-50 Xing Ye in terms of visual presence.
The emphasis on design extends to the interior. While it features the now-common large integrated screen typical of new energy vehicles， the ambient lighting system cleverly incorporates Mazda’s logo elements， creating a cohesive design that echoes the front light signature.
Other interior elements maintain a consistent Mazda aesthetic. This includes the sharp angles of the chrome trim on the steering wheel， the edges of the manual climate control vents， the Mazda logo on the seats， and the shape of the window switches. The absence of haphazardly applied design cues or borrowed parts from other models lends a significant sense of quality and cohesion to the cabin. It truly feels like a distinct Mazda interior.
This level of refinement at a starting price of 119，900 RMB is remarkable. Mazda’s strategy seems to be focused on smart packaging and feature placement. Essential comfort features like seat heating and ventilation， zero-gravity seats， and rear air vents are reserved for higher trims， a deliberate choice to manage costs and create a clear upgrade path.
The base Air trim， in particular， does not even offer these sought-after features as optional upgrades， reinforcing the tiered approach to the model lineup.
If we were to nitpick， the rear seat cushion is adequately long to support the thighs， but the seatback is somewhat upright. For a more relaxed posture， one might wish for a more reclined seat， akin to what one might do when lounging. This positioning， while functional for upright seating， might not cater to those who prefer a more laid-back experience.
Furthermore， the trunk space is not exceptionally generous， nor does it feature the deep， recessed cargo areas often found in new energy vehicles， which can maximize storage efficiency.
However， ultimately， the price point is a crucial factor. When the price is right， many aspects can be overlooked. Mazda also has a trump card: an engaging driving experience that typically surpasses its segment rivals.
There’s a well-known saying about Mazda’s acceleration: “Mazda’s speed is the speed of joy.” This sentiment holds true for the EZ-60.
This “joy” stems from Mazda’s consistent ability to engage the driver. In their combustion engine cars， this manifested as raucous engine notes that announced your presence， the immediate surge of torque that pushed you back in your seat， and transmissions that held gears longer when you desired spirited driving. On the EZ-60， this engagement is primarily felt through the steering wheel.
At low speeds， the EZ-60 features a light electric power steering system. As speed increases， the steering progressively firms up， with a slight initial play. Beyond a 30-degree turn， it becomes heavier and more precise， offering a direct connection to the road.
However， this variable steering ratio alone isn’t particularly noteworthy. What sets the EZ-60 apart is its adaptive steering response. During periods of intense acceleration and braking， the car detects spirited driving. In such moments， the steering’s slack virtually disappears， and the feedback recreates the tactile sensation of Mazda’s hydraulic power steering from over a decade ago. It’s a feeling that seems to have truly come back.
With such engaging steering， the chassis tuning is equally crucial， and this is where the EZ-60 significantly diverges from the Deepal S07. While the Deepal S07， especially with its FSD dampers and hydraulic bushings， has improved its ride quality from its earlier iterations， it fundamentally remains an SUV with a strong emphasis on family comfort. The EZ-60， on the other hand， leans towards a more performance-oriented setup.
Looking at the specifications， Mazda has increased the front track by 3 cm and the rear track by 2 cm compared to the Deepal. The top-tier model utilizes Michelin PS4 tires， undoubtedly contributing to enhanced lateral stability. The top-tier tire specification is Michelin 255/40/R21 PS4， while lower trims feature Giti 235/55/R19 P10 tires， which offer a more comfortable ride and lower maintenance costs.
The overall driving feel is on the firmer side. Over undulating surfaces， the suspension exhibits quick rebound， keeping the tires firmly planted on the ground with minimal oscillation. On rougher roads， changes in tire grip are clearly communicated to the driver through the steering wheel and seat. This excellent stability and clear feedback create a strong connection between the driver and the vehicle， fostering confidence during spirited driving – a true embodiment of “Jinba Ittai” (horse and rider as one).
However， here’s the significant caveat: the more “Mazda-like” the EZ-60 becomes， the more its power limitations become apparent.
The power output of 258 horsepower for the extended-range version， while sounding adequate for its price point around 150，000 RMB， translates to a 0-100 km/h time of over 7 seconds. Although it doesn’t feel sluggish in initial acceleration， the chassis clearly has the capability to handle significantly more power.
This deficit in raw power leaves the overall experience feeling somewhat incomplete. Traditional gasoline-powered Mazdas often compensated for moderate power with smaller wheels， narrower tires， lighter curb weights， and even manual transmissions. This allowed drivers to push closer to the tires’ grip limits， with electronic aids like ESP intervening to provide a controlled sense of thrill within safe boundaries.
The EZ-60， in contrast， is smooth and engaging， but it reaches a natural limit. Whenever you attempt to push the boundaries， the car politely reminds you that it’s a comfortable SUV with features like ventilation， heating， massage， leg support， and a large screen. It encourages a return to family-oriented driving. One might even find themselves wishing for more aggressive performance， exclaiming， “Come on， car， move faster!”
However， it’s important to recognize that this is consistent with the EZ-60’s intended positioning. The balanced “Jinba Ittai” feel， coupled with slightly restrained power， is designed to mitigate motion sickness for rear-seat passengers， prioritizing comfort over constant aggressive acceleration. After all， not every co-pilot will whisper， “You’re so bad， I love it，” and for an SUV， the comfort of family is paramount.
It’s simply a slight， perhaps forgivable， missed opportunity for those seeking a purely spirited driving machine.
To summarize， within the 120，000 to 150，000 RMB price range， the Mazda EZ-60 offers appealing design， decent interior space， and excellent handling dynamics.
Much like the sentiment expressed in Lei Jun’s recent speech， the EZ-60 is for individuals who refuse to settle for the ordinary. It caters to those who， despite shouldering life’s responsibilities， still nurture aspirations and dream of broader horizons， those who find a sense of wonder amidst the daily routines of life.
Observing young couples entering the dealership， it’s evident that Mazda has a clear target demographic in mind for this vehicle. After the initial reception of the EZ-6 and CX-50 Xing Ye， the EZ-60’s performance will be crucial in determining whether Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom” spirit can find renewed success in China.
