The Next Mazda3 Might Not Even Be Japanese: Could It Be a Changan Electric Car Called ‘Mazda3e’?

Mazda is pouring its resources into straight-six crossovers, leaving the future of the compact Mazda3 up in the air.

• Production halt could happen after 2026, with no successor featured in the brand’s future product roadmap.
• The solution could be the Mazda3e, an electric model based on Changan’s Deepal L06, with hybrid (EREV) and 100% electric versions up to 268 HP.

The Question of Continuation and Chinese Reliance

Mazda has been busy polishing its lineup of straight-six-powered crossovers. The Hiroshima brand is focusing on its larger and more profitable models. The silence surrounding a successor to the 3 has been deafening, with no sign of it anywhere in the brand’s future product roadmap. Reports suggest the compact offering might not see light beyond 2026. This is an utter shame for a company that once prided itself on fun-driving sedans and hatchbacks.

When Mazda axed the 6 sedan and wagon, some markets received the Deepal-based Mazda 6e/EZ-6. This begs the question: could the 3 see the same fate and become another Deepal-derived product. This would make sense, as Mazda is a small player compared to many of its rivals. Leaning into Changan’s portfolio helps keep development costs in check.

The Clues of the ‘Mazda3e’ and the Deepal L06 Platform

Adding weight to this theory are recent trademark filings for the Mazda3e in Australia, the UK, and Europe. Furthermore, the Chongqing-based automaker (Changan) has unveiled its smaller L06 sedan. While purely speculative at this point, Deepal’s L06 could very well underpin the first-ever Mazda3e.

If Mazda takes the same route as the 6e, the 3e would borrow Deepal’s existing hardware. The L06 itself is set to launch in two forms: a range-extended hybrid (EREV) and a fully electric variant.

Powertrains and Technology of the Possible Mazda3e

The EREV version pairs a 97 hp 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine with a 28.39 kWh LFP battery. It also features a 190 kW (255 hp) electric motor on the rear axle. This offers an EV-only range of 180 km (about 112 miles) on the WLTP cycle. The internal combustion engine’s fuel consumption is rated at 4.38 litres per 100 km.

The fully electric version of the Deepal L06 is equipped with a single rear axle motor that produces 268 hp (200 kW). This variant will offer two battery packs, a 56 kWh battery and a larger 69 kWh pack. The 69 kWh pack promises a range of 670 km (416 miles).

Interior, Design, and Positioning

Inside, expect a more premium aesthetic compared to its Deepal donor car. It will also follow the “all-screens” trend as seen in the new CX-5 and EZ-60 SUVs. A 3-nanometre automotive-grade cockpit chip will help power the 50-inch AR-HUD, infotainment, and Level 2+ driver assist systems. The latter will benefit from standard LiDAR fitment.

The new sedan measures 4,830 mm (190 inches) in length, making it notably longer than the current Mazda3. It is just a whisker shorter (and wider) than the discontinued 6. This increase repositions it into a larger segment, which will help remedy one of the 3’s most significant shortfalls: tight rear seating. Our artistic interpretation of the Mazda 3e retains the automaker’s Kodo design language.

Final Thoughts

Mazda has yet to confirm whether the current 3 will receive another generation or if a reskinned Changan product will replace it. If the latter comes to fruition (likely in the next 24 months), the Tesla Model 3 rival will be off the cards for North American consumption. Still, it will rival a variety of electrified options like the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and BYD Seal in European and Asia Pacific markets.