Mazda CX-6e vs Zeekr 7X

The two publish prices differently, so compare like with like; these figures are current as of late 2026. Mazda advertises the CX-6e GT from $56,990 drive-away under a nationwide campaign. Zeekr quotes the 7X RWD from $57,900 before on-road costs, about $64,043 drive-away in Sydney in August 2026. On the road, then, the entry CX-6e undercuts the entry 7X by roughly $7,000, and stays cheaper grade for grade. The 7X asks more for hardware: its Long Range RWD adds a bigger battery and a 615km range the Mazda cannot match. So the Mazda wins on price; the Zeekr wins on what the money buys.

The 7X uses an 800-volt system that accepts up to 450kW DC on the base car, for a claimed 10 to 80 per cent in 13 minutes, and 22kW AC at home. The CX-6e peaks at 194kW DC and takes about 24 minutes for the same top-up, with 11kW AC. On range they are line-ball at the base, 484km WLTP for the CX-6e GT against 480km for the base 7X, but the 7X Long Range RWD stretches to 615km on its bigger battery, further than any CX-6e grade. For regular long trips the Zeekr is the stronger tool; for city and suburbs they are even.

The Zeekr 7X carries a 5-star ANCAP rating, with 91 per cent for adult occupant protection and 87 per cent for child occupant protection. The Mazda CX-6e has not been crash-tested by ANCAP, so it carries no star rating. That is not the same as unsafe: every CX-6e comes with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor and a 360-degree camera, plus nine airbags. The related Mazda 6e sedan earned five stars from Euro NCAP, but that result does not transfer to the SUV. If an independent score is central to your decision, the 7X is the settled choice today.

The CX-6e uses a single 190kW rear motor across both grades, with 290Nm and no all-wheel-drive option, by Mazda's design. The 7X starts at 310kW and 440Nm in the RWD and Long Range RWD, and the Performance AWD adds a second motor for 475kW, 710Nm and a claimed 3.8 seconds to 100km/h. If you want punch or all-paw traction, the Zeekr is the only one here that offers it; the Mazda is tuned for smooth, relaxed progress rather than pace. For most buyers the base outputs of either car are plenty, but the ceiling is far higher on the Zeekr side.

The 7X is the bigger load-lugger, with 539 litres behind the rear seats and 1,978 with them folded, against the CX-6e's 363 and 1,434 litres. The Mazda offsets some of that with an 83-litre front boot for charge cables. Both seat five. Climate goes to the Zeekr, with tri-zone control to the Mazda's dual-zone, while the Mazda hands back heated and ventilated front seats as standard on both grades where the Zeekr gates ventilation to its dearer trims. Add the 7X's 5-star rating and it is the stronger family pick on paper; the Mazda's answer is its dealer network and warranty certainty.

Both cars carry a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and an eight-year battery warranty, so the headline cover is a wash. The Mazda's advantage is reach and familiarity: around 150 dealers nationally and a known service experience, though its capped-price servicing menu was still to be confirmed at launch. Zeekr publishes a 24-month or 40,000km service interval and press reports put capped servicing near $2,400 over five years, but the dealer network is still thin and has no resale history to point to yet. For buyers who value a findable dealer and a settled brand, the Mazda is the lower-friction car to live with.

Both are built in China and neither hides it. The CX-6e shares its platform and running gear with the Deepal S07 already sold here, but Mazda designed the body and cabin, retuned the chassis for Australian and European roads, and backs it with its badge, warranty and dealer network. The 7X comes from Geely, the group behind Volvo and Polestar, and rides on that group's dedicated EV architecture. So the honest framing is symmetry: two China-engineered electric SUVs in trusted clothing. You pay the Mazda for engineering polish and local support; you pay the Zeekr for hardware and value.

If you drive long distances often, the 7X Long Range RWD is the clearer tool. Its 100kWh battery claims 615km WLTP against the CX-6e's 484km, and its 800-volt hardware claims a 10 to 80 per cent charge in around 16 minutes on the Long Range, or 13 on the base RWD, where the Mazda needs about 24 minutes at a lower 194kW peak. Few Australian chargers hit the 7X's peak today, but even partial access shortens stops. The CX-6e is comfortable and quiet on a highway run, but on range and recharge time the Zeekr is built for the job.

For most buyers cross-shopping these two, the Zeekr 7X is the stronger electric SUV. It charges far faster, offers a longer-range Long Range grade and an all-wheel-drive Performance option, carries a bigger boot, and holds a 5-star ANCAP rating, though the Mazda stays the cheaper car to register at every grade. The Mazda CX-6e earns a narrower but real brief: a trusted badge, around 150 dealers, a plush and quiet cabin with a giant screen, and the cheapest entry on a drive-away basis. If hardware and range lead your list, buy the Zeekr. If a known badge, local support and the lowest drive-away price settle it, the Mazda makes the easier case.