I book my press car loans months in advance, with little idea of where I will be going that week. With petrol prices rising on a daily basis, I was pleased to recently take delivery of a fully electric Mazda6e. With many miles to cover, and with access to a home charger, I would surely be quids in.

The Mazda6e is built in a new platform, created in conjunction with Chinese manufacturing partner Changan Automobile. It therefore shares much of its underpinnings with the Deepal SO3, currently not sold in the UK. The design language is very Mazda though, the press pack telling me that Mazda’s ‘Soul of Motion’ design philosophy has played its part in crafting what I think is a very attractive car. Sleek, sporty and especially appealing in Mazda’s signature colour, ‘Soul Red Crystal.’ It was a shame my test car had been specced in ‘Machine Grey’.

The Mazda6e has a 78kW battery, with the promise of up to 348 miles of range, something I would definitely be putting to the test. The car can also be charged from 10 to 80% in as little as 24 minutes, with a suitably quick 200kW DC charger.

On the 6e launch earlier this year, I drove the top Takumi Plus model, priced at £39,995. This time, Takumi trim was the order of the day. Missing was full leather and suede on the seats, extensive suede on the dash and door cards and a sun blind for the standard fit panoramic sunroof. The saving, just £1,000 so go for the top ‘Plus’ variant would be my advice.

Many long hours were spent behind the wheel, and I can report that the Mazda6e’s interior is a lovely place to spend time. The electric driver’s seat ensured I could find an ideal driving position and there were no aches and pains at journey’s end. The floor is a tad on the high side, as the battery pack sits underneath. This is more noticeable in the front passenger seat, which lacks height adjustment.

Rear passengers will find plenty of room to spread out, though once again that high floor does mean a lack of under thigh support. The boot offers a generous 337 litres of usable space and there is a 72-litre frunk, ideal for storing the charging cables.

As is the way these days, a large central touchscreen controls most functions and whilst it is reasonably simple to use when at a standstill, altering settings on the move requires far too much eye time away from the road. There are two steering wheel shortcut buttons that can be programmed for important functions. Better than nothing but not ideal. Wiper and light functions are all hidden in the central screen. I tried the voice controls, but whilst ‘Hi Mazda’ elicited a cheery response, my simple requests went unanswered.

As a motorway cruiser, the Mazda6e excels. The car was delivered late, so my first 250-mile trip south was somewhat a rushed affair. Sitting at the legal limit, the car was whisper quiet, ideal for enjoying some of my favourite tunes through the quality stereo. I would happily have driven without stopping, but a charge was needed as the car was handed over to me with less that 50% range showing on the read out.

I stopped at Sandbach Services on the M6. Why are most of these places so depressing? By the time I had wolfed down one of Burger King’s finest, the Gridserve charger had topped the battery up from 28 to 95%. The princely sum of £52.48 was debited from my bank account. With my final destination near Worcester and the return journey to complete, I was sure I would be charging again, even though the indicated range was now 305 miles.

The return journey was undertaken during the early evening rush hour, with frequent bouts of slow-moving traffic. The car’s computer told me I had enough range to get home, with some 30 miles to spare. I risked it, though range anxiety set in once off the motorway as the indicated range dropped more quickly. In the end I reached home on 3% battery and just 12 miles of range. The car was still performing well, the driver less so. It was a relief to plug the car into my Rolec home charger and by next morning, I had almost a full battery once again.

The next few days were spent on some of my favourite roads that crisscross the Dales. With a low centre of gravity, the Mazda6e corners flat, and with precise steering, the car can be hustled along with ease. Safe and secure without a doubt, but not fun in a way Mazda’s cars traditionally used to be. Ride comfort is good, whatever the surface.

There is much to like about the Mazda6e. It’s a fine-looking electric car, with a decent real-world range and good driving characteristics. Hatchbacks are not as popular as they once were, the SUV now being the car of choice for most families. Never fear, as Mazda’s new CX-6e will be on UK roads very shortly. I will be behind the wheel of that car before the year is out.

Fast Facts
Mazda6e Takumi
Price £38,995
Machine Grey paint (£800)
78kWh LFP battery
258PS and 290Nm
0-62mph in 7.3 seconds
Combined range 348 miles
10-80% charge in 24 minutes (200kW DC)
BIK 4%
Insurance Group 44D
5* Euro NCAP safety rating
1,500kg towing capacity (braked)