The Mazda CX-6e electric SUV – set to arrive later this year – could follow Audi, Hyundai and Kia vehicles in adopting controversial digital side mirrors in Australia.
Mazda's first mainstream electric SUV in Australia could introduce controversial side-mirror technology recently dumped from its Hyundai Ioniq 5 rival.
Digital side mirrors with a live camera feed – first introduced by Audi eight years ago – are under consideration for the flagship version of the 2026 Mazda CX-6e in Australia, the brand said.
Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi recently told local media that slimmer digital side mirrors, with a live camera feed integrated into each front door, are being considered for the "top-spec" CX-6e variant, similar to the European model.
Australian specification details for the CX-6e are yet to be confirmed ahead of its arrival between July and September 2026, but it is expected to be offered in at least two trim grades, similar to the related Mazda 6e sedan.
The entry-level Mazda CX-6e should retain traditional side mirrors in Australia.
In Australia, the first passenger vehicle with digital side mirrors was the Audi Q8 e-tron, which arrived locally in mid-2020 but was discontinued last year after global production ended.
The technology has yet to be adopted by other Audi vehicles globally, including the ongoing A6 e-tron, Q4 e-tron, Q6 e-tron or e-tron GT electric models.
It was followed in Australia by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in 2022, with digital side mirrors initially standard on the flagship grade, then moved to the options list in 2024, and finally removed entirely for the 2026 model.
Hyundai Australia continues to offer a digital side mirror option for the larger Ioniq 9 Calligraphy, while the related Kia EV9 GT-Line and GT include the technology as standard.
Digital side mirror cameras are claimed to reduce aerodynamic drag – slightly improving driving range – and reduce wind noise, but real-world testing has found they can be difficult to adapt to compared with conventional side mirrors, and repair costs are likely to be higher.
Mazda Australia has confirmed the rear-wheel-drive CX-6e will feature a 190kW single electric motor and a 78kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, with "more than" 450 kilometres of claimed driving range on the European WLTP lab-test standard.
Charging the battery from 30 to 80 per cent is claimed to take 15 minutes, with its maximum DC charging power expected to mirror the 6e sedan at 195kW.
Australian-specific changes for the CX-6e will include tuning of the software controlling the stability control, electric motor, steering, brake pedal and suspension damping, with evaluation cars currently undergoing testing on local roads.
It will also inherit changes applied to the European version compared with its Chinese EZ-60 counterpart, including chassis hardware, optimised body and suspension stiffness, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) optimisations, and Michelin tyres.
Mazda Australia said it is targeting a mid-$50,000 starting price for the CX-6e, before on-road costs, which would undercut the best-selling Tesla Model Y (from $58,900 before on-road costs).
While the difference between the 6e GT and 6e Atenza is limited to different seat upholstery, the flagship CX-6e could include further changes, such as the digital side mirrors, larger wheels, two-tone upholstery and heated rear seats, if European specifications are a guide.
A pre-production left-hand-drive model on display in Melbourne – pictured in grey – was equipped with the 21-inch wheels from the overseas Takumi Plus but appeared closer in specification to the Takumi, with black synthetic leather-look seats and traditional side mirrors.
Available colours in Europe include Crystal White Pearl, Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, Aero Grey, Air Stream Blue, Jet Black, and a new-to-Mazda Nightfall Violet, all with a black roof.
As standard, the CX-6e includes a 26.45-inch central touchscreen display running across the dashboard – similar to the Hyundai Elexio – along with a windscreen-projected head-up display in the driver's line of sight, but there's no instrument cluster.
The 2026 Mazda CX-6e is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms between July and September 2026, with local pricing and specification details to be announced closer to its launch.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
