Key Points
- The Mazda 6e won the 2026 World Car Design of the Year, beating the Kia PV5, Mazda EZ-6, and Volvo ES90.
- It is Mazda's third World Car Design of the Year win, following the MX-5 in 2016 and the Mazda3 in 2020.
- The Mazda 6e is now available for pre-order in Australia, with deliveries expected mid-2026.
The Mazda 6e has won the 2026 World Car Design of the Year (WCDOTY) award. The result was announced by the World Car Awards (WCA) on 1 April 2026 in New York, USA.
The award was decided by 98 automotive journalists from around the world. They voted from a pool of 90 eligible models. The WCA program launched in January 2004.
The four finalists for the 2026 World Car Design of the Year were the Kia PV5, Mazda 6e / EZ-6, and Volvo ES90, with the Mazda 6e taking the win.
About the Mazda 6e
The Mazda 6e is Mazda's first battery electric sedan built and developed with Changan, it uses the same EPA platform as the Deepal S07. The 6e was built around Mazda's KODO design language, which the company describes as Soul of Motion. The design concept is called Authentic Modern, blending organic forms with a coupe-style silhouette.
The car combines Mazda's Jinba-ittai driving philosophy, meaning oneness between driver and machine, with electric powertrain technology developed with a collaborative partner.
Here are the key Australian specifications for the Mazda 6e.
Mazda 6e Key Specifications
Specification | Detail |
Body Style | 4-door sedan (coupe silhouette) |
Powertrain | Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
Drive | Rear-wheel drive |
Battery | 77 kWh |
Range (WLTP) | 560 |
Fast Charging | 195 kW DC |
Starting Price (Australia) | From $49,990 |
Availability | Pre-order open in Australia, deliveries mid-2026 |
Mazda's Award History
This is the third time a Mazda model has won the World Car Design of the Year. The Mazda MX-5 won in 2016 and the Mazda3 won in 2020.
It is also Mazda's fifth World Car Award overall in the program's 22-year history.
Mazda says the 6e was designed to carry its signature style into the electric era. The exterior uses sculpted surfaces and proportions shaped by hand. The goal was to keep the emotional quality of Mazda's design while meeting the requirements of a modern BEV platform.
2026 World Car Award Winners
The World Car Design of the Year was one of several awards announced at the 2026 ceremony. Here is a summary of all 2026 World Car Award winners.
2026 World Car Award Winners
Award | Winner |
World Car of the Year | BMW iX3 |
World Car Design of the Year | Mazda 6e |
World Luxury Car | Lucid Gravity |
World Performance Car | Hyundai IONIQ 6 N |
World Electric Vehicle | BMW iX3 |
World Urban Car | Firefly |
The BMW iX3 took two awards, winning both World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle. The Lucid Gravity won World Luxury Car, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 N won World Performance Car, and the Firefly won World Urban Car.
About the author
Danny Thai
Danny is a consultant and entrepreneur working at the cutting edge of the electric vehicle and energy transition. He is passionate about educating and helping consumers make better decisions through data.
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