The newest Mazda, the 6e, is not what you think.

It looks like a Mazda, it has Mazda badges, and the touch points in the cabin reflect Mazda design and finishing, but …

It’s really a Chinese car, not something from the historic Hofu factory at Hiroshima in Japan.

Mazda has made the move to cut costs and dance to the electric boogie, but has lost something – some might say a lot – in the process. It looks like a Mazda, but the drive feel and the final finishing is not the same as in the past.

It’s not alone among the historic carmakers – some say ‘legacy’ in a derisory way – who are plugging into the Chinese EV shopping centre.

Kia has done it and the EV5 suffers as a result …

In the case of the 6e, Mazda has partnered with Changan Automobile and the car is unlikely to be the last result of the collaboration. Mazda has also defended the move and said the car needs to be judged on its strengths, not just where it is built.

But it’s also coming from its miserable first attempt at an EV, the quirky MX-30 SUV that had barely enough range to escape the extension cable in the garage.

With the 6e it means an unusual rear-wheel drive package with 190 kiloWatts and, most important as always, 560 kilometres of EV range.

But it also has to live up to the long-running legacy of the Mazda6 combustion cars, which were always a cut above the top selling Toyota Camry, as well as big line-up of EV rivals including the cars from Tesla and BYD.

The 6e makes a great first impression and the car has won a couple of design awards. It’s also plush and cosseting in the cabin, with all the standard equipment you need.

But the car bowls a wide with the giant infotainment screen, which requires too much fiddling and hides functions which should be clear and easy to use. You must jump into the screen for climate adjustment, driving modes and even – argh again – to adjust the rear-vision mirrors. And you must be stopped to do it.

The performance is nice but not remotely spritely, which is a surprise, and the suspension is a case of ‘can do better’.

The low-speed ride is nicely plush, but it’s easily unsettled over bumps and feels like it’s floating instead of gripping when the corners arrive. Driving used to be fun in a Mazda6, but not so much in the 6e.

There are also times when the car crashes over speed bumps and whacks into potholes.

The range is claimed at 500 kilometres, but based on much-needed fast-charger visits it’s about 100 kilometres less during highway running. Again, not a winner.

Mazda has also fallen for the Chinese frippery, with that 19-inch screen, a giant glass sunroof and little things like the ability – through the screen – to adjust things like the percentage opening of the rear tailgate. Surely up and down is good enough? And I banged my head (twice) because someone had left it set at 60 per cent …

The value is decent, it has good cabin space and a ‘frunk’ in the nose for extra luggage, but it’s a bit dull and not as impressive as something with a BYD or Tesla badge.

MAZDA 6E

Price: from $49,990 driveway
Position: four-door electric sedan
Engine: single 61kW electric motor, 78 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery
Gearbox: single-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Range: 500 km
Safety: 5-Star ANCAP

The tick: not my Mazda