Mazda 6e – Details…

Design Award 2026

OTA 07 BD
OTA 08BD

Perhaps, best towbar in class

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Mazda6e has won 2026 World Car Design of the Year.

It is a major international award—not merely Mazda’s own marketing claim. The Mazda6e/EZ-6 competed against 90 eligible cars and was evaluated by 98 automotive journalists worldwide. In the final vote:

Finalist	Points
Mazda6e / EZ-6	321
Volvo ES90	310
Kia PV5	284

The result was therefore quite close between the Mazda6e and Volvo ES90. Official voting results

Why the Mazda6e won:

Elegant coupé proportions despite being a practical five-door liftback.
Long bonnet, low roof and short rear deck give it a more premium, rear-wheel-drive appearance.
Mazda’s flowing Kodo – Soul of Motion surfaces are retained without excessive creases.
The illuminated front grille provides an EV identity while still looking recognisably Mazda.
Frameless doors, flush handles and the active rear spoiler add visual drama.
The cabin mixes modern screens with warmer materials and a comparatively restrained layout.

Mazda describes the theme as “Authentic Modern”—combining traditional Mazda shapes and craftsmanship with the cleaner appearance expected of an electric car. Mazda’s official announcement

An interesting detail is that the Mazda6e is jointly developed with Changan and is closely related to the Chinese Deepal SL03. However, Mazda substantially reworked the exterior, interior character and European driving setup. The award therefore suggests that the Mazda treatment was more than simply changing the badges.

This is Mazda’s third victory in this category:

Mazda MX-5 — 2016
Mazda3 — 2020
Mazda6e — 2026

My view: the award is deserved. The Mazda6e does not look as technically radical as some EVs, but its proportions, stance and lack of unnecessary styling make it one of the best-looking electric cars around its price level. The main competitors aesthetically are probably the Volvo ES90, Polestar 4 and Audi A6 e-tron.

The Mazda6e received the maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating in the 2025 test.

Category	Mazda6e
Adult protection	93%
Child protection	93%
Pedestrians and cyclists	74%
Safety Assist	77%
Overall	★★★★★

Particularly strong

Almost full marks in frontal and side-impact tests.
Maximum 24/24 points for protection of six- and ten-year-old children.
Centre airbag reduces contact between the driver and front passenger during a side impact.
Good whiplash protection.
AEB performed well for vehicles, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Door-opening warning helps prevent opening a door into an approaching cyclist.

Why only 74% for vulnerable road users?

Physical pedestrian protection was weaker around:

The stiff windscreen pillars
The bottom of the windscreen
The front edge’s protection of a pedestrian’s pelvis

Why 77% for Safety Assist?

This is still a respectable result. The Mazda6e has effective automatic braking, lane support, speed-limit recognition and direct driver monitoring. However, the assistance package was not quite as comprehensive or consistently effective as the very best systems.

The 1.0.07 BD OTA improved lane-change assistance, but an OTA cannot change the physical crash-protection scores. It may improve how pleasant and reliable the assistance systems feel in everyday driving, even though the published Euro NCAP result remains unchanged.

Overall, the Mazda6e is exceptionally strong for occupant protection. Its slightly weaker areas concern pedestrian-impact protection and the refinement of its assistance software—not the structural protection of people inside the car. Full official Euro NCAP report

Regarding OTA

The most detailed change log released to date comes from an internal Mazda document that has been shared by several Mazda 6e owners. It covers a large number of ECUs and is considerably more comprehensive than the information Mazda normally publishes for customers.

Here are the key changes included in OS 1.00.07BD:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) – 5 Improvements

Cornering

The vehicle no longer brakes as early when approaching corners.
Steering and speed control rely more heavily on camera input rather than map data.

Cornering Speed

Higher and more natural speeds through corners.
Less unnecessary braking.

Resume Function

Pressing the RES button now resumes the speed displayed in the instrument cluster.
Previously, the system could resume a different speed.

Following Distance Control

Improved response when adjusting the distance to the vehicle ahead.

ISA (Intelligent Speed Assist)

Better integration between speed limit recognition and ACC.
Faster and more logical speed adjustments.

Body Control & Comfort (BDC)

Power Windows

Improved anti-pinch protection.
Fewer cases of the windows stopping halfway.

Climate Control

One of the most significant improvements.

Mazda has changed:

The PTC heater output from approximately 34% to 75% under certain operating conditions.
A new temperature regulation algorithm.

Results:

Faster cabin warm-up.
A warmer cabin during winter.
More stable interior temperatures.

Start-up Message

The message:

“Press brake pedal to start”

and the accompanying voice prompt are now removed after the vehicle is unlocked.

TPMS

More accurate tire pressure monitoring.
Fewer false warnings when the tires become warm.

Lighting

The daytime running lights and low beams can no longer be accidentally switched off using the steering wheel controls while driving.

Battery Management System (BMS)

Mazda has implemented several improvements.

Battery Diagnostics

New diagnostic thresholds.
Fault codes are automatically cleared once the issue has been resolved.

SOC (State of Charge)

More accurate calibration.
More precise battery percentage readings.

SOH (State of Health)

New calculation model.
More accurate long-term battery health estimation.

Driving Range

Improved remaining range calculation.

Charging

As the battery approaches 100% charge, the charging current is reduced in a smoother and more controlled manner to minimize battery stress. However, the maximum DC fast-charging power remains unchanged.

Infotainment

Users report:

Faster system startup.
Fewer unexpected restarts.
Improved Bluetooth stability.
More reliable wireless Apple CarPlay.
More reliable Android Auto.
Faster touchscreen response.
Fewer system freezes.
Improved communication with the MyMazda app.

Navigation

Reported improvements include:

More stable route calculation.
Improved real-time traffic information.
Better speed limit sign recognition.
Improved integration between navigation and ACC.

What the Update Does Not Change

The following features appear to remain unchanged:

Maximum DC fast-charging power.
WLTP driving range.
Motor output.
Battery capacity.
Base level of regenerative braking.
One Pedal Drive behavior.

My Assessment

This is by far the most significant software update for the Mazda 6e since its launch. The focus is not on introducing new features but on improving the vehicle’s overall day-to-day driving experience:

★★★★★ Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and driver assistance systems.
★★★★★ Climate control and winter comfort.
★★★★☆ Battery management and range estimation.
★★★★☆ Infotainment and system stability.
★★★☆☆ Navigation.

See the complete internal change log, which includes approximately 40–50 individual fixes across all major control units: ACC, BMS, VCU, BCM, ADAS, infotainment, charging, lighting, and others, in a detailed table.

Here is a more complete table of the internal change log for Mazda 6e OS 1.00.07BD. Please note that parts of this list originate from a leaked Mazda service document shared by users, so not everything has been officially documented by Mazda, although several owners and service workshops have confirmed the content. | Control Unit | Issue Before the Update | Change in 1.00.07BD

Mazda 6e OS 1.00.08BD OTA Update – Full Changelog and What It Means

Mazda is preparing the next software update for the Mazda 6e, with OS 1.00.08BD now appearing on European vehicles.

The update follows 1.00.07BD and focuses primarily on usability, infotainment, steering-wheel controls and several smaller vehicle-system refinements.

However, owners waiting for major changes to battery preconditioning or charging performance should temper their expectations: based on the currently available changelog, there is no confirmed major upgrade in either area.

Mazda 6e 1.00.08BD – Key Changes

Apple CarPlay

Apple CarPlay integration has been improved, particularly when controlling CarPlay functions using the Mazda 6e’s steering-wheel buttons.

This should make everyday interaction with CarPlay more intuitive without requiring the driver to use the centre touchscreen as frequently.

Configurable Steering-Wheel Shortcut

One of the most useful additions is a configurable shortcut/favourite button on the steering wheel.

Early owner reports suggest that this may provide quicker access to frequently used settings, potentially including the vehicle’s speed-warning function.

The exact range of functions that can be assigned to the shortcut may depend on vehicle specification and market.

MRCC Improvement

Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) receives another refinement.

After MRCC has been cancelled, selecting Reverse should now require only a single operation rather than the additional input that could previously be required in certain situations.

This is a relatively small change, but it addresses an everyday usability issue.

Vehicle Modes

The previous Scenario Mode terminology has been changed to:

Vehicle Modes

This should make the function easier to understand, particularly for European users.

Pet Comfort Mode

The previous Leaving Mode has been renamed:

Pet Comfort Mode

The new terminology better describes the intended purpose of the function.

Improved Wiper Service Mode

The windscreen-wiper service position has also been improved.

The vehicle should no longer unexpectedly leave Wiper Service Mode as a result of certain unlock or vehicle-start sequences, making it easier to replace or service the wiper blades.

Climate-Control Refinements

Further climate-control refinements have been reported, including smoother fan-speed regulation.

This follows the more substantial climate-control improvements introduced with earlier Mazda 6e software.

Charging Compatibility

The changelog indicates improvements related to compatibility with certain charging stations.

This appears to concern charging reliability and interoperability rather than an increase in the Mazda 6e’s maximum DC charging power.

Charging Information

The presentation of charging information has also been refined, with clearer and more consistent information displayed to the driver.

EV Sound

Settings associated with the vehicle’s EV sound have been improved, including better retention of selected settings following a vehicle restart.

Towing Mode

Towing-related functionality receives further refinements, including clearer information on the vehicle display when towing a trailer.

Radio

Several radio-related improvements are included.

These reportedly cover DAB/FM station-list updates, playback resumption and clearer feedback when working with favourite stations.

Video Playback

Video playback controls have been refined.

Video remains restricted to situations where the vehicle is stationary and in P, as expected for safety reasons.

Faster Wake-Up

The update reportedly improves the vehicle’s wake-up/start behaviour after the Mazda 6e has been parked for an extended period.

This could reduce delays when returning to the vehicle after it has entered a deeper sleep state.

Mobile Network Reconnection

The vehicle should reconnect more reliably when mobile-network coverage becomes available again after a period without connectivity.

This may improve the reliability of connected services.

OTA Warning Messages

Mazda has also addressed certain incorrect or unnecessary vehicle warnings that could appear following an OTA installation.

Driver Monitoring

The presentation and visibility of information associated with the Driver Monitoring System have been refined.

Voice Control

Voice recognition, speech output and translated text receive additional improvements.

Some unnecessary or repetitive voice notifications have also reportedly been removed.

AI and Privacy Information

The software provides additional information regarding the use of AI within voice-recognition functionality, together with updated privacy information.

1.00.07BD vs 1.00.08BD

The two updates have somewhat different priorities.

1.00.07BD was primarily a corrective update. It brought important improvements to areas such as ACC/MRCC behaviour, climate control, infotainment stability and vehicle-system operation.

1.00.08BD appears to concentrate more heavily on usability and refinement.

Among its most noticeable additions are:

Configurable steering-wheel shortcut
Improved Apple CarPlay steering-wheel controls
MRCC/Reverse-selection improvement
Improved Wiper Service Mode
Vehicle Modes terminology
Pet Comfort Mode
Climate-control refinements
Charging-station compatibility improvements
Infotainment and connectivity refinements
Improved voice functionality

What About ACC, ISA and Cornering Behaviour?

Version 1.00.07BD already introduced significant changes to the way the Mazda 6e handles adaptive cruise-control situations, including behaviour approaching curves.

At present, there is no evidence in the 1.00.08BD changelog of another similarly large redesign of ACC or ISA behaviour.

There is, however, the specific MRCC-related improvement concerning selection of Reverse.

Further undocumented calibration changes are always possible, but they should not be considered confirmed until they are documented or independently verified.

Does 1.00.08BD Improve Battery Preconditioning?

This remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the Mazda 6e.

At present, there is no confirmed evidence in the available 1.00.08BD changelog that Mazda has introduced a new manual battery-preconditioning function or significantly changed navigation-triggered battery conditioning.

There had been speculation that Mazda could improve this functionality in a later software release, but speculation should not be confused with a confirmed feature.

For owners driving in colder European climates, this remains an important area to watch.

Does It Increase DC Charging Speed?

There is currently no confirmed increase in maximum DC charging power for existing Mazda 6e vehicles as part of 1.00.08BD.

References to improved charging compatibility should therefore not be interpreted as an increase in peak charging power.

Mazda’s newer battery configurations and later model-year vehicles may have different charging capabilities because of hardware changes. Those specifications should not be assumed to apply retrospectively to existing vehicles through an OTA update.

Installation

The 1.00.08BD installation is reported to require approximately 20 minutes.

The software can be downloaded and prepared while the vehicle is otherwise usable, but the Mazda 6e cannot be driven during the actual installation process.

Typical OTA installation requirements include:

Vehicle in P
No active charging session
High-voltage battery at least 20%
Suitable vehicle/battery temperature
Installation should not be interrupted

Owners should follow the instructions displayed by the vehicle before starting the installation.

Is 1.00.08BD Available in Europe?

Evidence indicates that 1.00.08BD is now present on European Mazda 6e vehicles, including reports of newly delivered cars already running the software.

That does not necessarily mean that every existing Mazda 6e can immediately download the update.

Manufacturers commonly perform OTA deployments in stages, divided by market, vehicle configuration or VIN groups.

What About Sweden?

For Swedish Mazda 6e owners, this is the key point to watch.

The decisive confirmation of the Swedish rollout will be when existing Swedish vehicles currently running 1.00.07BD begin receiving the 1.00.08BD OTA notification.

A newly delivered vehicle containing 1.00.08BD demonstrates that the software exists in production, but it does not necessarily prove that the OTA campaign has started for the existing Swedish fleet.

Bottom Line

Mazda 6e OS 1.00.08BD looks like a useful refinement update rather than a fundamental change to the vehicle.

The configurable steering-wheel shortcut and improved Apple CarPlay controls should be immediately noticeable, while numerous smaller fixes target connectivity, climate control, radio, voice functions, charging compatibility and general usability.

What is currently not confirmed is equally important:

No confirmed higher DC charging power.

No confirmed major battery-preconditioning upgrade.

No confirmed major new ACC/ISA overhaul.

For ev-erything.com, I’d use the SEO title “Mazda 6e 1.00.08BD OTA Update: Full Changelog, New Features & Europe Rollout” and target the keywords Mazda 6e OTA update, Mazda 6e 1.00.08BD, Mazda 6e software update and Mazda 6e battery preconditioning.

Towbar for the Mazda 6e

The Mazda 6e is unusually capable as a tow car for a low electric fastback/sedan. Both the Standard Range 68.8 kWh and Long Range 80 kWh versions are rated to tow up to 1,500 kg.
Compare it to Tesla, KIA etc towbar installations – Mazda 6e towbar works like a dream…

Key specifications

Item	Mazda 6e
Maximum braked trailer weight	1,500 kg
Drivetrain	Rear-wheel drive
Motor output	190 kW Standard Range / 180 kW Long Range
Maximum permitted vehicle weight	2,387 kg
Maximum kerb weight	1,953 kg
Theoretical payload margin	Approximately 434 kg
Towbar electrical socket	13-pin with Mazda’s original towbar
Original towbar	Fully electrically retractable / swivelling

Fully electrically retractable towbar including wiring operated through the vehicle’s central display, and supplied with a 13-pin electrical kit.

How the original towbar works

The towball is normally hidden behind the rear bumper. When activated, it swings out electrically into the towing position.

This means:

no removable towball needs to be stored in the luggage compartment
the appearance of the car is minimally affected when the towbar is retracted
the 13-pin socket is suitable for modern trailers and caravans
the vehicle’s trailer-related systems can be properly integrated with the parking sensors.