Mazda’s New Crossover Might Be Its Most Fun Forbidden Fruit Yet

After a brief tease earlier this month, Mazda has just revealed exactly what we want. A new CX-5-sized crossover with a stunning take on the brand’s design language, a cool new signature color, and a base model with rear-wheel drive.

Of course, the EZ-60 is a model that is designed for China. An electric vehicle that might make it to Europe, but is about as likely to go on sale here as the Mazda Bongo Brawny, Scrum Wagon, or Titan Dump.

The new Mazda EZ-60 is the second electric model developed by the Japanese brand with help from its Chinese partner Changan Automobile. The first was the EZ-6 sedan, which is also headed to Europe as the Mazda 6e.

Mazda’s Second EZ Electric Vehicle

We covered much of the styling with a teaser, but we’ll give you a quick refresh. The design is an evolution of the brand’s Soul of Motion design language. Sleek, aggressive, and luxurious, the design has ultra-thin headlights, an updated take on Mazda’s current grille, and cool elements like the D-pillar air duct shape.

Mazda described the new shade of purple as “like the evening sky with stars blooming, or like violets blooming on the open plains, real and dreamy, mysterious and noble.” We’re hoping that even if the EZ-60 doesn’t make it here, this paint shade will join Soul Red and some of Mazda’s others.

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The crossover uses the platform developed for Changan’s Deepal S07. The plug-in model will have a front/rear weight distribution of 50:50, which should be a great benefit for the SUV’s handling. Get the EV and the weight shifts rearward, with Mazda expecting 47:54.

Electronically controlled dampers aim to deliver the driving experience Mazda calls Jinba-ittai, a Japanese term implying a sense of being one with the machine. In more concrete figures, Mazda says to expect around 373 miles of range on the CLTC cycle for the EV, with the PHEV model able to do around 621 miles before it needs a fill-up.

Giant Screen And 23 Speakers Lead Mazda’s New Tech

The cabin has one detail we haven’t seen in a Mazda before, and it’s a big one. The EZ-60 has a 26.5-inch 5K flat panel center display. Mazda traditionally sticks to much smaller displays, but this one is a leap even versus the larger display in the EZ-6. The screen will control just about everything, by the look of the dashboard. Mazda will also give the model a 3D head-up display.

Mazda has only announced preliminary information about the new crossover and its tech, but it has announced an impressive audio system. Up to 23 speakers and 3D sound processing should blast your tunes in this electric crossover. Speakers in the headrests will even let the driver and front passenger listen to different music. In theory, at least. A two-tone cabin with purple leather to match the purple paint is one of the more interesting designs we’ve seen in a mainstream model, and the EZ-60 also shows off lounge-like reclining front seats with a footrest similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

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The Mazda EZ-60 will go on sale in China later this year. With the EZ-6 sedan arriving in Europe as the 6e, it seems likely that the SUV will go on sale there at some point as well. Likely called the CX-60e, though Mazda may want to further separate the name from the CX-60 it already sells there.