Everyone is running the EV race and here comes Mazda with an interesting launch. Mazda's first all-electric vehicle, the MX-30 Electric SUV, will be available very soon, from next year at around $65,490 along with a plug-in hybrid version. The outward design of the subcompact crossover is sleek, with a coupe-like roofline and rear-hinged back doors identical to those featured on the BMW i3 electric car. The SUV is equipped with a 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and front mounted motor which can crank out 144 hp. Pre-orders for European buyers has already begun, and Mazda has announced that the MX-30 will go on sale in the United States this fall, first in California and then expanding to other states.
When the MX-30 finally hits the market, we don't yet have a clear picture how many trims will be available, but if Mazda's practise is followed, four trims will be available, ranging in price from the base Sport trim to the feature packed and opulent Signature trim.
The front wheels of the all-electric MX-30 is driven by a single electric motor mated to a single speed automatic gearbox which produces 144-hp 271 Nm of torque,. The car can hit the 0 to 62 miles mark in 9.7 seconds and can run up to a top speed of 87 mph. All-wheel drive will not be offered. However, we've also gathered that a plug-in hybrid version with an electric motor and a rotary petrol engine would be available, so all-wheel drive may still be an option.
The MX-30's 35.5-kWh battery pack is fairly small in comparison to other electric vehicles. The battery will be able to be charged using both traditional AC power and more sophisticated and faster DC chargers. Well something not so cool about the car is its range. The car has a claimed range of 124 miles and in real world driving conditions it will be even lower.
Natural and ecological materials such as cork and permeable cloth upholstery created from recycled plastic bottles are used in the MX-30's cabin. The front seat appears to comfortably seat two adults, while the back seat appears to be significantly more cramped, both in terms of head and legroom. The MX-30 sports a buoyant centre console which is well in trend, and it leaves storage space behind the infotainment screen that controls the air con system. It has a 366L boot space with all 5 seats upright and it extends up to 1171L with the rear seats folded down.
A secondary display arises from the dashboard to host the infotainment functions like the music system, navigation, and rear camera, in addition to the digital display for the MX-30's climate controls and vehicle settings. The car will support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity options as well.