2022 Mazda MX-30 Is Mazda’s First EV, Coming Soon to the U.S.

First unveiled in 2019, the battery-powered 2022 Mazda MX-30 all-electric vehicle will soon join the automaker’s robust crossover lineup in the U.S., though with limited availability. Mazda is known for blending contemporary style with excellent driving dynamics, but with no hybrids or EVs in the U.S. market today, the automaker has fallen behind in the electrification race. 

Related: 2021 Mazda CX-30 Review: More Fun, Still Flawed

The arrival of the 2022 MX-30 marks the first step in Mazda’s effort to catch up with its electrification strategy and compete with crossovers like the Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Kona EV and the Volkswagen ID.4. Here’s what we know so far about the MX-30’s styling, electric powertrain and performance.

Modern Style

The MX-30 flaunts a sporty exterior with a coupe-like roof, rear-hinged half-doors and a minimalist, contemporary design guided by Mazda’s Kodo Soul of Motion design language.

The interior of the MX-30 mixes environmentally-friendly materials like cork in the console tray, a vegan alternative to traditional leather seats and recycled plastic bottle fibers in the door trim. The driver-centric cockpit further sets the MX-30 apart with a floating center console that houses an electronic shifter and shortcut controls for the infotainment system, which is displayed on the 7-inch touchscreen.

All-New Electric Powertrain

Built on Mazda’s enhanced Skyactiv vehicle architecture, the front-wheel-drive MX-30 is powered by an electric motor and a 35.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. Mazda claims the crossover will provide a smooth ride that allows the driver to feel connected to the vehicle. This driver experience follows the automaker’s philosophy of Jinba-ittai (the oneness of horse and rider). 

The MX-30’s powertrain will produce 144 horsepower and 200 pounds-feet of torque. Although range numbers for the U.S. model have not been provided, the European model gets a modest 124 miles of range in the European cycle, which will vary from the EPA’s testing. The 35.5-kwh lithium-ion battery can be charged to 80% within approximately 36 minutes using DC fast charging. 

How Does the Mazda MX-30 Stack Up?

The MX-30’s exterior and interior styling may be  attention grabbers, but, unfortunately, the performance numbers aren’t as enticing, at least on paper. Looking at the specs of the comparable-sized Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Kona EV and VW ID.4, the Mazda MX-30 falls short in its available horsepower, torque and estimated range. 

The 2020 Niro EV and the 2021 Kona EV each boast 201 hp and 291 pounds-feet of torque, which beat the MX-30’s specs. The same can be said for the MX-30’s maximum range, which falls short of the Niro EV’s 239 miles and the Kona EV’s 258 miles. A side-by-side comparison of the Mazda MX-30 and the VW ID.4 tells a similar story with the ID.4’s 201-hp and 229 pounds-feet of torque output and 250-mile estimated range. 

Mazda’s Electrified Future

The 2022 Mazda MX-30 will pioneer the automaker’s electric vehicle lineup, followed by a plug-in hybrid MX-30 with a rotary generator and an all-new hybrid crossover for the U.S. market. The MX-30 will first be available in California, arriving in dealerships in the fall of 2021. Details on pricing, trims and safety features will be announced closer to the launch.

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