Mazda MX-30 – Overview
Though this is not the first time Mazda has flirted with full electric vehicles, the Mazda MX-30 is the first actual production EV from the carmaker. For such a significant car, the marque has wisely chosen to make an EV in the crossover segment.However, Mazda has decided to stay away from any nomenclature that will connect the Mazda MX-30 to its electric underpinnings. There’s no ‘e’ anywhere in its name, and even the MX brings performance to mind, unlike the other SUVs and crossovers in their stable with the CX moniker.
The Mazda MX-30 has the same dimensions as the more-familiar Mazda CX-30 and in fact the EV is built on the same SkyActiv-Vehicle Architecture found under the Mazda 3 and Mazda CX-30. Reinforcements have been performed on the cells and the floor too to increase stiffness, due to the added weight of the cells.
Aside from its electrified drivetrain, one of the other interesting bits about the Mazda MX-30 is its freestyle doors with the rear doors hinged at the rear, which brings the Mazda RX-8 immediately to mind. A future plug-in hybrid of the electric crossover will feature a rotary engine to extend range, but no exact date has been given on this variant.
According to a report by AmInvestment bank, the Mazda MX-30 is due to arrive in Malaysia in the fourth quarter of 2021. There’s also a chance the EV will be part of Mazda’s CKD line-up in Malaysia, which will then bring its price point to a reasonable level.