The 2022 Mazda MX-30 electric crossover will launch in Quebec and British Columbia this fall, the Japanese automaker has announced.
The MX-30 will arrive in Canada as a front-wheel drive crossover with an electric motor producing a tame 144 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. This modest electric motor will draw power from a relatively small 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which will be able to charge from flat to 80 per cent capacity in about 36 minutes at a DC fast charging station. There’s no word on range yet, however European models with the same battery/motor combo boast an estimated 199 km of range on the generous WLTP testing cycle. The official Canadian range will likely be less than this, but it gives us an idea of how much to expect.
A plug-in hybrid version of the MX-30 will also eventually be offered, which will pair an electric motor and battery with a gas-powered rotary range extender. The range extender, which will have “near silent running operation,” according to Mazda, will not drive the wheels and will only be used to charge the battery. As such, Mazda says the plug-in model will “always drive like an engaging EV,” but with the added advantage of being able to charge both from a wall outlet or the onboard internal combustion rotary engine.
The MX-30 follows Mazda’s “Kodo” design language and takes on a similar shape to the automaker’s existing internal combustion compact crossover, the CX-30. The MX-30 also features rear half doors (anyone remember the Mazda RX-8?) that Mazda has dubbed “freestyle” doors, which provide easy ingress and egress into the minimalist cabin. A widescreen digital infotainment screen and digital instrument panel should satisfy EV buyers’ tastes for the latest technologies, while Mazda’s i-ActiveSense safety suite will help keep them safe while out on the road. For those who may be wondering, the i-ActiveSense suite includes tech like blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.
“The MX-30 is the first step in our multi-solution approach to electrification, which considers many factors and will allow us to continue providing the right products for our customers as market demands continue to change," Mazda Canada CEO David Klan said in a statement. "The introduction of the MX-30 BEV will begin a shift to more electrified models, including a series plug-in hybrid with a rotary generator for MX-30."
Mazda will first launch the MX-30 at select dealerships in Quebec and British Columbia – the two Canadian provinces where EVs are most popular. It has not said when the vehicle will begin to arrive in other provinces, but we expect some additional details on the availability for the 2022 Mazda MX-30 to surface between now and its Fall 2021 launch.
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