The 2022 Chevy Bolt EV will have a fresh new rival to compete with when the Mazda MX-30 electric crossover goes on sale in California this fall.
The Mazda MX-30 represents the Japanese automaker’s first foray into the battery-electric vehicle game in North America. This funky-looking electric crossover will come standard with a front-wheel-drive electric motor producing 144 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The motor will draw power from a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, which can be charged to within 80% capacity in around 34 minutes at a DC fast charging station. Mazda hasn’t shared any official range figures, but the Euro-centric WLTP cycle has the MX-30 at a max estimated range of 124 miles, or 199 km.
Customers who want more range should wait for the incoming plug-in hybrid model, which will use Mazda’s famed rotary engine as a range extender. The rotary engine, which Mazda says is being engineered for “nearly silent” running operation, will only be used to charge the batteries in the MX-30 PHEV and will not provide drive to the wheels – similar to the now-defunct Chevy Volt Voltec powertrain.
The cabin takes on a clean, minimalist design and features a digital instrument panel, widescreen infotainment display and a touch-operated control panel for adjusting the climate control settings. Tech-obsessed EV enthusiasts will also be able to monitor their MX-30s battery life and charge status and adjust various vehicle settings through the MyMazdaApp for iOS and Android.
The Mazda MX-30 will first arrive at select Mazda dealerships in California this fall. It’s not clear when the crossover will be made available in other U.S. states. Pricing, trim availability and other information should become available closer to the vehicle’s launch later this year.
The newly redesigned 2022 Chevy Bolt EV, along with the all-new 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV crossover, will go on sale just ahead of the MX-30, with an official launch set for this summer.
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Comments
Soooo, even being at a Mazda store, we have not heard much about this yet. Mazda has been keeping it under wraps quite well. From what we know thus far (and this story has given more info than any), it’s really just a modified CX30 with electric and a strange door design.
But leave it to Mazda to bring a pencil sharpener to a gun fight! Come on. This door design will cause it to have dismal sales at best. Add to the fact that they are saying a range of around 124 miles, and it’s already well behind and it’s not even introduced yet. Heck, my 2015 Chevy Spark Electric was estimated with a range of 86 +/- miles and the norm for the car was around 100. That was back in 2015! Next, they are still hanging onto the idea of that rotary engine. They really need to leave that POS design in the past where it belongs. No thanks. I’ll stick with my GM products.
it all depends on price. another article says they expect it to be about $30K before tax incentives. let’s assume that is true.
7500 federal + 1500 state gets you about $21K. they’ll sell a few at that price.
steve: I highly doubt they will have this at 30 grand. But it won’t really matter to any true buyers outside the “Mazda lovers” because they won’t take this plastic clad, low range, mini-doors vehicle seriously. The Bolt and Bolt EUV will blow this thing away in every aspect. So yes, Mazda will sell a few to those who eat, sleep and breath Mazda.
BTW, you can barely get into a CX30 with any features for 30 grand. So unless Mazda plans to lose a butt load of money on every one they sell, the price will most likely be 40 grand with an ending price around 30 grand after incentives/discount, etc.
No one yet has made smaller segment fwd (or fwd first awd) EV or highly electrified vehicle that widely resonates with US buyers. What is the take rate for the Toyota’s main model hybrid or plug-ins? The Prius nameplates seem stale.
That’s damning for where Elites want to push the market. They’ve already distorted the market too much, killing segments along the way.
Mazda won’t be in business as is in 5 years. Throw them and nissan away and I don’t know what anybody would be missing.
@Jake: I can’t agree with that. Nissan is too big with too many ties with other auto brands world-wide. Mazda, however, is much more at risk because they are just that: Mazda. On top of that, they have this greater-than-thou attitude which will sink them eventually. It’s hilarious to sit in on the training they do where they act like they are the best in the world and all other brands shall bow down to them (actually, this is kind of the Japanese brands overall way of acting and a big reason why I don’t like them). Anyhow, the sad truth for Mazda is that they are slowly slipping into bed with Toyota (sound of vomit coming out of my mouth) and that’s probably how they will survive in the future. That alone has made it 100% for sure that I will never own one.
It will fail like all EVs will when Trump pulls the plug in 24.
He can do that from jail?
Ford owned Mazda for seveal years, so they must return as partner with Ford to survive. BTW , Victor Wouk, the “Father of Modern Hybrids” used a Mazda rotary Wankel engine in his 1972 prototype hybrid car. Look it up.
It’s a competitor to the Bolt, how? Way less HP and range.
@danwat1234: Don’y worry. Knowing Mazda, they won’t compare to the Bolt and will instead insist that they be compared to the German brands. They are quite proud of themselves.
One time in a training class for the CX9, the Mazda reps were going down their “list” of competitors to the CX9 and naming all the higher import brands. They asked everyone what we thought the CX9 would compete against. I said the Chevrolet Traverse. The look on their faces was priceless! You would have thought I just kicked them in the groin. haha.
I don’t understand how an Automotive Writer can be so ill-informed:
“…The rotary engine, which Mazda says is being engineered for “nearly silent” running operation, will only be used to charge the batteries in the MX-30 PHEV and will not provide drive to the wheels – similar to the now-defunct Chevy Volt Voltec powertrain.”
GM was caught lying about this in 2011 – 2012 when they tried to say the “GENSET” (engine – Dynamo) didn’t ever mechanically drive the car directly.
Those lies did not stop for 18 months until the NY State Dept of Motor Vehicles told GM “You’re not fooling anyone”. GM was trying apparently to get some sort of ‘totally electric drive’ benefits from the CARB states. During this time, GM lied to their technicians and dealers alike. But c’mon – that was 10 years ago.
Both the first Generation (Volt 2011-2015 and Cadillac ELR 2014,2016) and the second Generation (Volt 2016-2019) Locked up to the drive wheels when highway driving during ‘Charge Sustaining’ (battery dead and engine running) modes.
The Writer probably will not believe this, but the FRONT WHEELS in all Second Generation vehicles are Mechanically Geared to the ENGINE 100% of the time, even during 100% electric driving…
The Engine Crankshaft in those vehicles has an ‘over-running LOCK’ (which they call a clutch but not really) which grabs and locks hold of the crankshaft during electric operation to prevent the engine from spinning backwards during electric operation.
Differential gearing is the answer as to why all this can be possible.
All this junk wouldn’t be needed if Mary pushed Biden to make the military increase production in OPEC countries.
Hey Melania – since you have a name indicative of Great Wealth – why not use some of your millions to finance foreign military operations and leave my wallet alone?
As far as the ‘junk’ of a PHEV – you would not believe how LITTLE gasoline equipment and gearboxes are in my very fine 2014 Cadillac ELR. The engine is physically much smaller than in the old VW Bugs. Same goes for the gear train. It is even more ‘mechanically elegant’ in the 2016-2019 volts.
My 2019 volt is simply a marvel of efficiency – its Gasoline efficiency is almost as good as the world-class Japanese products. Electric efficiency is top notch also.
Its like calling a Swiss Watch from 100 years ago a piece of ‘junk’. Most people would consider them Fine Jewels.
@Bill Howland, Are you trying to say in 2nd gen Chevy Volts, that even during electric operation, the engine is spinning except when driving in reverse a clutch is used to prevent the engine from spinning in reverse? You do realize that is ridiculous. The efficiency hit from turning a compression engine is enormous.
It is true the Volts sort of lock up with the clutches and a planetary gear set, gen 1 at about 40MPH actually. But if you ask more than about 50% power, it will pop out of this and go back to fully serial hybrid operation, providing all thrust from the main 111KW motor/generator. After a short while after the high load is no longer occuring, it will re-engage.
I explained fully the operation of this in my comment. You obviously have a problem with reading comprehension.
The engine is stationary during 100% EV operation yet solidly geared to the wheels through differential gearing.
Obviously you don’t understand what that means either.
Hint: The same kind of thing happens when you make a sharp left or right turn in a conventional car. The “Knee” tire stops turning and the other tire does all the spinning even though the engine is constantly running.
It goes without saying that an analogous, yet totally opposite thing happens in Second Generation Volts. I already explained that what they call a ‘clutch’ is the same mechanism as a coaster brake on an old bicycle. No one would call that a clutch either. Second Generation volts only have 2 clutches versus the 3 in the Generation One’s.
The operation in daily use is not quite as smooth as the old Gen 1’s were, yet it is more ‘mechanically elegant’, in that much more is accomplished with fewer operations.
One ancillary fact of this simplification is that the engine will stop at stop lights, and only restart when the car is accelerating from the stop – since it quite obviously was too difficult to articulate smoothness in starting with the car at zero mph – whereas the Gen 1’s had a third clutch to allow the engine to run totally independent of the drive train when deemed necessary.
“…The rotary engine, which Mazda says is being engineered for “nearly silent” running operation, will only be used to charge the batteries in the MX-30 PHEV and will not provide drive to the wheels – similar to the now-defunct Chevy Volt Voltec powertrain.”
The writer said similar. That doesn’t mean the same
“whereas the Gen 1’s had a third clutch to allow the engine to run totally independent of the drive train when deemed necessary.”
“GM was caught lying about this in 2011 – 2012 when they tried to say the “GENSET” (engine – Dynamo) didn’t ever mechanically drive the car directly… Differential gearing is the answer as to why all this can be possible.”
So, which one is it?
“The engine is stationary during 100% EV operation yet solidly geared to the wheels through differential gearing.”
An engine not running will not provide drive. It’s power source selectible provided a battery charge. Please use some sense.
At gas-powered, low accelerator, highway speed, it’s most efficient to be geared to the wheel.
You write as someone with their head spun around by people talking from both sides of their mouths. Some of whom wanted Voltec to fail, tricking many to oppose it.
Man – you talk like you’re on drugs…..
That’s like the old joke about Campbell’s Cream of Elephant Soup – they’re both similar – Except for the Elephant!
If the guy says that the drive set does *NOT* provide power to the wheels, and therefore is similar to the VOLT, I suppose he means that propulsion comparisons are not what he meant –
He just meant they both have tires…. Yeah Right!
I don’t expect the Commentariat to be Expert in Engineering, but if you don’t understand what is going on you should exercise a bit of humility and save your critical comments for something you understand.
You then comment on where I stated GM lied to almost everyone for 18 months a decade ago prior to fessing up, and then say
“Which one is it”?
Time to lay off the Bottle when you are typing… Anyone asking such as question is Strongly Implying a choice between 2 or more things. Which 2 or more things are you referring to?
Nothing but down votes from the public here…. From a detailed, Fact-Filled Comment.
This probably explains why GM couldn’t care less what people say here, since they think their typical customer is much more intelligent.
I’d have to say in that Case I agree with GM’s analysis.
You then say I wanted the Voltec Drivetrain to fail. “talking out of both sides of their mouths, ……tricking many to oppose it”.
Ah ! You Caught ME ! I HATE the Voltec Drivetrain so much I have purchased 3 New and 1 USED Voltec Cars (3 volts and 1 ELR), and I currently have TWO Voltec Cars that I drive every day.
Genius.