2022 Mazda MX-30 EV Unveiled With 100 Miles of Range

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Mazda has been incredibly slow to electrify its lineup, unlike other automakers. Usually, when an automaker takes its time to enter a segment, it's looking for the best opportunity. It's looking to refine a product to make sure that it's competitive and that it's the best it can offer at the moment. Unfortunately, Mazda's showing up late to the party with an offering that misses the boat by a wide margin.

Mazda's First EV Disappoints

The 2022 Mazda MX-30 EV was recently revealed ahead of its fall arrival. It arrives with a starting price tag of $34,645 (with destination) and a paltry range of just 100 miles from its 35.5-kWh battery pack. Additionally, the electric crossover will only be available in California initially before being rolled out to other states. Power wise, the MX-30 will have one electric motor on the front axle for 143 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque.

Compared to other electric vehicles on sale, the MX-30 doesn't make much sense. The Chevrolet Bolt EV, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Kia Niro EV cost roughly the same amount as the Mazda,  have more range, and offer better performance. The Leaf may be the MX-30's largest competitor. It costs $28,375 and has a range of 149 miles. So, the Leaf offers 49 more miles of range and costs $6,270 less than the MX-30.

Where's The Range?

Seeing as how range and pricing are two of the largest factors for consumers interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, we can't help but feel like Mazda completely missed the ball. Most consumers are looking at EVs with at least 200 miles of range and want something that's affordable. While the MX-30 doesn't cost as much as a Tesla, when you look at the specs, you're not getting $35,000 worth of EV.

If there's some good news, it's that the MX-30 won't take too long to charge. When plugged into a Level 3 charger, the MX-30 will get 80 percent of its charge back in roughly 36 minutes. A Level 2 charger will complete the task in just under three hours. So, that's good news. Mazda is also including $500 worth of charging credit through ChargePoint for MX-30 owners. That can be used for public charging or toward the purchase of a Level 2 in-home ChargePoint charger.

Mazda knows that 100 miles of range won't be enough for a lot of consumers, so it's also launched a new program just for MX-30 owners that's called the Mazda MX-30 Elite Access Loaner Program. It gives MX-30 owners access to other Mazdas for up to 10 days per year for the first three years of EV ownership. We're not sure how the program will work, but we're sure consumers will have to line things up to take advantage of the program.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods