All-Electric Mazda MX-30 Coming To Malaysia

The first mass-production EV by Mazda has been shown off by Bermaz Motor, the sole distributor of Mazda in Malaysia. The Mazda MX-30 is also the first electric vehicle introduced to the Bermaz Auto group stable. The Mazda MX-30 is based on the brand’s CX-30 compact crossover and made its debut at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.

The introduction of this model is part of Mazda’s Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 vision of achieving carbon neutrality through the development of new technologies and new products with some form of electrification. Incidentally, the MX-30 also received the 2020 Red Dot Design award for product design, alongside the CX-30.

The development of the Mazda MX-30 targets EV buyers who don’t want to sacrifice driving pleasure, keeping in line with the brand’s Jinba-Ittai and Zoom Zoom principles. The “Human Modern” styling of the MX-30 represents an exploration of a more modern aesthetic which focuses on the futuristic values and lifestyles. “This new approach has resulted in an original design that embodies the expansion of Kodo’s expressive range,” explained Youichi Matsuda, the Mazda MX-30 Chief Designer. “The exterior is uncompromisingly simple to emphasise its beauty as a solid mass, and the cabin design – with its framed top and freestyle doors – embodies an image of lightness while proactively incorporating sustainability as an element for the interior materials. As we begin an era of great change, we want the Mazda MX-30 to show people that our cars can still deliver pure joy of driving.”

The MX-30 is built on a wheelbase of 2,655 mm, with a body measuring 4,395 mm long, 1,795 mm wide, 1,555 mm tall. The MX-30’s styling creates a friendly appearance, while the cabin has a sense of oneness, flowing from the top of A pillar to the rear end. Besides the coupe-like roofline and 2-tone colour scheme, the other standout feature of the MX-30’s exterior is the “freestyle” doors similar to that of the RX-8 which allows easier egress and ingress for the rear passengers.

Other exterior highlights include adaptive LED headlamps, circular LED tail lights, and 18″ alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the interior is designed to give occupants a sense of “bathing in openness,” with its floating console. The interior also uses eco-friendly materials such as vegan leather, fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, and environmentally-sourced cork on the floating center console that provides a unique storage area.

Like every other Mazda, the MX-30 promises a very natural and responsive driving feel; it is also equipped with the enhanced e-G-Vectoring Control (GVC) Plus system. The all-electric MX-30 is powered by an e-SkyActiv motor that produces 143 hp and 271 Nm of torque that is channeled to the front wheels by a 1-speed EV transmission. Power is stored in a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which gives an approximate driving range of 199 km. There is always that compromise to be made with regards to driving range, vehicle weight, charging time as well as battery cost. The more you add in, the more it will cost you. Mazda’s concept for the MX-30 is for it to be an urban runner rather than a grand tourer. Thus in the Malaysian context, this would be suitable for drivers who rarely deviate from a habitual route or destination e.g. the daily office commutes, as well as school and market runs. A typical round trip on a work day is about 30 km and the battery would give you about 6 days’ worth of driving, in theory.

The 35.5 kWh battery can be charged via AC (Type 2) or the rapid DC (CCS2) charger. A 40 kW CCS2 charger can charge it from empty to 80% in only 36 minutes. But on the other end of the spectrum, using a Type 2 cable via a home 3-pin plug point would take about 12 hours to get from 0% – 100% SoC (State-of-Charge) at 3 kW. However, a 6.6 kW AC wallbox charger can shorten that time to 5 hours. Thus, a wallbox packaged with the vehicle would make it the most practical and convenient option as it allows you to plug in at the end of the day and have it charge overnight.

In certain markets, there is a mild hybrid version available, with a 2.0L E-SkyActiv-G engine paired with an Integrated Starter Motor and 24V lithium-ion battery, producing 153 hp and 200 Nm. As the government has incentives available for EVs, it only makes sense to take advantage of that.

Following this preview, we can expect the Mazda MX-30 should be available very soon.

Keyword: All-Electric Mazda MX-30 Coming To Malaysia