Mazda has updated its MX-30 electric crossover, and while it hasn’t increased the size of the tiny battery, it has at least made that battery slightly more useful by cutting the time needed to charge it. The MX-30 features an unusually small 35.5 kWh battery that gives it a range of just 200 km according to WLTP testing, and is rated at only 161 km by the EPA. That’s around half of what most EVs deliver, and hasn’t improved for 2022. But technical changes mean that bonsai battery’s charging time has reduced from 36 minutes to 26 minutes.
Mazda also claims it has made changes to
the MX-30’s drivetrain sound that helps the driver recognise the amount of
torque being generated by the motor (and presumably respond by easing back on
the gas pedal to reduce power consumption). The company says the revised sound
has been designed to fit more naturally with other car noises like wind and
road noise.
The updated cars are also offered with new
interior and exterior colors, and come in three different trim grades. At the
bottom of the ladder on Euro-spec cars there’s the MX-30 Prime-Line, which gets
18 in alloy wheels, plus the LED headlights, reversing camera, radar cruise
control, navigation and head-up display fitted to every model.
Middle of the pack, but predicted to be
out in front when it comes to sales, the MX-30 Exclusive-Line builds on the
Prime-Line’s list of kit with power seats, keyless entry and the option of
three-tone color scheme instead of the base car’s single-tone design. Top of
the tree is the Makato, which brings artificial leather, a wiper de-icer,
sunroof, heater steering wheel and Bose surround sound tunes.
All of which sounds very nice, but Mazda
hasn’t added any further details about the real game-changing upgrade heading
the MX-30’s way. It confirmed in April that a rotary-powered range-extender
version of the crossover would go on sale later this year, the engine being
used solely to charge the battery. The 2022 MX-30 is available to order in
Europe now.
