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Mazda MX-30: End for the battery-electric version

Apparently Mazda has finally pulled the plug on this car with its poor range

2020 Mazda MX-30

The Mazda MX-30 EV is no longer configurable in Germany. The PDF price list still appears on the Mazda website, but if you try to call up the configurator, a note appears stating that the car is no longer available as a "customisable new car".

However, this only applies explicitly to the "EV" version, i.e. the purely electric car. It is not entirely clear whether the R-EV version has also been discontinued. In the R-EV version, a Wankel combustion engine serves as a range extender, which generates electricity for the battery via a generator.

Note in the MX-30 configurator on mazda.de
Photo by: Mazda

Mazda has apparently given up on the battery-electric version of the MX-30. As a 4.40 metre long and 1.56 metre high compact crossover, it has similar shapes to the Smart #3. The battery-electric "EV" version was launched in summer 2020 at a price of €33,490; most recently, the car was available from €35,990. A 145 PS electric motor on the front axle provided the drive until the end. The power came from a 35.5 kWh battery. According to EV-Database, this was the gross value; the net value was only around 30 kWh. This resulted in a WLTP range of just 124 miles, or 165 miles in the urban cycle.

Charging was either three-phase with up to 11 kW alternating current or with up to 50 kW direct current. This means that a charging stroke from 20 to 80 per cent should take around 25 minutes. This results in a very low charging speed of around 0.7 kWh/min. For comparison: a Mini Cooper manages at least 0.9 kWh/min, but a VW ID.3 GTX manages 2.1 kWh/min.

Recharging was also slow: the 124 mile range means that it was only possible to recharge for 4.8 kWh/min of charging time. With the Cooper E it is 7.6 kWh/min, while the ID.3 GTX manages 16.2 kWh/min. All in all, the MX-30 combined a very short range and slow charging with a comparatively high price. According to Wikipedia, the technical basis of the model was the Mazda CX-30. One of the special features was the rear-hinged rear doors - often referred to as "suicide doors".

Gallery: 2020 Mazda MX-30

In the USA, the MX-30 was withdrawn from the range in the summer of 2023; in the two years since its market launch, not even 600 units were sold there. However, the model was only available in California. Motor1 Spain already reported on 21 December that Mazda is also taking the MX-30 off the market in Europe. We only discovered it yesterday, 29 December. 

The MX-30 EV is the only electric car from Mazda to be dropped from the programme. The brand need not fear a major impact on overall sales figures, as only 283 units were sold in the first eleven months of the year. The R-EV version is much more popular, with 1,070 units sold in the same period.

However, battery-electric replenishment is in sight: the Mazda EZ-6 is due to be launched in 2025, although this is not a successor, but a saloon almost five metres long, i.e. more of a competitor to the VW ID.7. 


What do you think?

The bottom line 

Mazda's decision to discontinue the battery-electric version of the MX-30 was long overdue. A range of 124 miles is no longer up to date. This might have been acceptable for a pure city car, but not at prices of around €35,000. Of course, customers have also realised this. However, the R-EV variant still seems to be popular. It is quite possible that it will remain in the programme - we have asked Mazda and will add to this article as soon as we have an answer.

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