Mazda releases pricing and specification for new MX-30 electric car

The Japanese brand’s all-new model is radically styled and shows a bold new direction for the brand. But there’s a shock in store for buyers.

Mazda has launched its first electric vehicle in Australia, but don’t expect a stampede from buyers.

The new MX-30 EV costs $65,490 before on-road costs, which should push it past the $70,000 drive-away mark.

That’s roughly $25,000 more than the equivalent mild hybrid petrol version of the car, which was released earlier this year.

Mazda says the MX-30 will run for 200km between charges, which is less than key competitors.

Mazda’s first electric car is striking to look at. Picture: Supplied.

The slightly cheaper Hyundai Kona EV claims more than double the range at 484km, while Hyundai’s cheaper Ionic claims 311km and Nissan’s Leaf claims 270km.

But the brand’s marketing director, Alastair Doak, says the range is more than adequate for city driving, where the average daily commute is a 32km round trip.

“We’ve been saying since day one that this is a city-based vehicle and if it spends the majority of its life driving in that environment, then the range is absolutely perfect,” he says.

He says a smaller battery means the car has a smaller “whole of life” carbon footprint because less energy is used in the manufacturing and recycling of the battery.

The MX-30 will be good for 200km of real-world range between charges. Picture: Supplied.

“Its about the total CO2 impact of the car, not just the sticker on the window to make everybody feel good,” he says.

“For early adopters, that can be an important conversation. They actually want a vehicle that is more environmentally-friendly in every single sense rather than the sticker,” he says.

Mazda has modest sales hopes for the MX-30. It has ordered an initial allocation of 100 vehicles and is asking customers to register pre-orders from today. Three of the cars are already spoken for and deliveries will start in August.

Doak admits the new model won’t be a volume seller, but is confident of selling the initial allocation.

Initially, only 100 models will be offered to Australian customers. Picture: Supplied.

“The EV market in Australia is obviously still evolving — still in its infancy really — so (customers) will be early adopters,” he says.

The new model joins a growing range of electric vehicles on sale locally. Nissan, Hyundai and Tesla all have similarly priced EVs, while MG has a significantly cheaper electric SUV priced at $43,990 drive-away. Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Porsche all have electric offerings.

Despite the growing number of models available, EVs still make up less than one per cent of new-car sales.

Some makers are calling for subsidies to spark demand for EVs but Doak says other barriers need to be addressed first, including clean energy generation and recharging infrastructure.

The design includes rear doors that open backwards. Picture: Supplied.

He says an EV powered by a grid that runs on brown coal will produce more CO2 than a large petrol SUV.

“Unless you’re filling an EV up with green energy rather than traditional coal power, then there is no CO2 benefit ultimately,” he says.

Next year, the MX-30 range will be expanded to include a “range-extender” electric vehicle that uses a small petrol generator to recharge the car on the run, removing rage anxiety for drivers.

The MX-30 will be fully loaded with equipment and has standout styling that includes a three-tone colour scheme and rear doors that open backwards in a similar way to the brand’s retired RX-8 sports car.

The cabin uses recycled materials. Picture: Supplied.

Standard equipment includes a head-up display in the windscreen, active cruise control, a “bird’s eye view” camera for parking and a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system. The interior of the car is made from environmentally-friendly materials, including recycled plastics.

The MX-30 is powered by a single electric motor driving the front wheels and powered by a 355-volt, 35.5kWh lithium ion battery.

The motor generates 107kW of power and 271Nm of torque delivered instantly, which should ensure lively acceleration off the mark.

The battery will charge from 20 to 80 per cent in three hours using a specially installed wall charger or 36 minutes from a 50kWh public charger similar to those being rolled out by the NRMA. Plugged into a standard household power point, it will take nine hours to provide the same charge.