Mazda sure looks like it’s bringing its new mild-hybrid and all-electric range here.
An approval document for the 2021 Mazda MX-30 has appeared on the Department of Transport and Regional Services’ Road Vehicle Certification System.
Getting such an approval is one of the many steps involved in the process of importing a vehicle to Australia to sell. The approval was dated 20 October 2020.
“We are still working through the details of MX-30 and a decision will be made before the end of 2020,” said a spokesperson from Mazda Australia.
Mazda Australia provided a similar statement two months ago. It couldn’t be drawn on which MX-30 variants we’d be getting here.
While it was initially revealed last year as an all-electric vehicle, a conventional internal-combustion engine-powered MX-30 was introduced earlier this year in Japan.
The mild-hybrid MX-30 is powered by a Skyactiv-G 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 115kW of power and 199Nm of torque, mated to a 24V lithium-ion battery, a six-speed automatic transmission, and either front- or all-wheel drive.
The electric MX-30, in contrast, has an electric motor rated at 107kW of power and 270Nm of torque, hooked up to a 35.5kWh battery.
It’s available only with front-wheel drive and has a driving range of 200km using the stricter WLTP standard.
A third variant is due in 2022, which will feature an electric motor driving the wheels with a range-extending rotary engine capable of recharging the batteries when required.
The MX-30 is based on the small CX-30 SUV, which itself comes with a mild-hybrid powertrain.
The CX-30 X20 mates the newer Skyactiv-X 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 24V lithium-ion battery, a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Total outputs are 132kW of power and 224Nm of torque.
The electric MX-30 features a lower electric range than the similarly-sized Hyundai Kona Electric, which achieves 449km on the WLTP test cycle thanks to its larger 64kWh battery. The Korean rival also has more power and torque, with 150kW and 395Nm.
We don’t yet know what price point the MX-30 will be set at. The CX-30 X20 Astina is priced at $46,490 before on-road costs, while, for context, the Hyundai Kona Electric starts at $60,740 before on-roads.
Should it come here, the CX-30 will also have to contend with the new MG ZS EV that’ll arrive in November.
It achieves 262km of electric range from its 44.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and features a front-mounted electric motor with 105kW and 353Nm.
