The Sleuth is scratching his head over this one. The automaker will launch its first electric vehicle for the United States this fall and it will only be sold in California for the time being. For a $34,650 sticker price, the front-wheel-drive MX-30’s motor is rated at 144 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. Mazda estimates a scant 100 miles of range, which could be a major drawback for many potential buyers. Almost all competing battery-electric cars on the market can travel much farther between charges. The question the Sleuth has: Is this the battery-electric that Mazda dealers really need and that buyers want? Mazda says a range-extending gasoline rotary-engine/generator will be available for the 2023 model year. It kicks in to provide more electric power.
For the $34,650 sticker price, the Mazda MX-30 has a maximum range of just 100 miles.
That’s much less than competing battery-electric cars. PHOTO: MAZDA