Will the 2022 Mazda MX-30 Kill the Mazda CX-5?
The Mazda CX-5 has been a popular SUV for a few years now, only increasing reliability each year. However, with the announcement of the 2022 Mazda MX-30, will this SUV take the top spot? Electric vehicles are the future, but the MX-5 has a place in a lot of hearts (and garages).
Is the Mazda MX-30 fully electric?
The Mazda MX-30 will be the first battery-electric vehicle in North America, Autoweek says. This SUV has an e-SKYACTIV powertrain and a lithium-ion battery. The battery capacity is 35.5kWh, and it will get 144 hp. There are a few different platforms in the pipeline, though. First, a plug-in hybrid will debut with a rotary generator. In addition to that, a traditional hybrid MX-30 is in the works. The rotary aspect has made quite an impact on the market so far.
Mazda should release more information in the next few weeks as the Mazda MX-30 is slated for release in 2022. California is slated to get the MX-30 in the fall. The rest of the states won’t be far behind.
“The battery-powered MX-30 will begin the introduction of additional electrified models, including a series plug-in hybrid with a rotary generator for MX-30, a plug-in hybrid for our new large platform, and a traditional hybrid for our new American-made crossover.”
Jeff Guyton | Mazda North American Operations President
Mazda seems to be taking the leap to electric vehicle seriously, while also changing up the equation a bit. One added benefit is all of the i-Activsense safety features that the CX-30 will contain. That makes it safer for drivers and others on the road.
Is the Mazda CX-5 a good car?
Consumer Reports chose the 2021 Mazda CX-5 as one of the 10 most reliable cars for this year. It came in second on the list of Compact SUVs with an overall score of 83. Drivers seem to enjoy the styling of this Mzad SUV and the price point. The price of the 2021 Mazda CX-5 is between $25,370 and $37,505. The estimated annual fuel cost is around $1,190.
CR notes that the 2021 CX-5 improved this year with ride comfort, interior quality, and noise isolation within the cabin. The 187-hp 2.5L four-cylinder has a six-speed transmission. The CX-5 gets around 24 miles per gallon overall. So while the CX-30 is competition for the MX-5, this gasoline-powered vehicle has staying power.
The 2022 Mazda CX-30 173″ is about 173 inches long and 70.7 inches wide. The 2021 Mazda CX-5 is 179.1 inches long and 72.5 inches wide. This means that even if the SUVs are different in many areas, the sizes are fairly similar.
Gasoline vs. electric vehicles in the future
It might take a few years for electric vehicles to topple gasoline-powered vehicles from the “best of” lists. However, with the electric vehicle incentive changing, more drivers might make the switch. In addition, it has been suggested that the price of electric vehicles might be lower than gas cars soon.
Mazda has not reported on mileage estimations yet, which will be an important spec to consider when comparing the two. In addition, the electric vehicle charging network is still working out some kinks in the U.S. Hopefully, that will get figured out as the year progresses.
Overall, the Mazda MX-30 has enough variety and platform options in the pipeline to keep potential buyers satisfied. It will be interesting to watch how the SUV performs and if the Mazda MX-5 sales dip at all for the 2022 year.
