Mazda MX-30 confirmed for Malaysia this year

KUALA LUMPUR: Mazda brand guardian in Malaysia, Bermaz Motor has just given the Malaysian media a sneak preview of the all-new Mazda electric vehicle. 

Some Malaysian motoring journalists had their first encounter with the MX-30 at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show where Mazda management took a bold step towards electrification with this, their first-ever electric vehicle.

The styling of the MX-30 follows the Kodo Design language very closely, however, to offer owners a unique vehicle (apart from its all battery-powered drivetrain) Mazda designers gave the MX-30 suicide doors (Mazda calls it freestyle doors), just like first seen in the BMW i3 electric compact car.

The cabin of the MX-30 is airy and very much environmentally friendly as the cabin designers used materials like cork and recycled fabric materials which follows the theme of the MX-30 to be eco-friendly.

The powertrain carries the name e-Skyactiv and delivers a sensible driving range which seems to be the main decision-maker today for mid-range electric car buyers in Malaysia. This new e-Skyactiv delivers a sensible 105 kW power output and 260 Nm torque to provide a good city driving experience and keep the battery healthy for a longer period. 

You will probably get about 200-210 kilometre or driving range with this 35.5kW battery, a 50kW maximum charging rate on a DC fast-charger using either a CCS2 or CHAdeMO plug type (depending on market) with 6.6kW charging at home.

Now, the 210 kilometre best possible driving range might deter some buyers as its nearest rival right now is the Hyundai Kona Electric with its 28kWh battery and returns a possible 280 km electric driving range.

Bermaz management has not indicated the possible selling price, but based on the launch price in Japan and with some after-sales and sales margin included, we are guessing a selling price of between RM 198,000 to RM 208,000 which puts it higher than the top specification Hyundai Kona and way too close to the larger and more talked about Hyundai IONIQ 5 Lite (which is the base model).

It might be Mazda’s strategy right now to just have one electric vehicle offering (more for Europe and America) and not be totally committed to a range of electrified vehicles as research and development cost is still high and alternative battery technology is being developed to lower future costs. 

This is probably why the selling price is high and Mazda might continue to develop more efficient petrol Skyactiv engines for ASIA car buyers. 

Also read: 2022 Mazda CX-3 revised for Malaysia: What's new