Mazda’s First EV, The MX-30, Gets Mild Hybrid Powertrain In Japan

At the Automobile Council 2020–one of the rare auto shows that pushed through despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Mazda Motor Corporation threw in a surprise by unveiling a mild-hybrid (MHEV) version of the Mazda MX-30. Launched at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show as the company’s first electric vehicle (EV), the mild-hybrid Mazda MX-30 will go on sale in Japan by the end of 2020, ahead of the electric version.

As mentioned during last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the Mazda MX-30 EV is now available in Europe. It’s the first market to receive Mazda’s first EV as a way for the Japanese automaker to comply with the European Union’s (EU) upcoming CO2 emission regulations. By 2021, with the phase-in period happening this year, the EU fleet-wide average emission target for car manufacturers shall be at 95 grams of CO₂/km.

The Mazda MX-30 MHEV is part of the Japanese automaker’s “Well-to-Wheel” approach in meeting its Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 promise. With this mild-hybrid powertrain, the Mazda MX-30 is able to address the needs of consumers who live in places with no available public charging whilst still being friendly to the environment with its lower CO₂ emissions.

Under the hood of the Mazda MX-30 MHEV is a 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G petrol engine mated to a 24-volt integrated starter generator. Mazda calls this powertrain “e-Skyactiv-G.” Sounds familiar? This mild-hybrid powertrain layout is similar to Mazda’s also new M Hybrid mild-hybrid system, which is already in the all-new Mazda 3 and CX-30 in other markets. As expected, being an MHEV, this model of the MX-30 can’t run on pure electricity.

Mazda did not release any other information regarding the MX-30 MHEV, such as horsepower and torque. In the Mazda 3 and CX-30 MHEVs, the MHEV powertrain produces 122 hp and 213 Nm of torque when paired with the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine. With the revolutionary Skyactiv-X compression ignition gasoline engine, the MHEV system produces 180 hp and 224 Nm. For perspective, the EV version of the MX-30 produces 141 hp and 264 Nm of torque. This electric powertrain lets the Mazda MX-30 have a range of up to 209 kilometers in a single charge.

With the release of the mild-hybrid Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv-G, does this funky crossover SUV seem more appealing than ever?