Time is precious - and even ten minutes hanging around a motorway service station waiting for your electric car to charge can feel like a drag.
Mazda has gotten the memo - and has shaved ten minutes off the rapid charging time for its all-electric MX-30 SUV-hatchback crossover, bringing it down from 36 minutes to 26 minutes.
That’s now possible because the EV’s 35.5kWh battery can accept 50 kW DC rapid charging, up from the previous 40 kW. Confused? Read our guide to help explain what kW and kWh mean in more detail.
Meanwhile the range for the MX-30 - Mazda’s first-ever electric car - remains the same as before, which is around 124 miles. That range might not be as long as rivals such as the Kia Soul EV or Vauxhall Mokka-e, but the MX-30 should prove more affordable for you to lease. So, every cloud.
Another great thing about the MX-30 is that it’s lighter than other EVs, thanks in part due to the fact that the battery pack is incorporated into the body shell structure. With power of 145 PS, the MX-30 will also zip from 0-62mph in around 9.7 seconds.
This 2022 update brings a new soundtrack to the MX-30 in the form of new noise played through the cabin when you’re accelerating and decelerating, adding some soul to what might otherwise be a silent experience.
A Mazda spokesperson explains:
“With a focus on engagement from behind the wheel, the MX-30’s EV sound helps the driver subconsciously recognise the amount of torque being generated by the power unit. For the 2022 update, the frequency has been further optimised to sound more aligned with other sounds heard when the car is running, such as wind or road noise – so the driver can recognise the amount of power in a natural manner without the sound being unusual.”
There are three trims up for grabs - entry-level ‘Prime-Line’ through to ‘Exclusive-Line’ and the range-topping ‘Makoto'.
Standard equipment on all MX-30s includes LED headlights with daytime running lights, a reversing camera, radar cruise control and a head-up display.
The pinnacle Makoto is really well specced, boasting an uprated 12-speaker Bose surround sound system as well as a 360 degree camera and a host of extra danger-detecting driver assistance systems.
There are some fun little features to be admired, too. All MX-30s have cork-lined centre consoles and inner side door handles - which is a nod to Mazda’s founding as the ‘Toyo Kogyo Cork Company’ in 1920.
There’s also an effort to make the interior as sustainable as possible, too, replete with fibres made from recycled plastic bottles.
Jeremy Thomson, Managing Director of Mazda Motors UK, says:
“Our first all-electric Mazda heralded an exciting start to Mazda’s second century in business. A battery electric vehicle conceived and created with Mazda’s well-renowned focus on distinctive styling, innovative technology, driver focused dynamics and class-leading interior quality, the MX-30 is a stand out addition to the rapidly evolving EV marketplace. Part of Mazda’s multi-solution approach to efficient vehicles, our first pure electric car is a milestone moment for the brand and a landmark moment for our dealers and customers here in the UK.”
Also worth bearing in mind is the fact the Mazda MX-30 has a bigger boot - at 366 litres - that one of its biggest competitors, the 326 litre Hyundai Kona Electric.
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