Preview 2022 Mazda MX-30 Electric Crossover Priced from $34,645, California only

Meet the 2022 Mazda MX-30. This battery-powered compact crossover designed for urban driving will be available in California only in October. Pricing starts at $34,645 including destination.

If you live in another state, don't worry. Because there are better options for those looking for a small electric crossover. They include the Ford Mustang Mach E, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.4. Chevrolet also just announced the 2022 Bolt EUV. Mazda has said it may offer the MX-30 in more states if there is enough demand, but judging by the specs, it is doubtful that buyers will be lining up.

The MX-30 is closely related to the CX-30 crossover, with a battery that has a capacity of only 35.5 kilowatt hours. This is poor, and the powertrain performance is also poor: the MX-30 has a single electric motor on the front axle, rated at only 144 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque.

Mazda's reason? Mazda announced at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show that by using a smaller battery, the MX-30's lifecycle, including production, should result in lower emissions than an EV with a larger battery, and lower than a gas-powered compact like the Mazda3 He stated.

For longer drives, Mazda said an extended range version will eventually be offered where the range extender is a small rotary engine. The rotary will be used purely to charge the battery, known as a series hybrid. Interestingly, Mazda also sells a more conventional plug-in hybrid, the MX-30, with a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine in some markets, but this version is not expected to be introduced in the U.S.

The rotary-powered version is expected to be introduced in 2023 It is scheduled to appear in 2022 as a model, and its arrival would mark the return of the rotary engine in a production car for the first time since the disappearance of Mazda's RX-8 sports car at the beginning of last decade. It is not clear whether this particular version will be offered in more states or just California.

Another quirky feature of the MX-30 is that its throttle performance has been tuned to more closely resemble that of internal combustion vehicles. Instead of the instantaneous thrust that electric motors excel at, power is delivered gradually. Regenerative braking is also mild, and there is no one-pedal drive, but rather a pipe-in sound that grows louder as the vehicle accelerates to mimic higher engine speeds.

The MX-30 has only one door handle on each side, but there are four doors in total. To access the rear door handle, which opens backward, the front door must be opened.

Inside the cabin is a digital meter cluster and infotainment screen. A third screen is located at the bottom of the center stack to control more vehicle functions. Accents such as the door grips and the center console storage area are made of corks used in the wine industry.