Mazda's first EV is coming to the US this fall, but its range might be disappointing compared to rivals

• Mazda's first EV, the MX-30, is headed to the US this fall.
• It will be available in California to start and will be followed up by a plug-in hybrid version.
• It's expected to have a range of around 100 miles, but Mazda hasn't announced official figures.

Mazda's first electric car is coming to the US.

The brand on Wednesday announced that the 2022 MX-30 is heading stateside in fall 2021, starting with dealers in California. It will share details like pricing and range closer to when the electric vehicle goes on sale.

Revealed in 2019 and already on sale outside of the US, the MX-30 is Mazda's quirky first stab at an EV. The compact crossover has five seats and odd rear half-doors like you'd find in a BMW i3 or a Honda Element. It has a similar size and shape to Mazda's gas-powered CX-30.

The US version of the car, Mazda said, will have a 35.5-kWh battery pack, 144 horsepower, and 200 lb-ft of torque. The battery can be charged from 20% to 80% in around 36 minutes using a DC fast charger, according to Mazda.

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The company didn't release an official range figure, but the European-market MX-30 (which comes with the same sized battery) can travel 124 miles on a charge, according to the European WLTP standards. The US EPA tends to give more conservative range ratings, so the MX-30 will likely go on sale in the US with an estimated range of around 100 miles.

That's fairly low by today's standards, as several sub-$35,000 EVs can travel well over 200 miles on a charge. It indicates that Mazda is targeting the MX-30 at urban buyers who don't need to drive very far at a time.

Mazda plans to follow up the battery-powered MX-30 with a plug-in hybrid version equipped with a rotary generator. That model should satisfy buyers looking for more range. A larger plug-in hybrid model along with a traditional hybrid crossover are in the works as well, Mazda said.