[Mad_Maz]

Have just joined (from Melbourne, Australia) with a G20E Mild-Hybrid. Hope some more Hybrid owners get on here soon so we can have a 'Mild-Hybrid chat'. To get the ball rolling... it was cheeky of Mazda marketers to settle on the term 'Mild Hybrid' for this very nice vehicle. The 'hybrid' part of the equation is SO mild as to scarcely be there. Bit cheeky too, to call it an SUV, although if by 'Special Utility' they mean it sits higher off the ground than a 'sedan', then I guess I can live with that. Otherwise, it's a slightly shorter, 2-wheel drive version of the CX-5/CX-30. Apart from being smaller, it's made more affordable by only heating the drivers seat (which, as an Aussie, I find laughably redundant anyway) and equipping with the 2.0 lit SkyActiv G engine. Nonetheless, I've had a chance to seriously road-test it over 1500 km, including to 1800 m elevation, and I loved the drive. 10 lit/100 around the city and down to 8.1/100 on country and freeway driving, 110 km/h max highway speed.

 

[VivaMazda]

Hi Max,

Dont think its eurocentric but rather EV centric. That it is.
Most of the content focuses on the electric drivetrain, battery, charging, electric consumption etc. In Europe it is sold exclusively as an EV. The mild hybrid is just BS, you are absolutely right. A really interesting drivetrain in the works is the serial hybrid that might come the next year. A Range Extender will replenish the battery on longer trips. The ICE MX 30 should be a lot more like the CX 30 than the EV MX 30. Weight distribution, dynamics etc etc. All the best

 

[seasidebaz]

The AU model doesn't sound like a hybrid at all as the car can't run purely on battery power - seems like they have just crammed an inefficient engine in there (25MPG ish) charging a HV battery instead of the 12v. Makes sense why the EV battery is so small though if its effectively taking up the space the fuel tank lives in for the ICE version.

 

[VivaMazda]

No offence Max the design of the MX 30 is a gem but struggle to understand Mazda's strategy. There is still no plug in hybrid. We are waiting for the serial hybrid. There is zero, no bigger EV. The CX 30 is a great car why waste time on the MX 30 with a fossil drivetrain? Mazda needs to focus on electrification to survive in markets such as Europe. Come on Mazda! Love the MX 30 but it aint enough. Lets go Mazda!!!

 

[Mad_Maz]

No offence Max the design of the MX 30 is a gem but struggle to understand Mazda's strategy. There is still no plug in hybrid. We are waiting for the serial hybrid. There is zero, no bigger EV. The CX 30 is a great car why waste time on the MX 30 with a fossil drivetrain? Mazda needs to focus on electrification to survive in markets such as Europe. Come on Mazda! Love the MX 30 but it aint enough. Lets go Mazda!!!

The serial hybrid is coming to Oz. Mazda will have a strategy for what models get introduced in what countries. It makes sense in Oz not to start off with the EV. I don't think the SkyActiv G is inefficient. It's not meant to be a muscle car. You can have a bigger, more powerful Mazda SUV if you want it. The MX-30 M-H is a lovely car for what it is, beautiful to drive, and the electronic smarts are as god as in any other 2021 model. Owners will be able to go EV or serial EV if they want to.

 

[Mad_Maz]

The AU model doesn't sound like a hybrid at all as the car can't run purely on battery power - seems like they have just crammed an inefficient engine in there (25MPG ish) charging a HV battery instead of the 12v. Makes sense why the EV battery is so small though if its effectively taking up the space the fuel tank lives in for the ICE version.

I've mentioned elsewhere here that IMHO it was cheeky of Mazda to term it a 'Mild-Hybrid' and even cheeky too to call it an SUV... but that's its styling, I suppose.

 

[VivaMazda]

Concerning pointless heated seats Max😀. Southeastern Seaboard, Sweden, 3/12 2021.

 

[Mad_Maz]

No offence Max the design of the MX 30 is a gem but struggle to understand Mazda's strategy. There is still no plug in hybrid. We are waiting for the serial hybrid. There is zero, no bigger EV. The CX 30 is a great car why waste time on the MX 30 with a fossil drivetrain? Mazda needs to focus on electrification to survive in markets such as Europe. Come on Mazda! Love the MX 30 but it aint enough. Lets go Mazda!!!

Oh, I think--if you look closely at the engine and transmission--it's far from being inefficient and a'fossil drivetrain'. I think it's beautifully engineered and a great compromise for people (like me) who are not ready to buy EV because Australia's not ready yet and don't require the extra doors. If, at the coming general election here, the current miserable Trumpian excuse for a government that Australia is currently struggling under, is turfed out, we might get the encouragement to buy EV that we don't currently have and Europe does. The MX-30 Electric is here now for those for whom a 244-km range is acceptable and under Mazda's conservative strategy, their Skyactiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture will result in an increase in model options over the next 4 years or do. My G20E Astina cost AUD48800 including driveaway costs and the BlackVue dashcam option front and rear. The EV is priced around AUD65000.

 

[seasidebaz]

The reason I said it seems inefficient is that in imperial measurements you're getting around 20 to 25 mpg - i switched to the MX-30 from a 15 year old diesel Toyota Verso with a 2.2l turbo engine that got 45mpg (so roughly twice as efficient) and it was a much bigger car

 

[seasidebaz]

For comparison the MX-30 electric is 120-160MPGe

 

[VivaMazda]

Actually, is it not rather marvelous to be having this discussion at all worlds apart? Only been to Australia on short business trips and struggled with the time difference.
Australia is huge. The steward from Quantas who turned up every five minutes to ask me if I really, really did not want anything on a flight from Singapore made it feel almost endless. I think he liked Scandinavians and men in general almost too much. I was seriously contemplating hiding in the bus class loo.
Having said that most people seem to live and lead their lives in urban areas such as Melbourne, Sydney. Politicians on the federal level seem to actively work against EVs for now. Chargers are probably scarce?
But the climate is great for EVs albeit in places too hot. You Aussies probably need a daily driver just like everyone else. And if you live in Perth will you take the car to visit family in Brisbane? Maybe the MX 30 serial hybrid could be a hit downunder? Mazda does extremely well in Australia😀.

 

[Mad_Maz]

The reason I said it seems inefficient is that in imperial measurements you're getting around 20 to 25 mpg - i switched to the MX-30 from a 15 year old diesel Toyota Verso with a 2.2l turbo engine that got 45mpg (so roughly twice as efficient) and it was a much bigger car

My 8.1 lit/100 km over a VERY up-and-down and sinuous 1500 km road trip converts to a bit less than 35 mpg. I'd expect the fuel efficiency to get a bit better over time as the engine 'loosens up'. The MX-30 M-H is a +1400 kg vehicle with only 2.0 litres and no turbo, so I reckon the figures are acceptable. I accepted the 2.0 lit SkyActiv G as a compromise for the price although I would have liked the car to have 2.5 lit (who wouldn't). But the SkyActive-X is coming... perhaps a higher-powered MX-30 will someday be available.

 

[Mad_Maz]

Actually, is it not rather marvelous to be having this discussion at all worlds apart? Only been to Australia on short business trips and struggled with the time difference.
Australia is huge. The steward from Quantas who turned up every five minutes to ask me if I really, really did not want anything on a flight from Singapore made it feel almost endless. I think he liked Scandinavians and men in general almost too much. I was seriously contemplating hiding in the bus class loo.
Having said that most people seem to live and lead their lives in urban areas such as Melbourne, Sydney. Politicians on the federal level seem to actively work against EVs for now. Chargers are probably scarce?
But the climate is great for EVs albeit in places too hot. You Aussies probably need a daily driver just like everyone else. And if you live in Perth will you take the car to visit family in Brisbane? Maybe the MX 30 serial hybrid could be a hit downunder? Mazda does extremely well in Australia😀.

Reasonable views (not least re male QF cabin-staff... helpful chaps, all of them!). Aussies do tend to use cars differently due to distances and lack of autobahns, although globalisation is teaching us to be the same as everyone else. The serial hybrid may fly with distance-driving buyers here.

 

[Mad_Maz]

For comparison the MX-30 electric is 120-160MPGe

Hahaha... how do you calculate the comparison?

 

[seasidebaz]

Hahaha... how do you calculate the comparison?

Miles per KWh × 40 apparently

 

[Mad_Maz]

Miles per KWh × 40 apparently

The M-H has a 51 lit tank (13.5 gal). Using, say, 8.5 lit/100 km combined I should get a >11 km/lit (26.5 mpg), or a range > 550 km (340-50 miles). The 35.5 kWh batt in the E35 gives (so says the manufacturer) 224 km (<140 miles). Seasidebaz is ballpark within his range...

 

[VivaMazda]

It is true that EVs are vastly superior to ICEs in terms of efficiency. But dont know enough about Australia, sorry. You would assume that solar power is huge? As solar panels get cheaper why pay for energy when its freely available? With better batteries, cheaper solar power for sure Australia will choose the cheaper and cleaner option. Price is a very strong motivator everywhere. Still the optimist! Intrigued by an anti EV government that must be pretty rare? Charging infrastructure, well a benign government would help but dont states decide a lot by themselves anyways? Melbourne seemed pretty modern and liberal but Max shooting in the dark here. Likeable place in my humble opinion and very helpful and professional locals in spite of an unbelievably tired Swede😀.

 

[Mad_Maz]

It is true that EVs are vastly superior to ICEs in terms of efficiency. But dont know enough about Australia, sorry. You would assume that solar power is huge? As solar panels get cheaper why pay for energy when its freely available? With better batteries, cheaper solar power for sure Australia will choose the cheaper and cleaner option. Price is a very strong motivator everywhere. Still the optimist! Intrigued by an anti EV government that must be pretty rare? Charging infrastructure, well a benign government would help but dont states decide a lot by themselves anyways? Melbourne seemed pretty modern and liberal but Max shooting in the dark here. Likeable place in my humble opinion and very helpful and professional locals in spite of an unbelievably tired Swede😀.

You're correct on the efficiency thing, Viva... electric cars being about 4 times more efficient than even an efficient petrol car. Someone provided me with the following;
Apparently, in the US they do make the EV v ICE comparison and provide mpg ratings for electric cars (using US gallons presumably) for buyer comparison and it seems it is done by the Government.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_per_gallon_gasoline_equivalent
Here's an online calculator:
https://www.inchcalculator.com/conv...lent-to-kilowatt-hour-per-hundred-kilometers/
So the E35, with 35.5 kWh battery range of 224 km is 15.85 kWh per 100km, or 132 MPGe. As expected, about 4 times the efficiency.

 

[VivaMazda]

From Inside EVs its rated range EPA cycle 100 miles. In winter that sounds about right. In summer more like 124.

 

[Mad_Maz]

Specs are a bit different to those advertised for the Aussie version (35.5 kWh and 224 km/139 mi). Bigger batt, less range? Or are they factoring in European winters which we don't have here?