Mazda’s first mass-produced electric vehicle, MX-30just scored top in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Vehicle Assessment Program (NCAP).
It scored well in frontal and side impact tests, providing adequate protection for both front and rear occupants. This is quite impressive, considering that the car has high suicide doors.
The MX-30 fell slightly from five stars in the overturn resistance test, but the risk of turtle deformation was as low as 11.6%. It doesn’t flip, in case you were wondering. Back in 2020, the MX-30 was also awarded 5 stars in the Euro NCAP crash safety test, scoring well in adult and child protection.
Meanwhile, NHTSA – part of the Biden Administration – recently proposed significant updates to strengthen its NCAP program. It aims to focus more on advanced driver-assistance technologies and other emerging vehicle technologies that reduce driver distraction, including alcohol-detection technology.
About 3,000 people die in road accidents every month in the US. US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said this is a crisis. “These important changes will help save our lives on the road by ensuring that consumers have the information they need about the latest safety technologies when they buy a new vehicle,” he said.
To quickly recap, the MX-30 – set as Officially introduced in Malaysia sometime this year – there is an electric motor that makes 145 PS and 271 Nm. The front-wheel drive crossover is powered by a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery that provides a range of up to 224 km.
Maximum AC charging is 6.6 kW (Type 2 connection), so it can be fully charged in less than six hours. On the other hand, DC fast charging (CCS interface) is limited to only 50 kW. Here, charging from 20% to 80% takes about 36 minutes. There’s also a mild hybrid version of the MX-30, offering a combined 155 PS and 200 Nm.
GALLERY: Mazda MX-30 EV in ceramic white
