Mazda MX-30: Quirky crossover getting an update in Australia

The Mazda MX-30 crossover will get some minor running changes later this year, announced nearly six months after they were revealed for the Japanese market.

A spokesperson for Mazda Australia told CarExpert “the first customer vehicles will be arriving from the second half of this year“.

Changes will be fairly minimal, however, limited to new two-tone colour options as well as a revised gear shifter design.

The new two-tone exterior options replace the outgoing model’s tri-tone finishes, which in Australia have thus far been limited to the flagship G20e Astina (M Hybrid) and E35 Astina (Electric) models.

Soul Red Crystal Metallic and the new Zircon Sand Metallic will soon be available with a black roof finish, while Jet Black Mica will offer a grey contrast roof.

These finishes will likely replace the Ceramic, Soul Red Crystal and Polymetal Grey tri-tone finishes currently on sale.

Inside, the newly designed gear shifter is common to both M Hybrid and Electric versions, moving the shift button relocated to the front of the unit rather than the right.

According to Mazda’s Japanese media release, this change makes it easier to operate during quick inputs.

MX-30 Electric models in Japan also get new badging, now distinguished by a prominent ‘EV’ badge on the front quarter panels, as well as a new e-Skyactiv badge on the tailgate.

It’s unclear whether we will see the MX-30 Electric’s new vehicle-to-home (V2H) function, similar to V2L features offered by other brands such as Hyundai and Kia, which essentially turns the vehicle into a generator on wheels.

With Freestyle Doors and an eco-friendly interior that nods to Mazda’s past, the MX-30 is a quirky rival to the Volkswagen T-Roc and Toyota C-HR in petrol-fired M Hybrid guise, and rivals the likes of the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV in its Electric variant – albeit with substantially less range.

Mazda also recently revealed an MX-30 R-EV rotary plug-in hybrid for the European market, and while for the longest time the local arm said it would introduce such a model here, there’s been no confirmation of timeframe from Mazda Australia as to when we might see the new range-extended model offered locally.

Pricing for the Mazda MX-30 in Australia currently starts at $34,190 for the MX-30 G20e Evolve, and extends to $65,490 for the E35 Astina – prices exclude on-road costs. It’s unclear at this stage whether the incoming updates will see any pricing adjustments.

MORE: 2023 Mazda MX-30 updates detailed for Japan MORE: Mazda MX-30 R-EV revealed MORE: Everything Mazda MX-30