Not only is the MX-30 an all-new model for Mazda, it marks the first time the Japanese automaker has experimented with an all-electric powertrain. It's similarly sized to the current CX-3 and the upcoming CX-30 crossovers, but borrows the MX nomenclature of the MX-5 Miata, giving us hope that it will be a performance-oriented option in the electric-SUV marketplace.
Another day, another electric vehicle. This time around it's from Mazda, and it blends all the hallmarks of a sporty city SUV with a fully-electric heart. The MX-30 debuts Mazda's pure-electric e-SkyActiv platform, along with a number of new interior technologies likely to filter through the rest of the Japanese brand's line-up in due course. The all-electric MX-30 is part of Mazda's plan to offer an e-SkyActiv (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully-electric) vehicle in each of its model lines by 2030. That includes everything from the Mazda 2 through to the dual-cab BT-50 replacement.
Mazda could have played it safe with this one but it didn't. Instead, it went bold. Rugged, in fact. All the more impressive is the fact that the all-new 2021 Mazda MX-30 is the Japanese automaker's first-ever all-electric vehicle. Going bold is something GM, for example, never would have done. Just look at the Chevrolet Bolt. The new MX-30, by contrast, has unique styling inside and out that may not be to everyone's liking. Mazda has been repositioning itself over the past few years as a more premium brand overall, and the MX-30's slightly more rugged look is not what everyone expected. But it also serves as the ideal gateway model for the brand as it takes its first step towards all-out electrification. The question is whether the MX-30 can successfully challenge the likes of the popular Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and even the upcoming BMW iX3.
The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer reboots a name from the past, and leaves truck bona fides behind for crossover comfort.
Pros Clean break from Blazers past Towing capacity Inline-4 or V-6
Cons Brand heritage cries foul Not substantially bigger than an Equinox Will automatic emergency braking be standard?
The 2019 Chevy Blazer is an all-new vehicle.Seats five passengers.Standard four-cylinder engine or optional V6.
Pros Refined ride quality Strong optional V6 engine
Cons Most competitors come with more powerful base engines Limited availability of advanced driver safety aids
The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer ranked #16 in Midsize SUVs. Currently the Chevrolet Blazer has a score of 7.9 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 8 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Responsive, user-friendly infotainment system Accommodating second-row seats Fuel-efficient base engine Agile handling
Cons Questionable value of upper trim levels Small cargo area