Mazda is getting in on the post-credit price war, slashing $10K off its plug-in cars

The untimely demise of the $7,500 Federal EV tax credit has set off a price war in the EV space, with affordable new models from some corners, massive discounts and price cuts from others, and even some price hikes from unexpected brands. Now, even Mazda is getting into the mix, and it’s slashing the price of its XC-70 plug-in crossover.

Tracking all the changes in the EV pricing landscape since September 30th feels like a full-time job on its own! First, GM and Ford did some clever accounting to create a loophole big enough to drive a few thousand EVs through (before a Republican senator from Ohio, Bernie Moreno, applied enough political pressure to get them to reconsider). That was soon followed by an across-the-board $7,500 for all EVs from BMW and even bigger discounts from Hyundai and Kia, who seem to be going from strength to strength.

Mazda is the latest name on the list of car brands making big pricing moves, with Carscoops reporting that the Zoom-zoom brand has reduced the price on both its CX-70 PHEV and CX-70 PHEV SC Plus models by $10,150 and $10,200, which comes out to an MSRP of $44,250 and $47,250, respectively.

That sharp price cut suddenly makes the electrified version a much more enticing option, especially since it now sits right alongside the standard inline-six CX-70s in terms of pricing, while still offering more power and efficiency.

What you get

For that money, CX-70 PHEV buyers get Mazda’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor that’s fed electrons from a 17.8 kWh battery pack. The components combine to deliver a healthy 323 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque — enough to get the five-passenger crossover from 0-60 mph in about 7.5 seconds.

That’s great stuff, but this is an EV blog, and as an EV, the Mazda CX-70 PHEV’s latest spec is good for up to 30 miles of battery-only range. That means it packs more than enough electric range to satisfy the daily driving needs of the majority of Americans without ever burning a drop of gas (AAA, Science Direct).

If that sounds like something you or someone you know might be interested in checking out, use the link below to find even more local deals on a new, more affordable Mazda plug-in hybrid.

• Mazda CX-70 PHEV deals near you (trusted affiliate link)
• Mazda CX-90 PHEV (7-pass.) deals near you (trusted affiliate link)

Electrek’s Jo’s Take

So many people I knew who drove early Chevy Volts and Toyota Prius models eventually ended up in Teslas, if not Bolts or whatever. They were early adopters, but I think the mainstream market is starting on the same journey they started on back in 2010 (let’s say), and we’re going to see some of that cycle repeat. We’ll see people go from ICE to hybrid, then hybrid to PHEV, then BEV. They want to test-drive the technology without fully committing yet.

And, while it’s not perfect, these people will be living with a PHEV day to day, discovering what EV owners already know: buying gas sucks. Smooth, quiet electric motors are awesome. And, once more people get to experience that, they will start selling themselves on making their next car a full EV.

It’s far from ideal, but it’s progress — and I’m here for it.

SOURCE | IMAGES: Mazda, via CarScoops.