Mazda MX-30 review

The Mazda MX-30 is proof that, even in the EV marketplace, the company is good at standing out from the norm.

First things first, the range is what seems like a relatively poor 124 miles – about the same as a Honda e electric city car. As a result, Mazda is touting the MX-30 as a second car. The benefit of having a smaller battery is that it’s cheaper and cleaner to manufacture. Its 35.5kWh battery and single electric motor produce 143hp and 246Nm of torque through a one-speed gearbox.

If that all sounds comparable to other EVs, you can expect the MX-30 to feel quite different to drive. Unlike the instant get-up-and-go you get from other EVs, the Mazda is likely to offer more progressive acceleration and silent driving is also out the window – the car gets a sound generator that will give its driver a ‘perception of torque and speed’, according to Mazda. Even braking will feel different. Where most other EVs use regenerative braking which engages the moment you take your foot off the pedal, the Mazda is likely to rely almost solely on you pressing the brake pedal to stop.

The MX-30 is also likely to feel more agile in corners than other EVs. Its smaller battery means it is lighter while the car will feature Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus torque vectoring system that can help make it feel more stable into and out of corners by braking the car’s inside wheels. Could it be the most fun-to-drive mainstream electric SUV yet? Only time will tell.

We can definitely say that it has a more striking design than any other Mazda SUV.

Upfront, the grille stretches the width of the car with LED headlights on either end and a piece of plastic trim overhanging above it that flows into the leading edge of the bonnet. Around the sides, you get a pair of small suicide rear doors that hinge from the back and the car’s roof has a contrast finish that makes the MX-30 look more planted to the road, while around the back you get a pair of Mazda’s signature circular tail lights.

The MX-30 is different not just in its power source, but also in the materials used in its construction. A true eco-EV.

The interior, like the exterior, has a design that’s inspired by Mazda’s current models but with an eco twist. In practice, that means you get a driver-focused layout with a sporty three-spoke steering wheel and a clean design made possible by the car’s large infotainment screens, the main display being controlled by a scroll wheel rather than being a touchscreen. Conventional leather, meanwhile, has been replaced with a vegan-friendly substitute and you also get environmentally sourced cork trims.

Even the MX-30’s practicality is slightly unconventional. It will have plenty of room for four adults with access to the back seats improved by the car’s reverse-hinged rear doors – which means there’s no pillar in the middle of the car restricting your access – like you got on the old Mazda RX-8 sports car. The boot, meanwhile, should happily swallow a pair of large suitcases.

The First Edition costs from £27,495 (including the Government’s £3,000 grant), but cheaper models will be available before too long.

We’ve yet to get behind the wheel of the Mazda MX-30 but will be doing so before long, so check back here to find out what it’s really like.