Mazda have entered the electric vehicle foray with an all-new model named the MX-30. Not only is it sleek and stylish, but somewhat coupé looking for an SUV.
Starting from £27,650 the Mazda MX-30’s distinctive shape allows for a reintroduction of pillar-less freestyle doors as featured on the brands RX-8 many years ago. This type of door has featured on BMW’s i3 since its inception and offers great ease of access when not parked in a tight space.
With a claimed driving range of 124 miles, the MX-30 doesn’t look overly attractive when compared with the models offered from rivals. That’s only on paper, though, as most rivals run a larger capacity battery and most of them don’t get anywhere near close to their claimed range when it comes to real-world driving.
Having spent some time with this Mazda EV, it was surprising to note that it’s claimed range is almost identical to its real-world mileage. Something that is almost unheard of with EV’s. Range anxiety isn’t much of a thing these days, and with an honest indication of how far you can travel, charge anxiety will be greatly reduced with the MX-30.
For those owners driving at low speeds in a city environment, the 35.5kWh battery can stretch out to over 160 miles of driving, helped in part by the fact that the MX-30 doesn’t weigh as much as many other electric vehicles thanks to the brands Skyactiv technology.
A full recharge at home, using a typical 7kW wall box, is achievable in around five hours. On a typical Northern Ireland rapid charger, a 20-80% charge should be achievable in around 35 minutes. As a second vehicle in a home, this all-electric Mazda is certainly a decent contender. It’s honest and drives more like a petrol vehicle than it does any of its contenders.
That’s a great credential to have, as many EV’s struggle to carry their battery weight. This is most noticeable on less than smooth A and B roads on any EV I have tested to date, where you feel like the car is going to pick a hedge and spit you through it. Most don’t offer any sort of feedback to the driver, either.
The MX-30 is not only engaging to drive, but thoroughly enjoyable, too. These words I never thought I would say about an electric mode of transport. Well done, Mazda.
Currently, with a deposit of £4,795 you can lease the Mazda MX-30 over 4 years for just £279 per month, with a total annual mileage of 9,000.
With three trim levels on offer, the MX-30 range starts from £27,650 with an ‘SE-L Lux’ which features 18-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, gloss black roof/grille/mirrors, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlamps with daytime running lights, high beam control and LED auto levelling.
Climate control air conditioning, front electric windows, head up display, and Mazda radar cruise control add convenience. A 7-inch colour touchscreen sits in front of the gear selector offering full control of the climate settings.
Home of the infotainment system is an 8.8-inch screen which protrudes from the top of the dash and offers FM/DAB radio with 8-speakers and USB input, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, integrated Bluetooth, and navigation with European mapping and five years free map updates.
Safety is taken care of with blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, driver attention alert, emergency lane keeping with blind spot assist and road keep assist, intelligent speed assist, lane keep assist system with lane departure warning system, front smart brake support, and traffic sign recognition.
Next is a ‘Sport Lux’ which starts from £29,650 and adds auto-dimming driver’s door mirror, rear privacy glass, electrically adjustable driver’s seat with door mirror memory, auto dimming rear view mirror, heated front seats, and smart keyless entry.
Should you need any more toys there is a ‘GT Sport’ priced from £33,450 which adds 360-degree view monitor, front wiper de-icer, adaptive LED headlights with signature front LED daytime running lights, and a power tilt and slide sunroof.
Inside there is a 150W standard UK 3-pin plug socket, heated steering wheel, 12-speaker Bose surround sound system with Bose CenterPoint, BassMatch and AudioPilot technology. Cruising and traffic support is added along with driver monitoring, front cross traffic alert, rear smart brake support, and rear crossing smart brake support.
Various paint colours and two-tone finishes are available as well as a few interior options.
The model tested and pictured, a Sport Lux, comes in at £30,200 with its optional ‘Polymetal Grey Metallic’ paint. The light cloth trim may not wear well with a busy family clambering in an out, and although a plethora of cork clad around the cabin looks good, in an out-there kind of way, I’m not sure how it will look over time.
Speaking of family life, there isn’t a great deal of rear leg room, and the door configuration makes life very awkward in normal to tight parking spaces for rear passengers exiting the vehicle. Getting out, but being trapped in a triangle made from your doors and the side of a parked car, is actually a thing.
During my week with the Mazda MX-30 I didn’t drive it as much as I would have liked. Mainly due to the fact that I was scheduled to cover a vast amount of miles, most of which are usually very unpredictable and at the drop of a hat.
Without much confidence in suitable rapid charging, the time for which I wouldn’t have anyway, I couldn’t take the risk of being stranded so opted to use my diesel vehicle for the majority of my travels.
Highlighting to me that the MX-30 is best suited as a second vehicle in our own household; it would most likely suit the vast majority of drivers who have a set routine and a relatively normal daily commute.
What driving I did manage was enjoyable, although not ‘fast’ in an EV sense; 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds and with a top speed of less than 90mph isn’t going to see it in a game of Top Trumps. But the MX-30 is more than adequate and will still embarrass the odd boy racer down a back road thanks to its instant torque.
Mazda offer a 3-year/60,000 mile warranty with servicing of the MX-30 every 12,500 miles or annually, whichever comes first. An 8-year/100,000 mile battery warranty is also in place.
Fact File for model tested:
Make : Mazda
Model : MX-30
Trim : Sport Lux
Engine : 145ps eclectic motor (35.5kWh battery)
Gearbox : automatic
Cost : £30,200.00
Words and Photos: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY
[Images must not be used in any way without prior written consent of the photographer]
