Innovative, quirky, strange, different, eccentric, odd words have been used to describe the Mazda MX-30

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Car Reviewed: Mazda MX-30 E-Skyactiv R-EV

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The MX-30 EV was first sold in the UK in 2021; this model, the Mazda MX-30 E-Skyactiv R-EV, is the range-extended version of the EV, which was limited with just a 124-mile range. SO – Mazda, in their own niche way, decided that adding a small generator was the way to charge the battery. This is where they added a small engine, not a regular one, but a rotary engine.

Rotary engines have been around for a while, and they have been used by Mazda before, back when they developed them for the RX-7 and RX-8 Sportscars. Also, back in the ’60s/70s, a German company called NSU claimed the engine offered world-beating performance and dynamics, similar to Mazda, which was also keen to distinguish itself with its engineering prowess; they likely have more uses coming soon.

In the MX-30, With just 830cc, the diminutive engine charges the 17.8kWh battery; the actual front wheels are driven by the electric motor. The system does work seamlessly, with the humming sound of the engine cutting in and out as required.

What else is different is that the rear doors and suicide doors, or Mazda named ‘Freestyle Doors’ are slightly odd; this is where the car, for some, may not be ideal. The rear doors open easily enough, which can only be done with the front door open, but moving the front seat forward and trying to get in makes this car really a 2+2. These are occasional seats in the back but very small windows and a boot large enough for a dog, just keep the back seats down and it gives you 1137 litres. It’s not the ideal vehicle for a family; the rear windows don’t open and it’s a little austere in the back. But hey, many couples drive four-door cars and don’t hardly use the back seats at all. I drove for over 11 years a Lancia Integrale with four doors, and no one ever sat in the back; they didn’t want to. I always wished it was a coupé.

As expected with Mazda, it’s all very put together, with well-selected materials and fabrics. The 12-spoke Bose in-car entertainment and nav are all very well thought out and have great sound. There is a rotary knob to control operations on the screen, which isn’t a touch-screen, so it stays clean. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also both available, but not wirelessly. The climate control is dead easy to work and is in a handy position below the main screen. The overall feel of the instrumentation and graphics style is very pleasing to the eye, highly intuitive, and easy to learn. I have only one minor grumble: at the bottom of the steering wheel, there is a row of nice shiny buttons with black graphics, which are really hard to see in daylight, but at night, they light up, which is great.

Talking about lighting, the sharp-looking LED headlights on the MX-30 Makoto are so bright they could give aliens a new reason to visit.

Driving the MX-30, most of the time, is a very smooth operation due to the electric motor. It is all very well specced inside. The model tested was the 170PS Makoto Automatic. The handling and ride are very refined, the steering is well balanced, and it handles in a tidy fashion; being electric most of the time, it’s pretty hushed. The top speed is 87mph and the 0.62mph is 9.1 seconds, not overtly sporty, but nippy.

Charging the MX-30 is easy. Ideally, you would have home charging; the electric range of the MX-30 REV is 53 miles in combination with the 50-litre fuel tank and using the engine, the range is over 350 miles. Ideally, your driving needs would be shorter trips with the occasional longer journeys.

It can be charged with a 50kW charger when on a journey, which takes 25 minutes; a home socket would take around 4-5 hours. The best thing is being a range-extender and having an engine; you don’t have to charge it, but fuel consumption will be around 35mpg or less when the battery is depleted; you can get around 60mpg when the car is charged regularly on shorter trips. You can also charge it with the engine while driving by switching to battery charge with a button on the console, but I don’t have any data on what that may bring cost savings on a journey.

The boot capacity is 332 litres, about the size you would expect for this vehicle.

If you own the car, you have a neat smartphone app that can be set to warm the car or defrost it on a cold morning while you eat your cornflakes. The car is also full of tech cameras, parking sensors, keyless entry and a multitude of helpful safety systems.

The MX-30 R-EV is a likeable car and will find happy buyers. If you haven’t driven a Mazda, want to consider an EV, but don’t like the idea of charging much, don’t often carry passengers, but have a dog that likes the boot. This may work for you.