This car was not planned for a test drive, it is more a call of the soul and a desire to share with you the possibilities of choice. This is what an electric car should be like, with its own special style and an irresistible desire to own it.
The first electric car from Mazda may not impress with its performance, but it will definitely stick in your memory for a long time. Due to the combination of build quality, sophisticated styling, comfort and handling, as well as the general charm that accompanies the brand. The Mazda MX-30 is not about practicality, but about something that Chinese electric cars will never have, even with incredible technical characteristics, and that is confidence and pride of ownership.
Content
Mazda has always been concerned with its own style and adherence to historical values. And the MX-30 is no exception, but rather a rare specimen that will soon become exclusive. Why? Because you don’t see such a strange «beast» very often. Here, practicality contradicts style, but only at first glance. In fact, this model was based on a certain philosophy.
To begin with, it’s worth recalling the KODO paradigm, which is carried by all the brand’s latest models. They are identical in appearance and different in essence. It seems that if you put all modern Mazdas in the same lane, it will be difficult to distinguish them. Perhaps only by the size and configuration of the grille. And our hero has all the family signs from optics to the branded grille, or imitation of the grille, because the electric train does not need it. Only the profile of the crossover is completely different and differs even from the CX-30 — sibling in size and positioning.
The coupe-like silhouette has some advantages that are hidden at the heart of the car. For example, due to the location of the battery and main units, the body strength is divided into three parts, which has a significant impact on the comfortable behavior of the chassis and overall driving
Although the days of the Mazda RX-8 are over, some details continue to live on in the brand’s new models. And it was the MX-30 that was entrusted to remind us of the strange rear doors inherent in a sports coupe. Thus, there is no middle pillar, and the doors are smaller and open only after the front doors are opened. This does not affect the rigidity of the body, only the convenience. So we can say that this is a coupe with an additional door that facilitates access to the rear sofa, then this inconvenience will be perceived in a different light.
Yes, the Japanese were definitely late with the release of electric versions, and this electric car has a rather narrow niche and range of potential buyers. And, if we consider that it is offered only with a 35.5 kWh battery (200 km WLTP), it looks very strange at all. At the time of the launch of this crossover in 2020, the market already offered not only Tesla with an extended range, but also Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona Electric, which traveled longer than the manufacturer claimed. It is not surprising that sales of the Mazda MX-30 in the European market are very mediocre, and this electric car has been removed from the American market altogether. There, practicality clearly outweighs the style and charm of the brand, and consumers drive longer distances every day than the same owners of electric vehicles in the Old World.
In fact, if you think about it, the Japanese used such a small battery for a reason. According to their calculations, the main consumer in this segment moves mainly around the city and over modest distances. According to Mazda engineers, the owner can cover an average of 100-120 km per day, so a range of 170 km (200 km declared by the manufacturer) will be enough. Besides, an electric car is usually the second car in the family. Why offer more if it will be needed at best once a year?
The battery is capable of consuming 50 kW of direct current and replenishing the range from 20% to 80% in 26 minutes, which is still a good performance, especially since most charging stations deliver this power. The car can be fully charged from a home AC station in 7-8 hours, i.e. overnight.
Don’t forget that the truth lies deep. And here is another advantage of having a modest battery capacity — it is controllability and energy consumption. According to the manufacturer, an electric car consumes up to 19 kWh per 100 km, which is a good indicator. And in fact, this is justified in reality, and sometimes you can spend even less if you don’t use the climate control. But the main thing is that driving this crossover is a special pleasure.
It is worth noting that Mazda is loved not only for its appearance. Its best features are revealed when you get to know it. It seems that the spirit of the RX-8 sports coupe has found a new incarnation. No, I’m not talking about the dynamics, which are not impressive, even by the standards of an electric car, but about the steering. I rarely find such a crisp steering wheel and a quick sense of the car in standard road versions of cars. It reacts to your every move and performs tasks obediently.
The electric motor has 145 hp with 200 Nm of torque, which is available at the start. Acceleration to the first 100 km/h will take 9.7 seconds, which is quite a modest figure for a compact with a weight of 1720 kg. The top speed is limited to 140 km/h.
The MX-30 is very easy to drive. All you have to do is turn the car on with the start button, shift the gear selector to D (drive), step on the gas and steer the car in the desired direction. The electric powertrain responds quickly and dynamically, and the car moves absolutely smoothly and almost silently.
The chassis is based on the familiar configuration with McPherson struts in front and a torsion beam in the rear. But the engineers have worked hard here, too. Neither passengers nor driver will feel discomfort or teeth chattering while driving over small potholes. It feels as if there is a cushion between the road and the cabin that absorbs vibrations.
There’s no sway or roll here. Controllability when cornering or on slippery roads — this is by default the best in the class and in this price category. No unnecessary movement, no unpredictable behavior.
The accelerator allows for almost «one pedal» driving, and the regenerative power is controlled by switching the steering wheel paddles. But you still have to use the brakes to stop. This is not a system that can be found, for example, in the Nissan Leaf, where you can control the speed with one pedal. Here, regeneration only slows the car down, saving energy. There will be no significant increase, usually braking adds a maximum of 1% to the total volume.
The saturation of safety systems and active assistants here is maximum, according to the equipment. Adaptive cruise works well and sensitively detects the surrounding cars, notifying you of danger. But the lane departure warning system is too loud and alarming, it appears that you have already pulled over to the side of the road, it screams so loudly. But you can turn off the system sounds in the settings and leave only vibrations — this is good if you are frightened by loud signals.
The atmosphere in the cabin of a Japanese brand car is a special advantage. The quality of materials, elegance, and purity of style. The interior is also mostly designed in accordance with Mazda’s style, but there is an additional ecological mood. Conventional leather has been replaced with a «green technology» friendly substitute, and there is also a cork trim around the gear lever — a reference to the history of Mazda, which once produced this material.
We can see the signature three-spoke sports steering wheel, and in front of it is a nice 7-inch dashboard with a rather conservative design. Of course, there is also a projection display that duplicates navigation information, speed, and a road sign detection system.
In general, there is a nice combination of familiar controls, keys, buttons, and modern technology. Here, the gear lever is massive and is associated with a powerful large car rather than a small compact crossover on electric power. Next to it is a touchscreen for controlling the climate system. It’s much easier to use than the similar setup in the Volkswagen ID3, especially since the keys on the sides of the monitor have been duplicated.
Every MX-30 model offers an 8.8-inch display infotainment system with built-in satellite navigation, Bluetooth, and radio. The interface looks quite clear and is easy to use with the help of the console’s spinner. There is no need to reach for the monitor. Everything is very convenient. You can connect Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and use these services.
There is still a problem with connecting a smartphone here, and from time to time, it just falls off. You have to reconnect it. There are also owners who will be lost in the depths of the menu and settings, never finding the necessary functions.
There is plenty of room up front, regardless of your size. The seat is adjustable in a wide range, and the steering wheel can be adjusted in terms of reach and height. Strong support and comfortable seats, as in all models of the brand. There is nothing special. But those super-stylish rear hinged doors make access to the rear seats awkward at best. They open only 80 degrees, and the opening is quite narrow.
If you fold down the front seat, you can increase access to the rear row, which will help an adult male to get in more easily. But in general, this seat is more for children. The atmosphere is dark due to the small windows and poor visibility. There is not much space either. And although your legs will not be cramped, the roof still hangs over your head.
The trunk offers a pleasant depth and a capacity of 366 liters, which can accommodate either a stroller or several suitcases for travel. The cargo space can be increased to 1,171 liters if required.
In fact, the cargo area is smaller than in the Mazda 2 supermini, and there are no hidden storage compartments. Nevertheless, the trunk has a nice square shape, it is deep, and the opening is relatively large, so it is easy to load bulky items into it. Only the alternatives still offer more space: Hyundai Kona Electric (466 liters), Kia Niro EV (475 liters) and Peugeot e-2008 (435 liters) and drive longer than the Mazda.
In fact, if you look at the specifications, the Mazda MX-30 would be almost the last on the list of electric vehicles available for purchase. Perhaps that is why it is not officially sold in Ukraine. The segment is too narrow, and the price for an electric car is not small. In Europe, it costs about 28 thousand euros, and about 32 thousand euros for the maximum configuration. Our secondary market offers electric cars of various configurations from $15 thousand to $20 thousand imported from China, so we need to pay appropriate attention to them.
Among the main competitors that are close in style and quality is the Mini Countryman SE, but it will be pricier, and it will have a longer range and a more powerful engine. The Peugeot e-2008 is stylish enough to compete in this rating, but again has a much longer range on a single charge.
In any case, Mazda is only targeting consumers in a narrow range. This is a car for those who know and appreciate the brand. For those who can enjoy the sophisticated environmental friendliness offered by the Japanese. The MX-30 also stands out for its special convenience for families with children: it gives confidence that the child will not suddenly jump out onto the road when stopped, and there will always be a special atmosphere of comfort and safety on the back seat.
And yes, the next generation has already been released in the hybrid version of the Mazda MX-30 R-EV with a rotary engine that powers the battery and electric motor. Such a scheme is actively used in other models of the brand, so the electric car can fade into the background and become the only one of its kind.
PROS: handling, comfort, style, interior, compactness.
CONS: range, dynamics, access to the rear row.
| Body, type | SUV |
| Dimensions (LxWxH), mm | 4395/1848/1570 |
| Wheelbase, mm | 2655 |
| Declared ground clearance, mm | 130 |
| Trunk volume, liters. | 366/1171 |
| Curb weight, kg | 1720 |
| Battery capacity, kWh | 35.5 |
| Power, hp (kW) | 145/107 |
| Max. torque, Nm | 271 |
| Power reserve, km | 200 |
| Type of drive | front |
| Pendant | independent/dependent |
| Transmission | single-stage automatic |
| Dynamics 0-100, s | 9,7 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 140 |
| Energy consumption, kWh/100 km | 19 |
| Used cost, UAH | 658 275 |
| The cost of the test car, UAH | 1 404 320 |
| Competitors | Peugeot e-208 |
| FIAT e500 | |
| Kia Niro EV | |
| VW iD3 | |
| DS3 Crossback E-tense | |
| Opel Mokka-e | |
| Citroen e-C4 |
